Public schools in Bethlehem, PA
25 open public schools with an address in Bethlehem, operated by 6 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
25
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
15,637
25 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.3:1
Pennsylvania median 13:1
Charter schools
3
0 virtual
An overview of Bethlehem public schools
The federal directory lists 25 public schools in Bethlehem, PA: 15 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 25 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 15,637 students, an average of 625 per school. The largest campus is Liberty HS (2,541 students), and the largest elementary school is Spring Garden El Sch (532).
Bethlehem Area SD operates the most schools here (20), and 2 regular districts have at least one Bethlehem campus, plus 4 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.3:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Bethlehem
Bethlehem Area SD
Public school district
20 schools in Bethlehem · 22 total
Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School
Specialized public school district
1 school in Bethlehem
Lehigh Valley Academy Regional CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in Bethlehem
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
Independent charter agency
1 school in Bethlehem
Lehigh Valley Dual Language CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in Bethlehem
Southern Lehigh SD
Public school district
1 school in Bethlehem · 5 total
Elementary schools in Bethlehem
15| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asa Packer El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 314 | 11.7:1 | |
| Calypso El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | PK–05 | 222 | 13:1 | |
| Clearview El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 384 | 12.6:1 | |
| Donegan El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | PK–05 | 467 | 10.6:1 | |
| Fountain Hill El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | PK–05 | 530 | 11.6:1 | |
| Governor Wolf El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 432 | 12.7:1 | |
| Hanover El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 205 | 12.3:1 | |
| James Buchanan El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 253 | 12.1:1 | |
| Lehigh Valley Dual Language CS Lehigh Valley Dual Language CS · Charter | KG–08 | 457 | 19.9:1 | |
| Lincoln El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 355 | 13.2:1 | |
| Marvine El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | PK–05 | 265 | 10.2:1 | |
| Miller Heights El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 328 | 12.5:1 | |
| Spring Garden El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 532 | 13:1 | |
| Thomas Jefferson El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 238 | 11.1:1 | |
| William Penn El Sch Bethlehem Area SD | KG–05 | 242 | 11.5:1 |
Middle schools in Bethlehem
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broughal MS Bethlehem Area SD | 06–08 | 520 | 11.6:1 | |
| East Hills MS Bethlehem Area SD | 06–08 | 966 | 13.3:1 | |
| Joseph P. Liberati Intermediate School Southern Lehigh SD | 04–06 | 702 | 15.6:1 | |
| Nitschmann MS Bethlehem Area SD | 06–08 | 731 | 13.2:1 | |
| Northeast MS Bethlehem Area SD | 06–08 | 715 | 12.1:1 |
High schools in Bethlehem
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 18 | 0.5:1 | |
| Freedom HS Bethlehem Area SD | 09–12 | 1,792 | 16.5:1 | |
| Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts · Charter | 09–12 | 550 | 9.4:1 | |
| Liberty HS Bethlehem Area SD | 09–12 | 2,541 | 16:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Bethlehem
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Valley Academy Regional CS Lehigh Valley Academy Regional CS · Charter | KG–12 | 1,878 | 11.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White36.8%
- Hispanic46.8%
- Black10.4%
- Asian3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial2.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 25 Bethlehem schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (15,637 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Bethlehem
How many public schools are in Bethlehem, PA?
The current NCES directory lists 25 open public schools with a location address in Bethlehem: 15 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 15,637 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Bethlehem?
Schools with an address in Bethlehem belong to 6 education agencies, led by Bethlehem Area SD (20 schools), Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School (1 school), Lehigh Valley Academy Regional CS (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Bethlehem?
Liberty HS reported the largest high-school enrollment in Bethlehem, with 2,541 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Bethlehem?
Yes. 3 of the 25 public schools in Bethlehem are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Lehigh Valley Academy Regional CS, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Lehigh Valley Dual Language CS. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Bethlehem schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Bethlehem public schools is 12.3:1, lower than the Pennsylvania school median of 13:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Bethlehem guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Pennsylvania cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Pennsylvania cities