Best Public Schools in Reading, PA

The city of Reading, Pennsylvania is home to 32 schools across 4 school districts, serving students from elementary through high school. While some schools in the area, like Owatin Creek Elementary School and Exeter Township Junior High School in the Exeter Township School District, are standout performers, many of the schools in the Reading School District struggle, ranking in the bottom half of Pennsylvania schools.

The data reveals significant disparities in academic performance across the Reading area. The highest-performing schools have proficiency rates well above state averages, while the lowest-performing schools, particularly in the Reading School District, have proficiency rates significantly below the state averages. This achievement gap is likely exacerbated by the high rates of economic disadvantage, with many Reading School District schools having 100% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

Despite the challenges, there are some bright spots, like Antietam Middle School/High School in the Antietam School District, which ranks in the top 60% of Pennsylvania high schools. Overall, the data suggests the need for targeted interventions and additional resources to support the high-poverty student populations and help close the achievement gaps across the Reading area.