2023 Best School Districts in the Pittsburgh Area

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.37 out of 5  175 reviews

Senior: The teachers are excellent, and so are the opportunities offered to students! I loved most of my classes and teachers throughout my time here. However, the music and sports departments are amazing, and we're nationally recognized for our speech and debate team. The STEM classes are also great. My one complaint would be that some of the administrators, especially at the senior high, are difficult to approach and unhelpful.... Read 175 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 11

• Students 8,499

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  70 reviews

Alum: Great academics, good teachers, excellent clubs and extra curricular activities. Challenging and fair, prepared for higher education.... Read 70 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 4,093

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  34 reviews

Parent: Mt. Lebanon School District is an great choice for families looking for a high-quality education. As a resident for 15 years, I have had the pleasure of watching my two children thrive academically and socially in Mt. Lebanon. The teachers are dedicated and care about the success of each student. They provide a challenging and stimulating curriculum that has prepared my children well for college. The counselors are also top-notch and have provided valuable guidance and support throughout the college application process for my older son. My children have formed many great friendships with their classmates and the student body is very kind and welcoming. Overall, I highly recommend Mt. Lebanon School District to any family looking for an excellent education for their children. The district provides great preparation for college and guidance during the application process, with excellent teachers and counselors and a great student body, the district is truly a gem in the community.... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 10

• Students 5,361

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  57 reviews

Senior: In my opinion, the school itself has a great education level. The staff is always willing to help the students with their activities, homework and other school related activities. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to study here. It's a great school with great teachers. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the student environment.... Read 57 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 3,931

• Mcdonald, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  42 reviews

Senior: The quality of education provided here is exceptional. This school provides a litany of AP, honors, and CHS classes. Most of the teachers are phenomenal; they are compassionate, engaging, and always more than willing to help. Many of the teachers are experts in their field. There are a few bad teachers who should have retired (or in a few cases been let go) long ago, and they are protected by the administration who refuses to do anything about them. The guidance department is helpful and was invaluable to me when I was applying to colleges. Many of the students are quite science-focused, and as a humanities lover myself I found that there were very limited extracurricular and elective options in the humanities. Most academic clubs are science- or technology-related. Overall, my academic experience was excellent and my social life was okay, but I think that the administration has done a few problematic things.... Read 42 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 4

• Students 3,437

• Allison Park, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  70 reviews

Freshman: Hampton High School encourages all students to achieve their goals and dreams! The teacher staff is excellent, as they access each student’s personal progress and provide ideas for individual development.... Read 70 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 5

• Students 2,696

• Mcmurray, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  58 reviews

Alum: Peters Township has a true sense of community. Going through the grades from 1st to 12th, by the time we all got to high school, everyone knew each other. There was not the animosity and drama that is so expected with the adolescent years. The character of the student body is one of acceptance and unity. I've often heard that people only find where they belong once they get to college, but I found myself much earlier because of this school district. I met my closest friends and my lifelong mentors at Peters. Academically, Peters is a strong school. Of course, there are some schools nearby in other counties that may have a more competitive nature. There are definitely students who thrive in high-pressure, cut-throat competition, but I was not one of them. I feel that Peters gives that level of academic excellence while still having a healthy environment. Anyone looking to come to Peters can rest assured that they are sending their child into a safe and welcoming community.... Read 58 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,933

• Leetsdale, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  40 reviews

Middle School Student: Quaker Valley has many great things about it, and is deservingly a top rated school in the area. Elementary and middle school is great, current high school is a disaster. Athletics are great, and people are generally pretty nice around the school. Not a lot of diversity, but about same as surrounding school districts. Opportunities for every student to do what they love, so definitely a 5 star school.... Read 40 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 4

• Students 1,876

• Gibsonia, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  46 reviews

Senior: Pine Richland School District has offered many opportunities to become involved in school. As a high school senior, I have learned how to be more flexible, accountable, and disciplined in my academics and in sports. There have been many opportunities in high school to discover new and interesting classes other than the core classes required. I personally have taken video production classes, an economics class, and a global cuisine class to name a few. Another important part of my life has been dedicated to playing soccer since the age of five. I continued to play through high school as well as on a year round club team. Soccer has taught me many life lessons, for example how to be a team player, to strategize, and to set and achieve goals. Overall, my high school career has been one of greatness!... Read 46 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 6

• Students 4,474

• Mc Kees Rocks, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  62 reviews

Senior: The Montour School District is a very safe and kind community. The staff always makes an effort to support the students and accommodate every student's needs. They offer a wide variety of opportunities in every school in the district and the curriculum is outstanding. In the High School, they prepare you for college and help you get the necessary courses for post-secondary learning. They are very proactive about their no-bullying policy and have lots of activities and programs to make sure that their students are in good mental, physical, and emotional health.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 3

• Students 2,955

• Moon Township, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  94 reviews

Alum: I feel that my time at Moon was not perfect, but it was good. The community as a whole was very supportive of most sports and the academics were great. As a student athlete, I do feel like administrators made it easy for me to get my work caught up and didn’t use me playing a sport as a weapon against me.... Read 94 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 8

• Students 3,951

• Murrysville, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  59 reviews

Junior: Franklin is a pretty average school district. One thing I would like to see a change in is the math department. With the exception of a few teachers, the math teachers at Frankin are not the greatest. Overall, the teachers and staff are nice and very willing to help students who ask for it. I have witnessed minimal bullying and everyone at the school gets along pretty well, obviously with a few exceptions. I am a member of the marching band at Franklin, so I know firsthand that the music program here is excellent. There are many opportunities to expand your skills and abilities and get to as high of a level as the student wishes to go. The school also offers band trip opportunities where the band has gone to California, New York City, Disney, and more to play in parades and events and spend time there. Overall, Franklin Regional is a good place to learn.... Read 59 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,299

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  77 reviews

Senior: North Hills School District is an excellent place of learning and education. The building and the learning environment itself make for a great experience. The faculty to student ratio allows for you to make a connection with your teaching instructor and not become "just another number" in the school. The school offers many great facilities for students to use including basketball courts, weight rooms, and a swimming pool. The large variety of classes you can take allows for any student of any age to find their interests!... Read 77 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 6

• Students 4,606

• Harrison City, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  29 reviews

Parent: I'm very pleased with the education and experiences that my two children received at Penn-Trafford. The high school renovation was completed around 2016 and the school is beautiful! The staff is very caring and assisted well beyond the classroom. The district is in a very safe area, and there is a lot of school spirit in the community.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 8

• Students 3,848

• Latrobe, PA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.41 out of 5  66 reviews

Alum: The Greater Latrobe School District is among the strongest school districts in Westmoreland County. The staff are very resourceful and show genuine interest in student success and personal achievement. Because of faculty encouragement and care, the district produces many high achieving graduates. With a 97% graduation rate, GLSD saw at least 14% of the 2022 seniors graduate with a 4.0 GPA or higher. One issue within the district is the language program, which is currently a pressing topic among the community. The district made a notion to remove French and German from the high school, to instead devote those resources to implementing Spanish in the elementary schools, but was met with deep opposition by students who preferred the diverse range of options as opposed to early exposure. Regardless of this riff between students and faculty, the strength and educational pride within the district is obvious through the genuine care for education that both students and staff exemplify.... Read 66 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,571

• Plum, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  125 reviews

Parent: The Plum Borough School District is an absolutely outstanding school district! They really really care about the kids, the always make sure their safe. Their a nationally recognized school district that is looking to exceptionally prepare their students for success.... Read 125 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,537

• Canonsburg, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  117 reviews

Sophomore: I really enjoy the supportive and encouraging environment created by the teachers and students. There is a strong sense of identity among the student body, which promotes team spirit. The teachers here are mostly very helpful and truly care about the education of the students. The student body is also very diverse, and all seem to get along with each other. There are not many signs of prejudice or discrimination. A specific aspect I love about the high school is that the murals depict up-lifting messages, such as "No Hate, Just Love". Many of these murals were creatively drawn by the art students of the school. Also, there is a preschool in the High School, where early education classes are offered to train young adults in taking care of children. Of course, no school district is perfect. At Canon-McMillan High School, I would like to see more effort in finding appropriate teachers for the right classes. In addition, I hope to see that funds are put into useful causes.... Read 117 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 9

• Students 5,350

• Bethel Park, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  65 reviews

Senior: This is a suburban school district. The district offers many options for school extracurricular activities, including: arts, music, sports, and clubs. The district is ranked higher than average for academics and focuses strongly on STEAM activities. The district is strong in integrating diversity, especially with specials needs students. The area, however, is not highly diverse in regarding to race and ethnicity. Students graduating from this district have a well-rounded background to prepare them for secondary institutional education. Like many other school districts in the area, Bethel Park was well prepared for the remote learning caused by COVID-19.... Read 65 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 8

• Students 3,902

• Oakmont, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  22 reviews

Parent: Excellent small public school district in Oakmont and Verona. Students receive lots of personal attention and have many opportunities to get involved. Parents really get to know the teachers, administrators, staff, and community. Great walkable district! Highly recommend.... Read 22 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 3

• Students 906

• Imperial, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  44 reviews

Alum: I would consider it to be a slightly above average public school experience. There are a few very good teachers that provide the school with a more lively experience. The administration is as most public school administrations are- they have their rules and policies and follow them unflinchingly, regardless of circumstance. It is also worth noting the Kindness Workshop activity that made local news. As a brief overview, a full grade was made to reveal very deep personal information to other classmates in an attempt to reduce bullying, by showing students how many experiences they share, however the 'anonymous' aspect of the activity only involved a student holding something in front of their face when they spoke, meaning all students could recognize the speaker. I know this review feels scathing thus far, but the academics of the school were very good compared to other high schools in surrounding areas. There was a relatively good mannered and fun atmosphere from students and faculty... Read 44 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,290

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  31 reviews

Senior: Overall I like my highschool. Small enough to know most students, big enough to have various offerings and options of study. I've made many great friends and assocations. The music, arts, STEM offerings are great. In general, its friendly, safe and educational institution... Read 31 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 1,907

• Elizabeth, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  33 reviews

Senior: Elizabeth Forward School District is a hidden gem, for it combines the rust-belt families of Monongahela Valley to the rural residents of Pennsylvania. It provides a great atmosphere for learning, and the teachers are always ready to help students. The district has been commended for pioneering the introduction of modern technology to its curriculum, and increase students’ technological fluency. Great emphasis is put on STEM learning and careers, and the branches of arts and humanities are also heavily invested in. Elizabeth Forward achieves the goal of educating and preparing students for life after post-secondary education, and even in doing this, they are able to maintain strong sports programs. The swim and softball teams have consistently been excellent, with baseball and football on the rise as well. While the high school building is becoming more dated, the benefits of attending Elizabeth Forward far outweigh any minute negatives there might be, creating an ideal school.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 6

• Students 2,291

• Monroeville, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  53 reviews

Senior: My favorite thing about Gateway is all the clubs and sports that it offers. I come from a school where we didn’t have any schools/sports clubs, so having the chance to finally be able to participate in all these activities is a huge blessing. However, I feel like most of the school community only focuses in Football and Basketball and all others sports are left aside. The security could be better though, there’s fights every two weeks. The food is average to be honest, most food is nasty and uneasy to eat. The chicken of the chicken salad smells disgusting and has no flavor. Don’t get me wrong, I’m highly grateful for the school lunch but the quality could be better.... Read 53 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 7

• Students 3,396

• Jefferson Hills, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  27 reviews

Senior: I have moved to West Jefferson Hills School District in my Junior year of high school, and love this place. Everyone is wonderful here. Honestly, I am very happy to be graduating here.... Read 27 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,199

• North Huntingdon, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  82 reviews

Alum: Norwin School District was a very academically striving school with a dedicated staff that encourage students to strive for success. The curriculum was challenging in the best way and the variety of courses allowed students to achieve a well-rounded education. The sports programs were extremely dedicated to teaching discipline, hard work, and dedication. Numerous clubs of all different kinds were provided and available for students to get involved. The facilities provided to students were also extremely well kept, updated, and welcoming. Overall, I feel so lucky to have grown up and graduated from Norwin School District, because it gave me so much opportunity for success and for understanding the true value of a quality education.... Read 82 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 7

• Students 5,117