Carbon County Schools & Education
Carbon County, Pennsylvania
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
79/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
92.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,843
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,336
School Score
79/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 72/100
State Score Position
#23
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Carbon County
Measured School Summary
Carbon County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 79/100 and a graduation rate of 92.6%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Carbon County spends $9,843 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 10% above the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Carbon 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
18 public schools and 6 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
79/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #23 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.
Completion
92.6%
2.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,843
$493 below the state average
School coverage
18
6 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
Carbon County has 18 public schools across 6 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.
What Carbon 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
Carbon 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
#23
of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 7 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.
Lehighton Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
2,171 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Panther Valley SD
Elementary to high school visible
1,810 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Jim Thorpe Area SD
Elementary and high visible
1,760 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Palmerton Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
1,631 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Palmerton Area 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 Carbon County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Carbon County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Carbon 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 Consolidated System of Rural Schools
Carbon County features 18 public schools organized into six school districts, serving a total of 8,359 students. The system is balanced between eight elementary schools, four middle schools, and six high schools. This compact infrastructure serves a growing population in the Pocono foothills.
Lehighton and Jim Thorpe Lead the Way
Lehighton Area School District is the largest in the county, educating 2,171 students across three schools. Jim Thorpe Area and Palmerton Area are also significant, serving 1,760 and 1,631 students respectively. Traditional public schools are the only option here, as the county currently hosts zero charter schools.
Rural Roots with Suburban Influence
Carbon's schools are primarily located in rural (8) and suburban (7) settings, reflecting the county's transitional geography. The average school size is 464 students, with Lehighton Area Elementary Center serving as the largest campus with 998 students. This scale offers a balance between comprehensive resources and a community feel.
School Overview
Total Schools
18
in Carbon County
Reported Enrollment
8,359
18 schools reporting
School Districts
6
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
6 School Districts in Carbon County
Lehighton Area SD
Panther Valley SD
Jim Thorpe Area SD
Palmerton Area SD
Weatherly Area SD
Carbon Career & Technical Institute
18 Public Schools in Carbon County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 18 of 18 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehighton Area Elementary Center | Profile | Lehighton Area SD | Lehighton, 18235Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 998 |
| Panther Valley JSHS | Record | Panther Valley SD | Lansford, 18232Rural: Fringe | 7–12 | High | 771 |
| Lehighton Area HS | Record | Lehighton Area SD | Lehighton, 18235Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 660 |
| L B Morris El Sch | Record | Jim Thorpe Area SD | Jim Thorpe, 18229Town: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 624 |
| Panther Valley El Sch | Record | Panther Valley SD | Nesquehoning, 18240Rural: Fringe | KG–3 | Primary | 622 |
| Penn-Kidder Campus | Record | Jim Thorpe Area SD | Albrightsville, 18210Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 571 |
| Jim Thorpe Area HS | Record | Jim Thorpe Area SD | Jim Thorpe, 18229Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 565 |
| Lehighton Area MS | Record | Lehighton Area SD | Lehighton, 18235Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 513 |
| Palmerton Area HS | Record | Palmerton Area SD | Palmerton, 18071Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 482 |
| Panther Valley Intermediate Sch | Record | Panther Valley SD | Lansford, 18232Rural: Fringe | 4–6 | Middle | 417 |
| S S Palmer El Sch | Record | Palmerton Area SD | Palmerton, 18071Suburb: Large | 2–6 | Primary | 403 |
| Carbon Career & Technical Institute | Record | Carbon Career & Technical Institute | Jim Thorpe, 18229Town: Fringe | 9–12 | Vocational | 394 |
| Towamensing El Sch | Record | Palmerton Area SD | Lehighton, 18235Rural: Fringe | KG–6 | Primary | 324 |
| Weatherly Area El Sch | Record | Weatherly Area SD | Weatherly, 18255Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 308 |
| Palmerton Area JHS | Record | Palmerton Area SD | Palmerton, 18071Suburb: Large | 7–8 | Middle | 267 |
| Weatherly Area SHS | Record | Weatherly Area SD | Weatherly, 18255Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 159 |
| Parkside Education Center | Record | Palmerton Area SD | Palmerton, 18071Suburb: Large | KG–1 | Primary | 155 |
| Weatherly Area MS | Record | Weatherly Area SD | Weatherly, 18255Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 126 |
Lehighton Area Elementary Center
Lehighton Area SD
Lehighton, 18235 / Suburb: Large
Panther Valley El Sch
Panther Valley SD
Nesquehoning, 18240 / Rural: Fringe
Penn-Kidder Campus
Jim Thorpe Area SD
Albrightsville, 18210 / Rural: Fringe
Panther Valley Intermediate Sch
Panther Valley SD
Lansford, 18232 / Rural: Fringe
Carbon Career & Technical Institute
Carbon Career & Technical Institute
Jim Thorpe, 18229 / Town: Fringe
Parkside Education Center
Palmerton Area SD
Palmerton, 18071 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,843
State avg $10,336
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Carbon County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Pennsylvania counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Pennsylvania?
How should I read the school score in Carbon County?
What is the graduation rate in Carbon County?
How much does Carbon County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Carbon County, Pennsylvania — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Carbon County, Pennsylvania?
Carbon County features 18 public schools organized into six school districts, serving a total of 8,359 students. The system is balanced between eight elementary schools, four middle schools, and six high schools. This compact infrastructure serves a growing population in the Pocono foothills.
What are the major school districts in Carbon County, Pennsylvania?
Lehighton Area School District is the largest in the county, educating 2,171 students across three schools. Jim Thorpe Area and Palmerton Area are also significant, serving 1,760 and 1,631 students respectively. Traditional public schools are the only option here, as the county currently hosts zero charter schools.
What is the school experience like in Carbon County?
Carbon's schools are primarily located in rural (8) and suburban (7) settings, reflecting the county's transitional geography. The average school size is 464 students, with Lehighton Area Elementary Center serving as the largest campus with 998 students. This scale offers a balance between comprehensive resources and a community feel.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.