Public schools in West Chester, PA
19 open public schools with an address in West Chester, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
19
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
15,838
19 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.7:1
Pennsylvania median 13:1
Charter schools
2
2 virtual
An overview of West Chester public schools
The federal directory lists 19 public schools in West Chester, PA: 11 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 19 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 15,838 students, an average of 834 per school. The largest campus is Pennsylvania Leadership CS (2,874 students), and the largest elementary school is Sarah W Starkweather El Sch (576).
West Chester Area SD operates the most schools here (16), and 2 regular districts have at least one West Chester campus, plus 2 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 12.7:1, similar to 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 2 charter schools, 2 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 5 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 5 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving West Chester
West Chester Area SD
Public school district
16 schools in West Chester · 17 total
21st Century Cyber CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in West Chester
Pennsylvania Leadership CS
Independent charter agency
1 school in West Chester
Unionville-Chadds Ford SD
Public school district
1 school in West Chester · 6 total
Elementary schools in West Chester
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Bradford El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 455 | 12:1 | |
| East Goshen El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 510 | 12.7:1 | |
| Fern Hill El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 408 | 10.3:1 | |
| Glen Acres El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 451 | 12.6:1 | |
| Greystone El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 511 | 12.5:1 | |
| Hillsdale El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 537 | 12.9:1 | |
| Mary C Howse El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 442 | 13.4:1 | |
| Penn Wood El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 438 | 13.8:1 | |
| Pocopson El Sch Unionville-Chadds Ford SD | KG–05 | 514 | 15.4:1 | |
| Sarah W Starkweather El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 576 | 12.9:1 | |
| Westtown-Thornbury El Sch West Chester Area SD | KG–05 | 529 | 14.3:1 |
Middle schools in West Chester
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E N Peirce MS West Chester Area SD | 06–08 | 1,040 | 11.8:1 | |
| J R Fugett MS West Chester Area SD | 06–08 | 930 | 12.3:1 | |
| Stetson MS West Chester Area SD | 06–08 | 808 | 12.3:1 |
High schools in West Chester
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21st Century Cyber CS 21st Century Cyber CS · Charter · Virtual | 06–12 | 996 | 18:1 | |
| West Chester Bayard Rustin HS West Chester Area SD | 09–12 | 1,159 | 12.7:1 | |
| West Chester East HS West Chester Area SD | 09–12 | 1,216 | 13:1 | |
| West Chester Henderson HS West Chester Area SD | 09–12 | 1,444 | 13.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in West Chester
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Leadership CS Pennsylvania Leadership CS · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 2,874 | 11.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White69.4%
- Hispanic9.6%
- Black7.6%
- Asian7.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 19 West Chester schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (15,838 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in West Chester
How many public schools are in West Chester, PA?
The current NCES directory lists 19 open public schools with a location address in West Chester: 11 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 15,838 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve West Chester?
Schools with an address in West Chester belong to 4 education agencies, led by West Chester Area SD (16 schools), 21st Century Cyber CS (1 school), Pennsylvania Leadership 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 West Chester?
West Chester Henderson HS reported the largest high-school enrollment in West Chester, with 1,444 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in West Chester?
Yes. 2 of the 19 public schools in West Chester are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including 21st Century Cyber CS, Pennsylvania Leadership CS. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in West Chester schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across West Chester public schools is 12.7:1, similar to 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 West Chester 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