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Central Dauphin East Middle School

Q: Is Central Dauphin East Middle School a good school?

Central Dauphin East Middle School ranks 625 th of 873 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

625^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 873 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Better than 28% of Pennsylvania middle schools

Summary

Central Dauphin East Middle School is a public middle school serving 663 students in grades 6-8 in the Central Dauphin School District in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While the school aims to provide a quality education, it has consistently underperformed compared to district and state averages on standardized tests, with only 15.4% of students proficient or better in PSSA Math and 33.9% in PSSA English Language Arts.

The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with African American students performing relatively well but Asian, White, and disabled students performing very poorly. Additionally, Central Dauphin East Middle School has had higher dropout rates in recent years, ranging from 0.4% to 1.7%, which is higher than the state average. Despite the school's relatively high spending per student, ranging from $13,555 to $15,607 per year, these increased resources have not translated into improved academic outcomes.

When compared to other middle schools in the Central Dauphin School District, Central Dauphin East Middle School performs significantly worse. For example, Central Dauphin Middle School, located just 0.98 miles away, ranks in the top 25% of Pennsylvania middle schools and outperforms Central Dauphin East Middle School across all academic metrics. Addressing the underlying factors contributing to the school's poor performance, such as socioeconomic challenges, will be crucial for improving the educational experience and outcomes for the students at Central Dauphin East Middle School.

702

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,082

Per pupil spending ?

94.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

628 Rutherford Rd
Harrisburg, PA 17109-5227

(717) 545-4709

District: Central Dauphin School District

Students who attend Central Dauphin East Middle School usually attend:

High:

Central Dauphin East Senior High School

Feeder schools for Central Dauphin East Middle School:

Elementary:	Phillips Elementary School
	Rutherford Elementary School
	South Side Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

29.8%

Asian:

21.9%

Hispanic:

20.2%

See top rated Pennsylvania middle schools

Compare Central Dauphin East Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 33rd percentile in 2015 → 28th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Pennsylvania average (25% vs 45% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg41%

Pennsylvania avg45%

625^th of 873

Pennsylvania public middle schools ?

Bottom 28%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From bottom 33% (2015) to bottom 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Middle 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	26.6	625 of 873	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.5	616 of 891	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.7	642 of 893	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.8	580 of 883	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.3	585 of 797	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.6	610 of 891	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.2	617 of 861	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	24.6	646 of 877	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.5	618 of 870	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.9	560 of 835	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	24.5	582 of 728	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	24.3	604 of 758	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	27.9	656 of 834	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	34.3	636 of 825	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	39.9	591 of 805	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	33.8	597 of 770	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	28.0	609 of 753	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	27.0	606 of 749	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	35.1	556 of 736	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	40.5	488 of 687	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	66.4	254 of 663	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2003	63.4	276 of 643	57.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	55.0	130 of 393	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.6	119 of 408	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	46.5	187 of 421	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	7.7	129 of 138	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.1	137 of 145	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.0	135 of 144	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	17.9	604 of 643	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	29.0	483 of 672	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.7	551 of 660	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	55.9	39 of 145	73.1%	★★★★☆
2024	52.9	51 of 150	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.5	34 of 143	76.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	23.4	630 of 835	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.4	588 of 860	31.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	28.5	254 of 348	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.7	269 of 362	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.0	224 of 362	38.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	33.2	576 of 843	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.6	574 of 877	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.3	613 of 874	29.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	30.0	583 of 839	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.1	618 of 870	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	25.7	136 of 174	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.6	122 of 199	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.4	149 of 187	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	10.2	613 of 649	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	26.3	533 of 673	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.0	572 of 681	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2025)73rd percentile+45 vs school

African American (2025)67th percentile+39 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)32nd percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)31st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)27th percentile~ school

Female (2025)25th percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)22nd percentile-7 vs school

Asian (2025)7th percentile-22 vs school

Disabled (2025)6th percentile-22 vs school

White (2025)6th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts34%-15 vs state

Math15%-26 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, July 24, 2021

Competitive curriculum and teachers who truly want to see each child succeed Close Quote

Schools Near Central Dauphin East Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				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	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	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 East Middle School	Public	6-8	628 Rutherford Rd	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 545-4709	702	56	12.4	94.4%	132 (18.8%)	209 (29.8%)	142 (20.2%)	154 (21.9%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	61 (8.7%)	26.6	625^th of 873 public middle schools	28.4%		30.5	616^th of 891 public middle schools	30.9%	9	21.1	8.4	15.9	15.4	38.8	23.8	38.8	33.9	$18,082	$1,043	$17,039
Central Dauphin Middle School	Public	6-8	4600 Locust Lane	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 540-4606	834	57	14.6	36.7%	554 (66.4%)	85 (10.2%)	64 (7.7%)	83 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (5.8%)	73	196^th of 873 public middle schools	77.5%		75.7	189^th of 891 public middle schools	78.8%	7	46.3	42.2	35.1	41.1	55.3	60.3	57.8	57.9	$15,471	$570	$14,901
Susquehanna Township Middle School	Public	6-8	801 Wood St	Harrisburg	17109	Dauphin County	Susquehanna Township School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 657-5125	820	47	17.4	63.0%	142 (17.3%)	262 (32.0%)	146 (17.8%)	166 (20.2%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	100 (12.2%)	23.7	649^th of 873 public middle schools	25.7%		25.8	645^th of 891 public middle schools	27.6%	4	14.2	15.5	13.8	14.5	26.4	35.3	32.7	31.3	$18,782	$873	$17,909
Marshall Math Science Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	301 Hale Avenue	Harrisburg	17104	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(717) 703-1200	408	24	17.0	93.1%	20 (4.9%)	203 (49.8%)	154 (37.7%)	12 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.7%)	29.9	595^th of 873 public middle schools	31.8%		44.6	517^th of 891 public middle schools	42.0%	78	12.0	11.9	7.8	10.7	29.0	47.0	46.6	40.9	$24,599	$82	$24,516
Swatara Middle School	Public	6-8	1101 Highland St	Steelton	17113	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 939-9363	611	53	11.5	105.4%	116 (19.0%)	195 (31.9%)	141 (23.1%)	92 (15.1%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	62 (10.1%)	24.9	641^st of 873 public middle schools	26.6%		26.7	639^th of 891 public middle schools	28.3%	2	16.5	15.9	15.6	16.0	31.2	31.2	32.3	31.5	$16,674	$1,001	$15,673
Linglestown Middle School	Public	6-8	1200 N Mountain Rd	Harrisburg	17112	Dauphin County	Central Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 657-3060	841	57	14.7	96.9%	439 (52.2%)	134 (15.9%)	91 (10.8%)	117 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (7.1%)	49.1	444^th of 873 public middle schools	49.1%		62.9	331^st of 891 public middle schools	62.9%	113	32.1	25.6	25.2	27.6	45.6	38.7	54.4	46.1	$15,575	$547	$15,027
Rowland Academy	Public	7-8	1842 Derry Street	Harrisburg	17104	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-4500	353	15	23.4	163.5%	5 (1.4%)	132 (37.4%)	203 (57.5%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	4.7	873^rd of 873 public middle schools	0.0%		4.5	884^th of 891 public middle schools	0.8%	11		0.0	0.0	0.0		3.0	4.4	3.7	$23,402	$78	$23,324
Camp Curtin Academy	Public	6-8	2900 N 6th Street	Harrisburg	17110	Dauphin County	Harrisburg City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 703-4200	724	50	14.5	64.9%	24 (3.3%)	346 (47.8%)	311 (43.0%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (5.0%)	5.6	863^rd of 873 public middle schools	1.1%		5.1	878^th of 891 public middle schools	1.5%	15	1.0	1.7	0.9	1.1	8.3	9.9	13.9	9.8	$22,717	$76	$22,641
Lower Dauphin Middle School	Public	6-8	251 Quarry Rd	Hummelstown	17036	Dauphin County	Lower Dauphin School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 566-5310	781	68	11.5	32.9%	622 (79.6%)	18 (2.3%)	72 (9.2%)	26 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.5%)	58.5	353^rd of 873 public middle schools	59.6%		72.9	220^th of 891 public middle schools	75.3%	133	33.7	33.9	32.3	33.2	52.2	55.0	42.6	49.5	$18,182	$309	$17,873
New Cumberland Middle School	Public	7-8	331 8th St	New Cumberland	17070	Cumberland County	West Shore School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 774-0162	389	35	11.0	65.6%	229 (58.9%)	38 (9.8%)	76 (19.5%)	21 (5.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.9%)	61	324^th of 873 public middle schools	62.9%		58.5	380^th of 891 public middle schools	57.4%	56		44.2	24.5	34.4		48.1	49.5	48.7	$21,076	$1,179	$19,897

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Dauphin East Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Central Dauphin East Middle School?

Students at Central Dauphin East Middle School are 30% African American, 22% Asian, 20% Hispanic, 19% White, 9% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Central Dauphin East Middle School attend?

Students who attend Central Dauphin East Middle School usually go on to attend Central Dauphin East Senior High School

How many students attend Central Dauphin East Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 702 students attended Central Dauphin East Middle School.

Is Central Dauphin East Middle School a good school?

Central Dauphin East Middle School ranks 625^th of 873 Pennsylvania middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Central Dauphin East Middle School in?

Central Dauphin School District

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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.