6 Northampton Schools Among Best For Grades K-8: U.S. News

NORTHAMPTON, PA — Several elementary and middle schools in Northampton have been ranked among the best in Pennsylvania, according to a brand-new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

For the inaugural list, U.S. News published rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary and middle schools across the United States.

Schools are ranked at the state and district levels. The best charter schools and best magnet schools ranked as stand-alone categories.

U.S. News ranked Richboro Elementary School as the highest in the state among schools in Northampton, according to the new list. Richboro Elementary was ranked 608.

Here’s a look at how other schools in Northampton ranked compared with others in the state:

• 666: Hillcrest Elementary School, Council Rock School District
• 745: Holland Elementary School, Council Rock School District
• 812: Churchville Elementary School, Council Rock School District
• 829: Rolling Hills Elementary School, Council Rock School District
• 916: Maureen M. Welch Elementary School, Council Rock School District

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze two areas at each school:

• Math and reading proficiency — or how well students perform on state assessments.
• Math and reading performance — or how well they perform compared with expectations.

The state assessment data used in the rankings is from the 2018-19 school year and, therefore, predates any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on test-taking.

Schools were also ranked by district. Here’s how elementary and middle schools in Council Rock School District measured up:

1. Sol Feinstone Elementary School
2. Goodnoe Elementary School
3. Newtown Elementary School
4. Richboro Elementary School
5. Hillcrest Elementary School
6. Holland Elementary School
7-9. Churchville Elementary School
7-9. Maureen M. Welch Elementary School
7-9. Rolling Hills Elementary School

Nationally, California has 5,534 ranked elementary schools — the most of any state — followed by Texas at 4,446; New York at 2,211; Florida at 2,128; and Illinois at 2,038 schools.

California also has the most ranked middle schools with 2,319, followed by Texas at 1,942; Illinois at 1,243; New York at 1,219; and Florida at 997.

See the complete list of 2021’s Best K-8 Schools.