Total enrollment
56,984
+1,144 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Lehigh County
Pennsylvania · Public K-12
Public schools in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania total 83, with combined enrollment of about 56,984 students against a county population of 378,792. That breaks down as 50 elementary, 17 middle, and 12 high.
4-year change in Lehigh County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
83
+2 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Lehigh County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Pennsylvania | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 46.6% | #48 of 62 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 56,984 | #11 of 64 | #199 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 83 | #11 of 64 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.0:1 | #56 of 64 | #1,360 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 70.1% | #27 of 63 | #742 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 65.2% | #5 of 64 | #315 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.
Lehigh County school rankings
Residents
378,792
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
83
20 districts
Enrollment
56,984
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$80,079
Above Pennsylvania avg
Free/reduced lunch
70.1%
Above Pennsylvania avg
Elementary
50
23,504 students
Middle
17
12,309 students
High
12
16,204 students
Combined / other
4
4,967 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Allentown City SD
16,674 students · 20 districts in Lehigh County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lehigh 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+
34.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.9%
civilian labor
Median age
40
22.3% under 18
Test scores in Lehigh County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 77 schools ranked. Pennsylvania state average: 51.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Liberty Bell El Sch· 80.3%
- Parkland HS· 79.9%
- Southern Lehigh SHS· 79.5%
- Alburtis El Sch· 74.9%
- Fred J. Jaindl El Sch· 74.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Innovative Arts Academy CS· 9.1%
- Central El Sch· 11.3%
- Washington El Sch· 11.9%
- Sheridan El Sch· 12.4%
- Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays El Sch· 12.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkland HS | Allentown | High | 09-12 | 3,279 | · |
| William Allen HS | Allentown | High | 09-12 | 3,074 | · |
| Emmaus HS | Emmaus | High | 09-12 | 2,842 | · |
| Louis E Dieruff HS | Allentown | High | 09-12 | 1,914 | · |
| Lehigh Valley Academy Regional CS | Bethlehem | Combined | KG-12 | 1,878 | · |
| Executive Education Academy CS | Allentown | Combined | KG-12 | 1,497 | · |
| Whitehall HS | Whitehall | High | 09-12 | 1,462 | · |
| Springhouse MS | Allentown | Middle | 06-08 | 1,329 | · |
| Lower Macungie MS | Macungie | Middle | 06-08 | 1,041 | · |
| Orefield MS | Orefield | Middle | 06-08 | 1,034 | · |
| Southern Lehigh SHS | Center Valley | High | 09-12 | 1,013 | · |
| Whitehall-Coplay MS | Whitehall | Middle | 06-08 | 975 | · |
| Lincoln Leadership Academy CS | Allentown | Combined | KG-12 | 973 | · |
| South Mountain MS | Allentown | Middle | 06-08 | 972 | · |
| Francis D Raub MS | Allentown | Middle | 06-08 | 876 | · |
| Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 807 | · |
| Eyer MS | Macungie | Middle | 06-08 | 804 | · |
| Trexler MS | Allentown | Middle | 06-08 | 771 | · |
| Nitschmann MS | Bethlehem | Middle | 06-08 | 731 | · |
| Harrison-Morton MS | Allentown | Middle | 06-08 | 704 | · |
| Southern Lehigh Intermediate Sch | Bethlehem | Middle | 04-06 | 702 | · |
| Luis A. Ramos El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 695 | · |
| Central El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | PK-05 | 694 | · |
| Union Terrace El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | PK-05 | 674 | · |
| Northwestern Lehigh HS | New Tripoli | High | 09-12 | 658 | · |
| Roosevelt El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | PK-05 | 631 | · |
| Hiram W Dodd El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 627 | · |
| Roberto Clemente CS | Allentown | Combined | KG-12 | 619 | · |
| Muhlenberg El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | PK-05 | 606 | · |
| Zephyr El Sch | Whitehall | Elementary | 04-05 | 598 | · |
| Willow Lane El Sch | Macungie | Elementary | KG-05 | 593 | · |
| Sheridan El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | 01-05 | 591 | · |
| Francis H Sheckler El Sch | Catasauqua | Elementary | KG-04 | 589 | · |
| Clarence M Gockley El Sch | Whitehall | Elementary | KG-01 | 574 | · |
| Parkway Manor Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 569 | · |
| George D Steckel El Sch | Whitehall | Elementary | 02-03 | 561 | · |
| Mosser El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | PK-05 | 551 | · |
| Salisbury SHS | Allentown | High | 09-12 | 546 | · |
| Shoemaker El Sch | Macungie | Elementary | KG-05 | 537 | · |
| Fountain Hill El Sch | Bethlehem | Elementary | PK-05 | 530 | · |
| Macungie El Sch | Macungie | Elementary | KG-05 | 529 | · |
| Jefferson El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 522 | · |
| Kernsville Sch | Orefield | Elementary | KG-05 | 512 | · |
| Kratzer Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 510 | · |
| Northern Lehigh SHS | Slatington | High | 09-12 | 502 | · |
| Seven Generations CS | Emmaus | Elementary | KG-08 | 497 | · |
| Cetronia Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 496 | · |
| Slatington El Sch | Slatington | Elementary | 03-06 | 487 | · |
| Fogelsville Sch | Breinigsville | Elementary | KG-05 | 480 | · |
| Catasauqua MS | Catasauqua | Middle | 05-08 | 477 | · |
| Innovative Arts Academy CS | Catasauqua | High | 06-12 | 477 | · |
| Southern Lehigh MS | Center Valley | Middle | 07-08 | 471 | · |
| Schnecksville Sch | Schnecksville | Elementary | KG-05 | 465 | · |
| Wescosville El Sch | Wescosville | Elementary | KG-05 | 465 | · |
| Ritter El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 463 | · |
| Salisbury El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-04 | 461 | · |
| Veterans Memorial El Sch | Breinigsville | Elementary | KG-05 | 451 | · |
| Salisbury MS | Allentown | Middle | 05-08 | 448 | · |
| Liberty Bell El Sch | Coopersburg | Elementary | KG-03 | 445 | · |
| Northwestern Lehigh MS | New Tripoli | Middle | 06-08 | 440 | · |
| Circle of Seasons CS | Fogelsville | Elementary | KG-08 | 433 | · |
| Fred J. Jaindl El Sch | Breinigsville | Elementary | KG-05 | 433 | · |
| Hopewell El Sch | Center Valley | Elementary | KG-03 | 426 | · |
| Arts Academy Elementary CS | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 425 | · |
| Weisenberg El Sch | Kutztown | Elementary | KG-05 | 425 | · |
| Ironton Sch | Coplay | Elementary | KG-05 | 417 | · |
| Building 21 Allentown | Allentown | High | 09-12 | 415 | · |
| Northwestern Lehigh El Sch | New Tripoli | Elementary | KG-05 | 396 | · |
| Peters El Sch | Slatington | Elementary | KG-02 | 389 | · |
| Clearview El Sch | Bethlehem | Elementary | KG-05 | 384 | · |
| Lincoln El Sch | Emmaus | Elementary | KG-05 | 376 | · |
| Washington El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | 01-05 | 362 | · |
| Alburtis El Sch | Alburtis | Elementary | KG-05 | 360 | · |
| Arts Academy CS | Allentown | Middle | 05-08 | 296 | · |
| Lehigh Parkway El Sch | Allentown | Elementary | KG-05 | 276 | · |
| Jefferson El Sch | Emmaus | Elementary | KG-05 | 268 | · |
| James Buchanan El Sch | Bethlehem | Elementary | KG-05 | 253 | · |
| Northern Lehigh MS | Slatington | Middle | 07-08 | 238 | · |
| Calypso El Sch | Bethlehem | Elementary | PK-05 | 222 | · |
| Jackson Early Childhood Center | Allentown | Elementary | PK-KG | 212 | · |
| Ruby Bridge Childhood Center | Allentown | Elementary | PK-KG | 125 | · |
| Sonia Sotomayor Dual Lang Immersion Academy | Allentown | Elementary | PK-05 | 112 | · |
| Lehigh Career and Technical Institute | Schnecksville | High | 09-12 | 22 | · |
Cities in Lehigh County
Allentown36 schoolsBethlehem7 schoolsMacungie5 schoolsWhitehall5 schoolsEmmaus4 schoolsSlatington4 schoolsBreinigsville3 schoolsCatasauqua3 schoolsCenter Valley3 schoolsNew Tripoli3 schoolsOrefield2 schoolsSchnecksville2 schoolsAlburtis1 schoolCoopersburg1 schoolCoplay1 schoolFogelsville1 schoolKutztown1 schoolWescosville1 school
About Lehigh County
Lehigh County is a wide-reaching county of about 378,792 residents in Pennsylvania. Its public-school system serves approximately 56,984 students across 83 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $80,079, about 34% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 12% meaningfully above the Pennsylvania median.
For a sense of the school types, Lehigh County is built around 50 elementary schools (23,504 students), 17 middle schools (12,309), 12 high schools (16,204), and 4 combined or other schools.
Allentown City SD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 16,674 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment remained close to its prior level: 55,840 students in SY 2020-21 versus 56,984 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 81 to 83 across the same 4-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Lehigh County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data