Public schools in Harrisburg, PA
38 open public schools with an address in Harrisburg, operated by 9 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
38
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
52,194
38 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15:1
Pennsylvania median 13:1
Charter schools
5
3 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Harrisburg public schools
The federal directory lists 38 public schools in Harrisburg, PA: 22 elementary, 7 middle, 7 high, 2 combined or other. The 38 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 52,194 students, an average of 1,374 per school. The largest campus is Commonwealth Charter Academy CS (29,320 students), and the largest elementary school is Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch (792).
Central Dauphin SD operates the most schools here (16), and 3 regular districts have at least one Harrisburg campus, plus 6 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 15:1, 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 choice options include 5 charter schools, 3 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 9 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 8 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 7 of 9 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Harrisburg
Central Dauphin SD
Public school district
16 schools in Harrisburg · 19 total
Harrisburg City SD
Public school district
12 schools in Harrisburg
Susquehanna Township SD
Public school district
4 schools in Harrisburg
Capital Area School for the Arts CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in Harrisburg
Commonwealth Charter Academy CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in Harrisburg
Dauphin County Technical School
Specialized public school district
1 school in Harrisburg
Infinity CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in Harrisburg
Pennsylvania STEAM Academy CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in Harrisburg
Sylvan Heights Science CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in Harrisburg
Elementary schools in Harrisburg
22| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Franklin Sch Harrisburg City SD | PK–05 | 678 | 10.2:1 | |
| Chambers Hill El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 257 | 10.3:1 | |
| Downey Sch Harrisburg City SD | PK–05 | 405 | 13.3:1 | |
| E. H. Phillips El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 393 | 12.1:1 | |
| Foose Sch Harrisburg City SD | PK–05 | 522 | 11.3:1 | |
| Infinity CS Infinity CS · Charter | KG–08 | 256 | 13.1:1 | |
| Lawnton El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 310 | 12.5:1 | |
| Linglestown El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 475 | 15:1 | |
| Melrose Sch Harrisburg City SD | KG–05 | 536 | 16:1 | |
| Mountain View El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 373 | 12.9:1 | |
| North Side El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 722 | 16.7:1 | |
| Paxtang El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 281 | 14.9:1 | |
| Paxtonia El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 682 | 15.8:1 | |
| Pennsylvania STEAM Academy CS Pennsylvania STEAM Academy CS · Charter | KG–06 | 360 | 16.4:1 | |
| Rutherford El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 461 | 15.2:1 | |
| Sara Lindemuth El Sch Susquehanna Township SD | KG–02 | 758 | 17.2:1 | |
| Scott at Lincoln School Harrisburg City SD | KG–05 | 484 | — | |
| South Side El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 603 | 13.1:1 | |
| Steele School Harrisburg City SD | KG–05 | 362 | 17:1 | |
| Sylvan Heights Science CS Sylvan Heights Science CS · Charter | KG–04 | 217 | 14.8:1 | |
| Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch Susquehanna Township SD | 03–05 | 792 | 16.6:1 | |
| West Hanover El Sch Central Dauphin SD | KG–05 | 589 | 15:1 |
Middle schools in Harrisburg
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Curtin Academy Harrisburg City SD | 06–08 | 724 | 14.5:1 | |
| Central Dauphin East MS Central Dauphin SD | 06–08 | 702 | 12.5:1 | |
| Central Dauphin MS Central Dauphin SD | 06–08 | 834 | 14.7:1 | |
| Linglestown MS Central Dauphin SD | 06–08 | 841 | 14.8:1 | |
| Marshall Math Science Academy Harrisburg City SD · Magnet | 06–08 | 408 | 17:1 | |
| Rowland Academy Harrisburg City SD | 08–08 | 353 | 23.4:1 | |
| Susquehanna Twp MS Susquehanna Township SD | 06–08 | 820 | 17.5:1 |
High schools in Harrisburg
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Area School for the Arts CS Capital Area School for the Arts CS · Charter | 09–12 | 193 | 17.5:1 | |
| Central Dauphin East SHS Central Dauphin SD | 09–12 | 1,573 | 13.6:1 | |
| Central Dauphin SHS Central Dauphin SD | 09–12 | 1,966 | 15.2:1 | |
| Dauphin County Technical School Dauphin County Technical School · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 1,187 | 15:1 | |
| Harrisburg HS Harrisburg City SD | 09–12 | 1,343 | 18.1:1 | |
| Harrisburg HS - SciTech Cmp Harrisburg City SD · Magnet | 09–12 | 347 | 13.3:1 | |
| Susquehanna Twp HS Susquehanna Township SD | 09–12 | 767 | 13.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Harrisburg
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Charter Academy CS Commonwealth Charter Academy CS · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 29,320 | 16.2:1 | |
| Cougar Academy Harrisburg City SD · Magnet | KG–12 | 300 | 17.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White43.9%
- Hispanic20.6%
- Black21.6%
- Asian5.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial7.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 38 Harrisburg schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (52,194 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Harrisburg
How many public schools are in Harrisburg, PA?
The current NCES directory lists 38 open public schools with a location address in Harrisburg: 22 elementary, 7 middle, 7 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 52,194 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Harrisburg?
Schools with an address in Harrisburg belong to 9 education agencies, led by Central Dauphin SD (16 schools), Harrisburg City SD (12 schools), Susquehanna Township SD (4 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Harrisburg?
Central Dauphin SHS reported the largest high-school enrollment in Harrisburg, with 1,966 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Harrisburg?
Yes. 5 of the 38 public schools in Harrisburg are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Capital Area School for the Arts CS, Commonwealth Charter Academy CS, Infinity CS. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Harrisburg schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Harrisburg public schools is 15:1, 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 Harrisburg 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