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Wharton Elementary School

Q: Is Wharton Elementary School a good school?

Wharton Elementary School ranks 826 th of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

826^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,511 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Better than 45% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

Summary

Wharton Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, serving 333 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Lancaster School District, which is ranked 491 out of 606 districts in the state.

Wharton Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state averages in both Math and English Language Arts (ELA) assessments. For the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates were 48.4% in Math and 45.2% in ELA, compared to the district's 22.4% and 27.6%, and the state's 41.7% and 48.5%. The school's performance is particularly strong in 3rd grade, where the proficiency rates were 58.2% in both Math and ELA, surpassing the district and state. Wharton also has a higher per-student spending and a lower student-teacher ratio compared to the district average.

While Wharton Elementary has maintained a consistent 2-star rating from SchoolDigger over the years, its performance is still below that of the higher-performing schools in the neighboring Manheim Township School District, such as Schaeffer School and Brecht School, both of which are ranked in the top 25% of Pennsylvania elementary schools. However, Wharton's ability to support its economically disadvantaged student population, with 100% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, is particularly noteworthy.

327

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,596

Per pupil spending ?

101.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

705 N Mary St
Lancaster, PA 17603-2889

(717) 291-6281

District: Lancaster School District

Students who attend Wharton Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Reynolds Middle School
High:	McCaskey Campus

Racial breakdown:

White:

49.2%

Hispanic:

31.2%

Two or more races:

10.4%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare Wharton Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 35th percentile in 2015 → 45th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2015

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Lancaster School District

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school47%

District avg25%

Pennsylvania avg45%

826^th of 1,511

Pennsylvania public elementary schools ?

Bottom 45%▲ up 10 pts since 2015

From bottom 35% (2015) to bottom 45% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 13Elementary Schools in the Lancaster School District

491^st of 606Lancaster 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	49.7	826 of 1511	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.8	795 of 1526	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.4	797 of 1534	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.3	939 of 1534	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.3	922 of 1433	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.7	929 of 1544	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.2	835 of 1530	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	65.0	621 of 1547	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	50.3	919 of 1554	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	43.9	957 of 1474	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	46.1	1000 of 1467	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	27.6	1222 of 1519	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	20.1	1368 of 1599	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.1	1317 of 1597	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	39.4	1182 of 1579	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	48.6	1010 of 1549	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	35.5	1211 of 1551	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	43.2	1090 of 1555	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.3	935 of 1545	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	25.7	1065 of 1299	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	43.4	873 of 1308	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2003	32.5	974 of 1302	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	57.0	343 of 1030	66.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	53.3	736 of 1466	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.3	864 of 1488	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	54.9	160 of 429	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.1	120 of 454	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	72.8	88 of 432	79.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	32.1	976 of 1369	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.5	963 of 1432	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.7	737 of 1414	47.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	44.8	859 of 1475	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.2	694 of 1495	53.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	70.6	333 of 1201	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	78.1	223 of 1229	81.9%	★★★★☆
2023	66.3	403 of 1236	67.4%	★★★☆☆

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)

White (2025)72nd percentile+27 vs school

Disabled (2025)67th percentile+21 vs school

Hispanic (2025)63rd percentile+17 vs school

Female (2025)50th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)42nd percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)29th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

Math48%+7 vs state

English Language Arts45%-3 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, April 26, 2019

The employees there has to be more focus on the other employees that work there on the actions Close Quote

Schools Near Wharton Elementary 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 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wharton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	705 N Mary St	Lancaster	17603	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 291-6281	327	27	12.1	101.8%	161 (49.2%)	17 (5.2%)	102 (31.2%)	13 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (10.4%)	49.7	826^th of 1511 public elementary schools	45.3%		54.8	795^th of 1526 public elementary schools	47.9%	31	58.2	46.3	39.2	48.4	58.2	44.5	30.5	45.2	$22,596	$3,518	$19,078
Ross Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	840 N Queen St	Lancaster	17603	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 291-6268	281	21	13.3	94.0%	40 (14.2%)	43 (15.3%)	152 (54.1%)	8 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	37 (13.2%)	24.9	1140^th of 1511 public elementary schools	24.6%		40.5	1002^nd of 1526 public elementary schools	34.3%	138	25.7	34.4	26.0	28.2	25.0	21.9	42.0	31.4	$25,032	$3,964	$21,069
Fulton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	225 W Orange St	Lancaster	17603	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 291-6110	274	27	10.1	99.3%	33 (12.0%)	50 (18.2%)	166 (60.6%)	8 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.2%)	34.7	1033^rd of 1511 public elementary schools	31.6%		25.4	1149^th of 1526 public elementary schools	24.7%	116	42.1	45.2	17.5	33.9	42.1	48.4	32.5	40.4	$24,742	$3,893	$20,849
Brecht School	Public	K-4	1250 Lititz Pike	Lancaster	17601	Lancaster County	Manheim Township School District	No	No	No	No	(717) 291-1733	236	17	13.7	50.4%	118 (50.0%)	13 (5.5%)	57 (24.2%)	20 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (11.9%)	73.6	410^th of 1511 public elementary schools	72.9%		71.7	456^th of 1526 public elementary schools	70.1%	46	73.1	64.3		68.7	53.7	63.4		58.5	$17,262	$126	$17,137
Price Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	340 S. West End Avenue	Lancaster	17603	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 291-6252	331	37	8.9	107.6%	21 (6.3%)	64 (19.3%)	214 (64.7%)	13 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.7%)	14.7	1278^th of 1511 public elementary schools	15.4%		17.3	1254^th of 1526 public elementary schools	17.8%	24	31.1	33.3	8.0	24.0	19.7	30.7	18.0	22.0	$25,299	$3,823	$21,476
Carter and MacRae Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	251 S Prince St	Lancaster	17603	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 396-6842	444	48	9.2	92.6%	36 (8.1%)	122 (27.5%)	252 (56.8%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.1%)	12.6	1311^th of 1511 public elementary schools	13.2%		15.8	1276^th of 1526 public elementary schools	16.4%	35	13.8	31.3	22.4	22.0	13.8	20.4	19.3	17.7	$24,059	$3,377	$20,682
King Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	466 Rockland St	Lancaster	17602	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 291-6178	413	34	12.1	97.6%	15 (3.6%)	58 (14.0%)	318 (77.0%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.1%)	8.3	1386^th of 1511 public elementary schools	8.3%		13.9	1304^th of 1526 public elementary schools	14.5%	82	21.3	21.2	8.4	17.1	11.7	19.7	11.6	14.5	$23,728	$3,595	$20,132
Wickersham Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	401 N Reservoir St	Lancaster	17602	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 291-6291	402	34	11.8	98.8%	43 (10.7%)	58 (14.4%)	238 (59.2%)	30 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.2%)	51.5	796^th of 1511 public elementary schools	47.3%		41.3	995^th of 1526 public elementary schools	34.8%	199	52.6	40.8	51.1	48.1	45.6	48.2	51.1	48.1	$26,194	$3,828	$22,366
Smith-Wade-Elementary Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	910 Hamilton Park Drive	Lancaster	17603	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 291-6151	397	33	12.0	103.0%	103 (25.9%)	58 (14.6%)	182 (45.8%)	15 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	38 (9.6%)	37.5	997^th of 1511 public elementary schools	34.0%		32.4	1087^th of 1526 public elementary schools	28.8%	90	39.6	43.5	18.0	34.7	48.2	49.2	31.4	43.6	$21,663	$3,452	$18,211
Lafayette Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 Fremont St	Lancaster	17603	Lancaster County	Lancaster School District	No	No	No	Yes	(717) 291-6183	437	40	10.9	102.1%	59 (13.5%)	73 (16.7%)	250 (57.2%)	31 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.5%)	15.1	1271^st of 1511 public elementary schools	15.9%		16.1	1270^th of 1526 public elementary schools	16.8%	1	28.4	26.2	20.4	24.9	26.9	23.1	18.7	22.8	$26,173	$3,873	$22,300

Frequently Asked Questions about Wharton Elementary School

How many students attend Wharton Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 327 students attended Wharton Elementary School.

Is Wharton Elementary School a good school?

Wharton Elementary School ranks 826^th of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Wharton Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Wharton Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Reynolds Middle School
High : McCaskey Campus

What is the racial makeup of Wharton Elementary School?

Students at Wharton Elementary School are 49% White, 31% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 5% African American, 4% Asian.

What district is Wharton Elementary School in?

Lancaster 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.