schoolsbycounty

Adams County Schools & Education

School Score

83/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

93.3%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.3%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,090

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,336

School Score

83/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 72/100

State Score Position

#15

of 67 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Adams County

Measured School Summary

Adams County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 83/100 and a graduation rate of 93.3%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Adams County spends $10,090 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 15% above the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Adams County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

26 public schools and 9 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

83/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #15 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.

Completion

93.3%

3.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,090

$246 below the state average

School coverage

26

9 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Adams County has 26 public schools across 9 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Adams County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Higher-signal county

Adams County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.

State position

#15

of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 11 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Conewago Valley SD

Elementary to high school visible

3,744 students

Elementary 2Middle 2High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Gettysburg Area SD

Elementary to high school visible

2,778 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Littlestown Area SD

Elementary to high school visible

1,756 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Bermudian Springs SD

Elementary to high school visible

1,751 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Conewago Valley SD is the largest listed district slice, with 5 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Adams County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Adams County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Adams County, Pennsylvania

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Rural Network with Solid Infrastructure

Adams County supports a network of 26 public schools across nine distinct districts, serving a total of 13,092 students. The landscape features 11 elementary, 8 middle, and 7 high schools, providing a balanced educational pipeline for the community. This regional structure ensures localized access to education throughout the county.

Leading Districts and Choice Options

Conewago Valley School District stands as the largest in the area, educating 3,744 students across five schools. Gettysburg Area School District follows closely with 2,778 students, while two charter schools provide alternative options for nearly 8% of the student population. Families have access to both large comprehensive districts and smaller specialized learning environments.

A Mix of Rural and Suburban Learning

Education here is primarily rural, with 15 schools situated in quiet, open settings compared to just two in city locales. Average school size is 504 students, but facilities range from smaller primary centers to the 1,249-student New Oxford Senior High. This diversity allows for both intimate classroom settings and large-scale extracurricular opportunities.

School Overview

Total Schools

26

in Adams County

Reported Enrollment

13,092

26 schools reporting

School Districts

9

districts

Charter Schools

2

8% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary11
Middle8
High7
Other0

9 School Districts in Adams County

Conewago Valley SD

Guide
5 schools
3,744 students
Open district guide

Gettysburg Area SD

5 schools
2,778 students

Littlestown Area SD

3 schools
1,756 students

Bermudian Springs SD

3 schools
1,751 students

Upper Adams SD

4 schools
1,589 students

Fairfield Area SD

3 schools
958 students

Gettysburg Montessori CS

1 school
273 students

Vida CS

1 school
238 students

Adams County Technical Institute

1 school
5 students

26 Public Schools in Adams County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 26 matching schools

New Oxford SHS

Conewago Valley SD

New Oxford, 17350 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High1,249 students

Gettysburg Area HS

Gettysburg Area SD

Gettysburg, 17325 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,024 students

Conewago Valley Intrmd Sch

Conewago Valley SD

New Oxford, 17350 / Suburb: Small

Record4–6Middle850 students

Alloway Creek El Sch

Littlestown Area SD

Littlestown, 17340 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary790 students

Gettysburg Area MS

Gettysburg Area SD

Gettysburg, 17325 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle682 students

Bermudian Springs El Sch

Bermudian Springs SD

York Springs, 17372 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–4Primary612 students

New Oxford MS

Conewago Valley SD

New Oxford, 17350 / Suburb: Small

Record7–8Middle601 students

Bermudian Springs HS

Bermudian Springs SD

York Springs, 17372 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High591 students

New Oxford El Sch

Conewago Valley SD

New Oxford, 17350 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–3Primary563 students

Littlestown SHS

Littlestown Area SD

Littlestown, 17340 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High551 students

Bermudian Springs MS

Bermudian Springs SD

York Springs, 17372 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle548 students

Biglerville HS

Upper Adams SD

Biglerville, 17307 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High529 students

Conewago Twp El Sch

Conewago Valley SD

Hanover, 17331 / Suburb: Small

RecordKG–3Primary481 students

Biglerville El Sch

Upper Adams SD

Biglerville, 17307 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–3Primary435 students

Maple Avenue MS

Littlestown Area SD

Littlestown, 17340 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle415 students

Lincoln El Sch

Gettysburg Area SD

Gettysburg, 17325 / City: Small

RecordKG–5Primary372 students

Franklin Twp El Sch

Gettysburg Area SD

Cashtown, 17310 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary369 students

Fairfield Area El Sch

Fairfield Area SD

Fairfield, 17320 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–4Primary364 students

Upper Adams Intrmdt Sch

Upper Adams SD

Arendtsville, 17303 / Rural: Fringe

Record4–6Middle354 students

James Gettys El Sch

Gettysburg Area SD

Gettysburg, 17325 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary331 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,090

State avg $10,336

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Adams County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Pennsylvania counties have the highest graduation rates?
Montour County (97.0%), Wyoming County (97.0%), and Wayne County (95.8%) currently lead Pennsylvania among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Pennsylvania?
Across Pennsylvania counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $10,336. The highest current county values are Forest County ($14,731), Wayne County ($14,055), and Pike County ($13,711). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Adams County?
Adams County has a school score of 83/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Adams County?
The high school graduation rate in Adams County is 93.3%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Adams County spend per student?
Adams County spends $10,090 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Adams County, Pennsylvania — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Adams County, Pennsylvania?

Adams County supports a network of 26 public schools across nine distinct districts, serving a total of 13,092 students. The landscape features 11 elementary, 8 middle, and 7 high schools, providing a balanced educational pipeline for the community. This regional structure ensures localized access to education throughout the county.

What are the major school districts in Adams County, Pennsylvania?

Conewago Valley School District stands as the largest in the area, educating 3,744 students across five schools. Gettysburg Area School District follows closely with 2,778 students, while two charter schools provide alternative options for nearly 8% of the student population. Families have access to both large comprehensive districts and smaller specialized learning environments.

What is the school experience like in Adams County?

Education here is primarily rural, with 15 schools situated in quiet, open settings compared to just two in city locales. Average school size is 504 students, but facilities range from smaller primary centers to the 1,249-student New Oxford Senior High. This diversity allows for both intimate classroom settings and large-scale extracurricular opportunities.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.