Best School Districts in Lancaster County
For a lot of families, choosing where to live in Lancaster County starts with the school district. NookLocal ranks every Lancaster County district by its Academic Index, built from official Pennsylvania test and graduation results, with the full methodology under the list. Each district names the towns it serves, so you can search homes inside the boundary you pick. Below are the rankings.
Academics: Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2025 PSSA and Keystone files and SY 2024-25 cohort graduation rates. Compiled 2026-06-26. School budgets and the new Common Level Ratio land each July, and we re-rank then.
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Search homes for sale in Lancaster County- #1
Manheim Township School District
Academic Index 72.3- PSSA
- 64%
- Keystone
- 70%
- Graduation
- 92%
Towns: Manheim Township
Typical total property tax ~1.18% of home value/yr · median sale $478,750 (530 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #2
Lampeter-Strasburg School District
Academic Index 71.7- PSSA
- 59%
- Keystone
- 74%
- Graduation
- 93%
Towns: Strasburg Borough, Strasburg Township, West Lampeter Township
Typical total property tax ~1.18% of home value/yr · median sale $395,000 (245 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #3
Hempfield School District
Academic Index 71.6- PSSA
- 61%
- Keystone
- 70%
- Graduation
- 95%
Towns: East Hempfield Township, East Petersburg Borough, Mountville Borough, West Hempfield Township
Typical total property tax ~1.23% of home value/yr · median sale $385,000 (609 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #4
Cocalico School District
Academic Index 71.3- PSSA
- 63%
- Keystone
- 68%
- Graduation
- 96%
Towns: Adamstown Borough, Denver Borough, East Cocalico Township, West Cocalico Township
Typical total property tax ~1.38% of home value/yr · median sale $360,000 (233 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #5
Penn Manor School District
Academic Index 70.7- PSSA
- 59%
- Keystone
- 71%
- Graduation
- 95%
Towns: Conestoga Township, Manor Township, Martic Township, Millersville Borough, Pequea Township
Typical total property tax ~1.18% of home value/yr · median sale $350,000 (500 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #6
Warwick School District
Academic Index 70.4- PSSA
- 54%
- Keystone
- 74%
- Graduation
- 97%
Towns: Elizabeth Township, Lititz Borough, Warwick Township
Typical total property tax ~1.02% of home value/yr · median sale $420,000 (355 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #7
Ephrata Area School District
Academic Index 66.0- PSSA
- 48%
- Keystone
- 72%
- Graduation
- 90%
Towns: Akron Borough, Clay Township, Ephrata Borough, Ephrata Township
Typical total property tax ~1.26% of home value/yr · median sale $340,000 (357 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #8
Elizabethtown Area School District
Academic Index 62.2- PSSA
- 55%
- Keystone
- 55%
- Graduation
- 91%
Towns: Conoy Township, Elizabethtown Borough, Mt Joy Township, West Donegal Township
Typical total property tax ~1.31% of home value/yr · median sale $348,000 (327 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #9
Conestoga Valley School District
Academic Index 60.7- PSSA
- 48%
- Keystone
- 56%
- Graduation
- 95%
Towns: East Lampeter Township, Upper Leacock Township, West Earl Township
Typical total property tax ~1.07% of home value/yr · median sale $377,100 (253 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #10
Eastern Lancaster County School District
Academic Index 59.6- PSSA
- 45%
- Keystone
- 59%
- Graduation
- 90%
Towns: Brecknock Township, Caernarvon Township, Earl Township, East Earl Township, New Holland Borough, Terre Hill Borough
Typical total property tax ~0.94% of home value/yr · median sale $393,500 (212 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #11
Manheim Central School District
Academic Index 58.4- PSSA
- 46%
- Keystone
- 54%
- Graduation
- 91%
Towns: Manheim Borough, Penn Township, Rapho Township
Typical total property tax ~1.11% of home value/yr · median sale $375,000 (328 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #12
Donegal School District
Academic Index 57.5- PSSA
- 48%
- Keystone
- 50%
- Graduation
- 92%
Towns: East Donegal Township, Marietta Borough, Mt Joy Borough
Typical total property tax ~1.44% of home value/yr · median sale $339,000 (229 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #13
Pequea Valley School District
Academic Index 55.5- PSSA
- 44%
- Keystone
- 47%
- Graduation
- 96%
Towns: Leacock Township, Paradise Township, Salisbury Township
Typical total property tax ~1.02% of home value/yr · median sale $430,000 (99 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #14
Solanco School District
Academic Index 51.0- PSSA
- 37%
- Keystone
- 45%
- Graduation
- 92%
Towns: Bart Township, Colerain Township, Drumore Township, East Drumore Township, Eden Township, Fulton Township, Little Britain Township, Providence Township, +1 more
Typical total property tax ~0.85% of home value/yr · median sale $385,000 (207 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #15
Lancaster School District
Academic Index 38.3- PSSA
- 25%
- Keystone
- 32%
- Graduation
- 78%
Towns: Lancaster City, Lancaster Township
Typical total property tax ~1.80% of home value/yr · median sale $270,000 (891 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
- #16
Columbia Borough School District
Academic Index 30.4- PSSA
- 19%
- Keystone
- 18%
- Graduation
- 79%
Towns: Columbia Borough
Typical total property tax ~1.94% of home value/yr · median sale $223,450 (148 sales, 12 mo through 2026-07-10) · full profile & taxes
Want schools and taxes side by side?
The School District Value Matrix ranks every district's academics next to its property-tax rate, for Lancaster County and beyond.
See the value matrixOr start with the short list: Top 5 School Districts in Lancaster County (Based on value).
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How we rank
Academic Index (0-100). 40% PSSA grades 3-8 (mean of ELA and Math proficiency), 40% Keystone grade 11 (mean of Algebra I, Literature, Biology), 20% four-year cohort graduation rate, all from the Pennsylvania Department of Education's official files, "All Students" group, 2025 administration (SY 2024-25). We publish the components so you can re-weight them yourself. The index reflects student outcomes; it isn't a verdict on any individual school or teacher. Two limits: participation varies (some districts have meaningful PSSA opt-out rates, which moves proficiency figures), and small districts' graduation rates ride on cohorts of under 100 students, where a handful of students moves the rate. Charter and cyber-charter schools are separate entities and aren't part of these district figures.
Common questions
What is the best school district in Lancaster County, PA?
By the NookLocal Academic Index, Manheim Township ranks first among Lancaster County districts, with an index of 72.3 (PSSA 64%, Keystone 70%, graduation 92%). "Best" depends on your family, and the full ranking above shows how every district compares.
How is the NookLocal Academic Index calculated?
It is a 0-100 composite of official Pennsylvania Department of Education results: 40% PSSA grades 3-8 (average of English Language Arts and Math proficiency, 2025 administration), 40% Keystone Exams grade 11 (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology), and 20% four-year cohort graduation rate (SY 2024-25). All figures are the published "All Students" group, with no ratings, surveys, or demographic adjustment. It measures outcomes, not school effectiveness.
What towns are in the Manheim Township School District?
Manheim Township School District serves Manheim Township. Each town links to its homes-for-sale page above, and the district profile lists every municipality and its tax rate.
How do Lancaster County school districts compare on property taxes?
This page ranks districts on academics alone. Property taxes vary widely by municipality, even within one district, so we keep them on the full School District Value Matrix, which joins every district's academic score with its effective tax rate (millage multiplied by the county's Common Level Ratio). See the matrix to weigh schools against what you'd pay.
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Academic data: Pennsylvania Department of Education public district-level files (PSSA, Keystone, cohort graduation rates). Scores summarize published outcomes only and are not a measure of any individual school. Verify current figures with the district before making decisions.