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Central Dauphin Senior High School

Q: Is Central Dauphin Senior High School a good school?

Central Dauphin Senior High School ranks 365 th of 681 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

365^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 681 Pennsylvania High Schools

Better than 46% of Pennsylvania high schools

Summary

Central Dauphin Senior High School is a public high school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, serving 1,998 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Central Dauphin School District, which is ranked 362 out of 606 school districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Central Dauphin Senior High School has shown a mixed performance, with its statewide ranking ranging from 157 to 365 out of Pennsylvania high schools. The school's Keystone Exam proficiency rates are generally higher than the district and state averages in Literature, but lower in Algebra I and Biology. The school performs relatively well for African American and White students, ranking in the top half of Pennsylvania high schools for these groups, but struggles with the performance of Asian, Hispanic, and Multi-racial students, ranking in the bottom half or bottom quarter.

Compared to nearby schools, Central Dauphin Senior High School performs better academically than its counterpart, Central Dauphin East Senior High School, but lags behind the highly-ranked Hershey High School. The school serves a sizable population of students from low-income families, with 28.39% to 35.94% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which may contribute to the performance gaps observed across different student subgroups. Despite these challenges, Central Dauphin Senior High School maintains a relatively high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 85% to 89.7%, and a low dropout rate of 1.3% to 1.7%.

1,966

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,179

Per pupil spending ?

36.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

437 Piketown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112

(717) 703-5360

District: Central Dauphin School District

Feeder schools for Central Dauphin Senior High School:

Elementary:	Linglestown Elementary School
	Middle Paxton Elementary School
	Mountain View Elementary School
	North Side Elementary School
	More...
	Paxtonia Elementary School
	West Hanover Elementary School
Middle:	Central Dauphin Middle School
	Linglestown Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.5%

African American:

12.9%

Asian:

9.8%

See top rated Pennsylvania high schools

Compare Central Dauphin Senior High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2015 → 46th in 2025

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 17 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school50%

District avg41%

Pennsylvania avg52%

365^th of 681

Pennsylvania public high schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 16 pts since 2015

From top 37% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2High Schools in the Central Dauphin School District

362^nd of 606Central Dauphin School District among Pennsylvania districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	51.8	365 of 681	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.8	264 of 686	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	302 of 674	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.1	209 of 634	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	73.0	157 of 537	70.8%	★★★★☆
2019	71.1	215 of 693	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.5	272 of 673	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.8	292 of 663	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	66.9	274 of 677	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	67.7	253 of 680	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	66.5	200 of 580	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	70.5	156 of 591	73.6%	★★★★☆
2012	68.4	231 of 664	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	68.6	229 of 660	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	78.2	98 of 649	84.9%	★★★★☆
2009	74.6	140 of 632	77.8%	★★★★☆
2008	79.2	85 of 621	86.3%	★★★★☆
2007	57.6	321 of 615	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	49.8	374 of 604	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2005	50.4	366 of 593	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	74.5	151 of 590	74.4%	★★★★☆
2003	73.2	144 of 583	75.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	66.5	87 of 276	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.5	110 of 284	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.8	108 of 260	58.5%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	20.7	104 of 125	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	7.0	110 of 121	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.8	104 of 112	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	40.5	275 of 524	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.9	227 of 513	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.0	260 of 502	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	42.4	52 of 109	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.0	53 of 84	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	66.2	14 of 85	83.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	51.9	361 of 657	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.7	287 of 665	56.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	28.8	201 of 287	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.8	145 of 274	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.8	164 of 252	34.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	35.9	436 of 651	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.0	366 of 664	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.7	392 of 652	39.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	49.7	361 of 660	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.9	253 of 662	61.8%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	23.6	130 of 165	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.3	71 of 150	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.9	59 of 129	54.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	47.8	311 of 583	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	67.8	176 of 595	70.4%	★★★★☆
2023	61.8	222 of 577	61.5%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2025)68th percentile+22 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)52nd percentile+6 vs school

Disabled (2025)48th percentile~ school

White (2025)47th percentile~ school

Male (2025)45th percentile~ school

Female (2025)45th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)33rd percentile-13 vs school

Hispanic (2025)30th percentile-16 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)21st percentile-25 vs school

Asian (2025)17th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

Literature65%+3 vs state

Biology46%-3 vs state

Algebra I39%-6 vs state

3.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★0

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Thursday, June 13, 2019

Fantastic opportunities here for students who wish to work to succeed. Dual enrollment, CHS, AP... graduates go on to Penn, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, anywhere is within reach from this school! Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Awful administrative team - my child, who had never been in any type of trouble, made a minor mistake that was blown out of proportion. When I went to meet with the assistant principal, I was told he was following the school's policy in administering the penalty and his judgement was not involved (?). I then attempted to reason with the principal, who was not kind or compassionate at all, and continued to quote policy.

My final step was to seek out the assistant superintendent, who did not disagree with the fact that the discipline given to my child was over the top. He simply said they would be evaluating such situations over the summer. The ultimate putoff. What a group of caring and nurturing individuals!

By the way, my child couldn't even tell you what the principal looks like at this high school.

Bottom line - this school is scared of becoming an urban high school and therefore runs the institution like a prison.

If you are considering moving into this district - don't. I made this mistake a number of years ago and have regretted it ever since. Cumberland Valley, Hershey, Lower Dauphin, Boiling Springs, Mechanicsburg and Palmyra would be much better places.

Yes, we have moved out of the district and are much happier in our new location just down the road.

Extremely disappointed former parent Close Quote

Schools Near Central Dauphin Senior High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2025)	Keystone Exams Biology (2025)	Keystone Exams Literature (2025)	PSSA Math (2025)			PSSA English Language Arts (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 7th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Dauphin Senior High School	Public	9-12	437 Piketown Road	Harrisburg	17112	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 703-5360	1,966	129	15.2	36.5%	1,189 (60.5%)	253 (12.9%)	190 (9.7%)	193 (9.8%)	5 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	135 (6.9%)	51.8	365^th of 681 public high schools	46.4%		62.8	264^th of 686 public high schools	61.5%	101	38.6	46.5	64.8							$15,179	$351	$14,828
Dauphin County Technical School	Public	9-12	6001 Locust Ln	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Dauphin County Technical School	No	No	No	No	(717) 652-3170	1,187	79	15.0	99.1%	467 (39.3%)	234 (19.7%)	273 (23.0%)	158 (13.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (4.5%)	57.5	316^th of 681 public high schools	53.6%		40.2	464^th of 686 public high schools	32.4%	148	34.9	66.4	60.3
Central Dauphin East Senior High School	Public	9-12	626 Rutherford Rd	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 541-1662	1,573	116	13.5	101.5%	304 (19.3%)	510 (32.4%)	346 (22.0%)	229 (14.6%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	177 (11.3%)	15	576^th of 681 public high schools	15.4%		22.2	548^th of 686 public high schools	20.1%	28	21.2	22.8	40.5							$15,207	$565	$14,641
Susquehanna Township High School	Public	9-12	3500 Elmerton Ave	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Susquehanna Township School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 657-5117	767	58	13.2	64.7%	158 (20.6%)	285 (37.2%)	139 (18.1%)	103 (13.4%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.5%)	76 (9.9%)	22.9	541^st of 681 public high schools	20.6%		43.1	444^th of 686 public high schools	35.3%	97	28.6	34.0	39.5							$33,250	$1,173	$32,077
Price	Public	6-12	101 East High Street	Hummelstown	17036	Dauphin County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 566-5325	7	2	3.3		6 (85.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (14.3%)								(n/a)										$37,539	$19,666	$17,873
Lower Dauphin High School	Public	9-12	201 S Hanover St	Hummelstown	17036	Dauphin County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 566-5330	1,057	88	12.0	26.5%	843 (79.8%)	24 (2.3%)	94 (8.9%)	32 (3.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (5.9%)	79.2	123^rd of 681 public high schools	81.9%		75.5	157^th of 686 public high schools	77.1%	34	55.9	63.2	77.7							$18,593	$720	$17,873
Harrisburg High School	Public	9-12	2451 Market St	Harrisburg	17103	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-4300	1,343	74	18.0	99.4%	39 (2.9%)	584 (43.5%)	660 (49.1%)	21 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (2.8%)	1.7	672^nd of 681 public high schools	1.3%		2.4	671^st of 686 public high schools	2.2%	1	1.0	4.6	7.3							$24,035	$81	$23,955
Hershey High School	Public	9-12	550 Homestead Rd	Hershey	17033	Dauphin County	Derry Township School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 531-2244	1,050	86	12.2	25.0%	698 (66.5%)	56 (5.3%)	99 (9.4%)	153 (14.6%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	40 (3.8%)	93.6	25^th of 681 public high schools	96.3%		90.9	44^th of 686 public high schools	93.6%	19	73.8	79.3	86.7							$20,110	$818	$19,291
Steelton-Highspire High School	Public	7-12	250 Reynders Ave.	Steelton	17113	Dauphin County	Steelton-Highspire School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 704-3809	612	38	16.1		67 (10.9%)	323 (52.8%)	178 (29.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (6.7%)	4.7	637^th of 681 public high schools	6.5%		3.8	655^th of 686 public high schools	4.5%	18	5.5	11.3	28.9	1.2	1.2	1.2	12.6	12.5	12.5
Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	150 Strawberry Square	Harrisburg	17101	Dauphin County	Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(717) 732-8450	193	11	17.5	5.7%	117 (60.6%)	34 (17.6%)	28 (14.5%)	4 (2.1%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.7%)	84.8	82^nd of 681 public high schools	88.0%		90.6	45^th of 686 public high schools	93.4%	37	54.0	74.4	84.2							$16,934	$397	$16,537

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Dauphin Senior High School

What district is Central Dauphin Senior High School in?

Central Dauphin School District

Is Central Dauphin Senior High School a good school?

Central Dauphin Senior High School ranks 365^th of 681 Pennsylvania high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Central Dauphin Senior High School?

Students at Central Dauphin Senior High School are 60% White, 13% African American, 10% Asian, 10% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Central Dauphin Senior High School?

Central Dauphin Senior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Linglestown Elementary School
Elementary : Middle Paxton Elementary School
Elementary : Mountain View Elementary School
Elementary : North Side Elementary School
Elementary : Paxtonia Elementary School
Elementary : West Hanover Elementary School
Middle : Central Dauphin Middle School
Middle : Linglestown Middle School

How many students attend Central Dauphin Senior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,966 students attended Central Dauphin Senior High School.

Rate Central Dauphin Senior High School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.