schoolsbycounty

Lehigh County Schools & Education

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

88.3%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

88.3%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,005

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,336

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 72/100

State Score Position

#51

of 67 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Lehigh County

Measured School Summary

Lehigh County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.3%.

Funding Context

Lehigh County spends $10,005 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 11% below the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Lehigh 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

80 public schools and 19 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

64/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #51 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.

Completion

88.3%

2.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$10,005

$331 below the state average

School coverage

80

19 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Lehigh County has 80 public schools across 19 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 Lehigh 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.

Large multi-district county

Lehigh County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#51

of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points below 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.

Allentown City SD

Elementary to high school visible

15,928 students

Elementary 14Middle 4High 3Other 0

21 listed schools in this county slice.

Parkland SD

Elementary to high school visible

9,821 students

Elementary 9Middle 2High 1Other 0

12 listed schools in this county slice.

East Penn SD

Elementary to high school visible

7,957 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 1Other 0

10 listed schools in this county slice.

Whitehall-Coplay SD

Elementary to high school visible

4,107 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Bethlehem Area SD is the largest listed district slice, with 22 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 Lehigh County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lehigh 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 Lehigh 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 Dynamic Hub for Diverse Learning Options

Lehigh County manages a massive education system with 80 schools and 54,048 students across 19 districts. The county is a leader in school choice, featuring 8 charter schools that make up 10% of the total school landscape. The infrastructure includes 48 elementary, 17 middle, and 12 high schools to serve a growing population.

Allentown and Parkland Manage Major Enrollment

Allentown City School District is the largest in the county, educating 15,928 students in 21 schools. Parkland School District follows with 9,821 students and is home to Parkland High School, the county's largest school with 3,220 students. Bethlehem Area SD also plays a major role, serving 12,939 students across its 22 schools.

Bustling Suburbs and Large City Campuses

Lehigh schools are primarily suburban (44) and city-based (29), with only 7 rural schools in the county. With an average school size of 676, many students attend large, resource-rich campuses like William Allen or Emmaus High. This environment provides students with a wide array of specialized programs and competitive athletics.

School Overview

Total Schools

80

in Lehigh County

Reported Enrollment

54,048

80 schools reporting

School Districts

19

districts

Charter Schools

8

10% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary48
Middle17
High12
Other3

19 School Districts in Lehigh County

Allentown City SD

Guide
21 schools
15,928 students
Open district guide

Bethlehem Area SD

Guide
22 schools
12,939 students
Open district guide

Parkland SD

Guide
12 schools
9,821 students
Open district guide

East Penn SD

Guide
10 schools
7,957 students
Open district guide

Whitehall-Coplay SD

Guide
5 schools
4,107 students
Open district guide

Southern Lehigh SD

5 schools
3,077 students

Northwestern Lehigh SD

4 schools
1,971 students

Northern Lehigh SD

4 schools
1,564 students

Salisbury Township SD

3 schools
1,487 students

Catasauqua Area SD

3 schools
1,455 students

80 Public Schools in Lehigh County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 11 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 80 matching schools

Parkland HS

Parkland SD

Allentown, 18104 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High3,220 students

William Allen HS

Allentown City SD

Allentown, 18104 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,852 students

Emmaus HS

East Penn SD

Emmaus, 18049 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,846 students

Louis E Dieruff HS

Allentown City SD

Allentown, 18109 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,915 students

Whitehall HS

Whitehall-Coplay SD

Whitehall, 18052 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,459 students

Executive Education Academy CS

Executive Education Academy CS

Allentown, 18109 / City: Midsize

ProfileKG–12Charter1,368 students

Springhouse MS

Parkland SD

Allentown, 18104 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,344 students

Southern Lehigh SHS

Southern Lehigh SD

Center Valley, 18034 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,056 students

Lower Macungie MS

East Penn SD

Macungie, 18062 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,043 students

South Mountain MS

Allentown City SD

Allentown, 18103 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,007 students

Whitehall-Coplay MS

Whitehall-Coplay SD

Whitehall, 18052 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle982 students

Orefield MS

Parkland SD

Orefield, 18069 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle917 students

Francis D Raub MS

Allentown City SD

Allentown, 18104 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle909 students

Lincoln Leadership Academy CS

Lincoln Leadership Academy CS

Allentown, 18109 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–12Charter899 students

Eyer MS

East Penn SD

Macungie, 18062 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle847 students

Trexler MS

Allentown City SD

Allentown, 18102 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle820 students

Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays El Sch

Allentown City SD

Allentown, 18102 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary813 students

Nitschmann MS

Bethlehem Area SD

Bethlehem, 18018 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle781 students

Harrison-Morton MS

Allentown City SD

Allentown, 18101 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle733 students

Northwestern Lehigh HS

Northwestern Lehigh SD

New Tripoli, 18066 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High695 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,005

State avg $10,336

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Lehigh 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 Lehigh County?
Lehigh County has a school score of 64/100, which is a midrange 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 Lehigh County?
The high school graduation rate in Lehigh County is 88.3%, 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 Lehigh County spend per student?
Lehigh County spends $10,005 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 Lehigh County, Pennsylvania — FAQ

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

Lehigh County manages a massive education system with 80 schools and 54,048 students across 19 districts. The county is a leader in school choice, featuring 8 charter schools that make up 10% of the total school landscape. The infrastructure includes 48 elementary, 17 middle, and 12 high schools to serve a growing population.

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

Allentown City School District is the largest in the county, educating 15,928 students in 21 schools. Parkland School District follows with 9,821 students and is home to Parkland High School, the county's largest school with 3,220 students. Bethlehem Area SD also plays a major role, serving 12,939 students across its 22 schools.

What is the school experience like in Lehigh County?

Lehigh schools are primarily suburban (44) and city-based (29), with only 7 rural schools in the county. With an average school size of 676, many students attend large, resource-rich campuses like William Allen or Emmaus High. This environment provides students with a wide array of specialized programs and competitive athletics.

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.