Best Public Schools in Allentown, PA

The city of Allentown, Pennsylvania is home to 34 schools, including 19 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 5 high schools, and 3 alternative schools, spanning two school districts - the Allentown City School District and the Parkland School District. While the performance of schools in the area varies significantly, a few standout institutions emerge from the data.

Parkland High School, part of the highly-ranked Parkland School District, is consistently one of the top-performing high schools in Pennsylvania, ranking in the top 25% statewide. Similarly, Springhouse Middle School and the elementary schools of Parkway Manor and Cetronia in the Parkland district are among the highest-performing in the state. In contrast, many schools in the Allentown City School District struggle, with proficiency rates 20-30 percentage points below the state averages.

The data also highlights the performance of public charter schools in the area, such as Executive Education Academy Charter School, which often exceeds the state averages, particularly in science and English language arts. However, the stark contrast in funding and resources between the high-performing Parkland schools and the economically disadvantaged Allentown schools suggests the need for more equitable support to help close the achievement gap across the city.