Centre County Schools & Education
Centre County, Pennsylvania
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
92/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
95.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 90.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,573
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,336
School Score
92/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 72/100
State Score Position
#5
of 67 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Centre County
Measured School Summary
Centre County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 92/100 and a graduation rate of 95.4%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Centre County spends $11,573 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 27% above the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Centre 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
33 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
92/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #5 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.
Completion
95.4%
5.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$11,573
$1,237 above the state average
School coverage
33
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
Centre County has 33 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.
What Centre 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
Centre 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
#5
of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 20 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.
State College Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
6,781 students
11 listed schools in this county slice.
Bellefonte Area SD
Elementary to high school visible
2,599 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Bald Eagle Area SD
Elementary and high visible
1,521 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Penns Valley Area SD
Elementary and high visible
1,352 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
State College Area SD is the largest listed district slice, with 11 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 Centre County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Centre 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 Centre 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.
An Education-Driven Central Hub
Centre County operates 33 public schools across nine school districts, supporting a total of 13,832 students. The network is rich in primary education options, featuring 23 elementary schools alongside four middle and six high schools. This infrastructure serves a diverse geographic area from the urban State College core to outlying rural regions.
State College Area SD Sets the Pace
State College Area School District dominates the local landscape, managing 11 schools and 6,781 students. Bellefonte Area and Bald Eagle Area are also major contributors, serving over 4,000 students combined. Unlike many neighbors, Centre County has a notable charter school presence, with three schools representing 9.1% of the total.
Diverse Locales from City to Rural
Students in Centre County attend schools in a wide range of settings, including 15 rural, nine suburban, five city, and four town campuses. While the average school size is 419, State College Area High School is a massive outlier with 2,410 students. This variety allows families to choose between intimate rural schools and large, resource-rich urban campuses.
School Overview
Total Schools
33
in Centre County
Reported Enrollment
13,832
33 schools reporting
School Districts
9
districts
Charter Schools
3
9% of total
School Level Breakdown
9 School Districts in Centre County
State College Area SD
GuideBellefonte Area SD
Philipsburg-Osceola Area SD
Bald Eagle Area SD
Penns Valley Area SD
Young Scholars of Central PA CS
Centre Learning Community CS
Nittany Valley CS
Central PA Institute of Science & Technology
33 Public Schools in Centre 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 20 of 33 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College Area HS | Profile | State College Area SD | State College, 16801City: Small | 8–12 | High | 2,410 |
| Bellefonte Area HS | Record | Bellefonte Area SD | Bellefonte, 16823Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 847 |
| Bald Eagle Area JSHS | Record | Bald Eagle Area SD | Wingate, 16823Rural: Fringe | 6–12 | High | 842 |
| Park Forest MS | Record | State College Area SD | State College, 16803Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 815 |
| Mount Nittany MS | Record | State College Area SD | State College, 16801Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 695 |
| Penns Valley Area JSHS | Record | Penns Valley Area SD | Spring Mills, 16875Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 662 |
| Bellefonte Area MS | Record | Bellefonte Area SD | Bellefonte, 16823Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 576 |
| Philipsburg-Osceola Area HS | Record | Philipsburg-Osceola Area SD | Philipsburg, 16866Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 520 |
| Mount Nittany El Sch | Record | State College Area SD | State College, 16801Suburb: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 430 |
| Park Forest El Sch | Record | State College Area SD | State College, 16803Suburb: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 430 |
| Philipsburg El Sch | Record | Philipsburg-Osceola Area SD | Philipsburg, 16866Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 406 |
| Marion-Walker El Sch | Record | Bellefonte Area SD | Bellefonte, 16823Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 404 |
| Radio Park El Sch | Record | State College Area SD | State College, 16803City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 396 |
| Penns Valley Area El and Intrmd Sch | Record | Penns Valley Area SD | Spring Mills, 16875Rural: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 389 |
| Wingate El Sch | Record | Bald Eagle Area SD | Wingate, 16823Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 373 |
| Young Scholars of Central PA CS | Record | Young Scholars of Central PA CS | State College, 16801Suburb: Small | KG–8 | Charter | 371 |
| Gray's Woods El Sch | Record | State College Area SD | Port Matilda, 16870Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 369 |
| Spring Creek El Sch | Record | State College Area SD | State College, 16801Suburb: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 369 |
| Bellefonte El Sch | Record | Bellefonte Area SD | Bellefonte, 16823Town: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 335 |
| Easterly Parkway El Sch | Record | State College Area SD | State College, 16801City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 316 |
State College Area HS
State College Area SD
State College, 16801 / City: Small
Mount Nittany MS
State College Area SD
State College, 16801 / Suburb: Small
Penns Valley Area JSHS
Penns Valley Area SD
Spring Mills, 16875 / Rural: Distant
Philipsburg-Osceola Area HS
Philipsburg-Osceola Area SD
Philipsburg, 16866 / Town: Distant
Mount Nittany El Sch
State College Area SD
State College, 16801 / Suburb: Small
Park Forest El Sch
State College Area SD
State College, 16803 / Suburb: Small
Philipsburg El Sch
Philipsburg-Osceola Area SD
Philipsburg, 16866 / Rural: Fringe
Marion-Walker El Sch
Bellefonte Area SD
Bellefonte, 16823 / Rural: Distant
Radio Park El Sch
State College Area SD
State College, 16803 / City: Small
Penns Valley Area El and Intrmd Sch
Penns Valley Area SD
Spring Mills, 16875 / Rural: Distant
Young Scholars of Central PA CS
Young Scholars of Central PA CS
State College, 16801 / Suburb: Small
Gray's Woods El Sch
State College Area SD
Port Matilda, 16870 / Rural: Fringe
Spring Creek El Sch
State College Area SD
State College, 16801 / Suburb: Small
Easterly Parkway El Sch
State College Area SD
State College, 16801 / City: Small
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$11,573
State avg $10,336
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Centre 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 Centre County?
What is the graduation rate in Centre County?
How much does Centre County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Centre County, Pennsylvania — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Centre County, Pennsylvania?
Centre County operates 33 public schools across nine school districts, supporting a total of 13,832 students. The network is rich in primary education options, featuring 23 elementary schools alongside four middle and six high schools. This infrastructure serves a diverse geographic area from the urban State College core to outlying rural regions.
What are the major school districts in Centre County, Pennsylvania?
State College Area School District dominates the local landscape, managing 11 schools and 6,781 students. Bellefonte Area and Bald Eagle Area are also major contributors, serving over 4,000 students combined. Unlike many neighbors, Centre County has a notable charter school presence, with three schools representing 9.1% of the total.
What is the school experience like in Centre County?
Students in Centre County attend schools in a wide range of settings, including 15 rural, nine suburban, five city, and four town campuses. While the average school size is 419, State College Area High School is a massive outlier with 2,410 students. This variety allows families to choose between intimate rural schools and large, resource-rich urban campuses.
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.