Public schools in Carlisle, PA
10 open public schools with an address in Carlisle, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,291
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.1:1
Pennsylvania median 13:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Carlisle public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Carlisle, PA: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,291 students, an average of 529 per school. The largest campus is Carlisle Area HS (1,559 students), and the largest elementary school is Crestview El Sch (541).
Carlisle Area SD operates the most schools here (9), and 2 regular districts have at least one Carlisle campus. 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 14.1:1, higher 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 districts and agencies serving Carlisle
Elementary schools in Carlisle
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellaire El Sch Carlisle Area SD | KG–05 | 407 | 14.9:1 | |
| Crestview El Sch Carlisle Area SD | KG–05 | 541 | 17.3:1 | |
| Hamilton El Sch Carlisle Area SD | KG–05 | 388 | 14:1 | |
| Letort El Sch Carlisle Area SD | KG–05 | 225 | 12.1:1 | |
| Middlesex El Sch Cumberland Valley SD | KG–05 | 419 | 12.8:1 | |
| Mooreland El Sch Carlisle Area SD | KG–05 | 372 | 14.9:1 | |
| North Dickinson El Sch Carlisle Area SD | KG–05 | 193 | 14.8:1 |
Middle schools in Carlisle
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamberton MS Carlisle Area SD | 06–08 | 583 | 13.2:1 | |
| Wilson MS Carlisle Area SD | 06–08 | 604 | 14:1 |
High schools in Carlisle
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Area HS Carlisle Area SD | 09–12 | 1,559 | 14.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White58%
- Hispanic11.8%
- Black12.6%
- Asian7.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial9.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Carlisle schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,291 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Carlisle
How many public schools are in Carlisle, PA?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Carlisle: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 5,291 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Carlisle?
Schools with an address in Carlisle belong to 2 education agencies, led by Carlisle Area SD (9 schools), Cumberland Valley SD (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 Carlisle?
Carlisle Area HS reported the largest high-school enrollment in Carlisle, with 1,559 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Carlisle?
No school with an address in Carlisle is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Pennsylvania.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Carlisle schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Carlisle public schools is 14.1:1, higher 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 Carlisle 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