Area schools get high marks in media company’s Pa. rankings
Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Peters Township School District earned the top ranking in the recently released list of 2024 Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools in Pennsylvania by U.S. News & World Report.
U.S. News & World Report – which traditionally releases a list of the best high schools and colleges in the country – began publishing elementary and middle school rankings in 2021.
While Peters Township’s Pleasant Valley Elementary led the rankings, Bower Hill Elementary ranked seventh and McMurray Elementary was 74th among Pennsylvania’s 1,860 elementary schools.
The media company’s researchers base their rankings on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. Elementary schools are considered K-6 in the analysis.
“This is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our students, staff, and families,” said Dr. Greg Marquis, principal of Pleasant Valley. “Every day our team works hard to foster a nurturing and inspiring environment where every child can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.”
Dr. Michael Fisher, assistant superintendent who oversees curriculum for grades K-5 in the district, said the district’s goal is to “put students first, and this recognition is a result of our entire staff working together to provide a positive learning environment focused on the social and academic development of our students.”
Other schools in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties also rated in the top 50%.
In the Canon-McMillan School District, Wylandville Elementary ranked 58th, followed by Hills-Hendersonville at 129, Muse Elementary at 246 and South Central Elementary at 250, while Cecil Intermediate ranked 304.
“Our extraordinary students, educators, staff and families have helped Canon-McMillan see incredible growth and success,” said Dr. Greg Taranto, superintendent of Canon-McMillan School District. “Every day counts, and we are proud of our history, yet looking to the future to continue to grow and improve daily to become a true flagship school district in the region.”
Trinity Area School District’s Trinity East Elementary was ranked 103rd, followed by Trinity South at 229.
Bentworth Elementary placed 235th, while Fort Cherry Elementary ranked 383, and Joe Walker Elementary in the McGuffey School district, 473.
In Upper St. Clair School District in Allegheny County, Baker, Eisenhower and Streams elementary schools ranked 23rd, 24th and 31st, respectively, while Boyce Middle School ranked second.
“The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer parents a way to evaluate how schools are providing a high-quality education and preparing students for future success,” U.S. News managing editor for education Dr. LaMont Jones said in a news release. “Research continues to indicate that how students perform academically at these early grade levels is a big factor in their success in high school and beyond.”