Total enrollment
11,015
-454 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Lawrence County
Pennsylvania · Public K-12
Lawrence County's public schools total 25 across the county, with enrollment of about 11,015 and New Castle Area SD the largest single district. The level mix is 10 elementary, 6 middle, and 9 high schools.
4-year change in Lawrence County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
25
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Lawrence County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Pennsylvania | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 51.2% | #30 of 62 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 11,015 | #32 of 64 | #754 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 25 | #34 of 64 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.8:1 | #52 of 64 | #1,257 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 67.5% | #30 of 63 | #820 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 34.0% | #27 of 64 | #1,677 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Lawrence County school rankings
Residents
85,024
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
25
9 districts
Enrollment
11,015
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$61,931
Below Pennsylvania avg
Free/reduced lunch
67.5%
Below Pennsylvania avg
Elementary
10
5,106 students
Middle
6
1,719 students
High
9
4,190 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
New Castle Area SD
2,872 students · 9 districts in Lawrence County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lawrence County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
23.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.7%
civilian labor
Median age
45
20.0% under 18
Test scores in Lawrence County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 23 schools ranked. Pennsylvania state average: 51.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Mohawk SHS· 70.2%
- Union Area HS· 69.0%
- Laurel HS· 68.2%
- Laurel MS· 68.2%
- Neshannock Memorial El Sch· 65.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- New Castle JHS· 20.5%
- Washington Intrmd Sch· 24.1%
- Wilmington Area JSHS· 41.5%
- Lawrence County Career and Technical Center· 42.5%
- New Castle SHS· 42.9%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle SHS | New Castle | High | 09-12 | 740 | · |
| Harry W Lockley Early Learning Center | New Castle | Elementary | KG-02 | 736 | · |
| Mohawk El Sch | New Castle | Elementary | KG-05 | 709 | · |
| Washington Intrmd Sch | New Castle | Elementary | 03-05 | 707 | · |
| New Castle JHS | New Castle | Middle | 06-08 | 689 | · |
| Neshannock Memorial El Sch | New Castle | Elementary | KG-06 | 688 | · |
| Lincoln JSHS | Ellwood City | High | 07-12 | 682 | · |
| Neshannock JSHS | New Castle | High | 07-12 | 545 | · |
| Laurel El Sch | New Castle | Elementary | KG-06 | 503 | · |
| Shenango El Sch | New Castle | Elementary | KG-06 | 485 | · |
| Shenango HS | New Castle | High | 07-12 | 449 | · |
| Wilmington Area JSHS | New Wilmington | High | 07-12 | 444 | · |
| Lawrence County Career and Technical Center | New Castle | High | 09-12 | 418 | · |
| Mohawk SHS | New Castle | High | 09-12 | 406 | · |
| North Side Primary School | Ellwood City | Elementary | KG-02 | 376 | · |
| Wilmington Area El Sch | New Wilmington | Elementary | KG-04 | 357 | · |
| Mohawk JHS | New Castle | Middle | 06-08 | 329 | · |
| Union Memorial El Sch | New Castle | Elementary | PK-05 | 320 | · |
| Laurel HS | New Castle | High | 09-12 | 313 | · |
| Hartman Intrmd Sch | Ellwood City | Middle | 05-06 | 225 | · |
| Perry Lower Intrmd Sch | Ellwood City | Elementary | 03-04 | 225 | · |
| Union Area HS | New Castle | High | 09-12 | 193 | · |
| Union Area MS | New Castle | Middle | 06-08 | 174 | · |
| Laurel MS | New Castle | Middle | 07-08 | 160 | · |
| Wilmington Area Upper El Sch | New Wilmington | Middle | 05-06 | 142 | · |
Cities in Lawrence County
About Lawrence County
In Pennsylvania, Lawrence County is a medium-population county of about 85,024 residents. 25 public schools across the county enrolls about 11,015 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $61,931, about 23% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 13% meaningfully below the Pennsylvania median.
For a sense of the school types, Lawrence County spans 10 elementary schools (5,106 students), 6 middle schools (1,719), and 9 high schools (4,190).
New Castle Area SD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,872 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment fell 4%: 11,469 students in SY 2020-21 versus 11,015 in SY 2024-25.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Lawrence County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data