2024 Best School Districts in the Pittsburgh Area

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  181 reviews

Other: Being a new teacher to The North Allegheny School District has been one of the most rewarding experiences. I have had the opportunity to work with amazing teachers, parents, and students. I am part of an incredible school community where people collaborate, help, and celebrate one another. Having the opportunity to coach, host after school clubs based off my own interests, and attend other school related events has been so special. I am so excited to continue my teaching career in an amazing district. Go Tigers!... Read 181 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 11

• Students 8,467

• 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 5,397

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  58 reviews

Senior: My time at Upper St. Clair High School has been marked by exceptional academic opportunities and dedicated teachers. However, it's not without its challenges, as some students display entitlement and foster a sense of superiority. This elitist atmosphere can be disheartening. Fortunately, I've been blessed with two amazing friends, Hannah and Rowan, who have been my unwavering support system. They've helped me stay positive and provided a sense of belonging in this sometimes toxic environment. Together, we've faced these challenges, and their friendship has been a guiding light throughout my high school journey. Upper St. Clair High School, like any educational institution, has its pros and cons. It's not just about the academics; it's the people you surround yourself with who truly make the difference. Thanks to Hannah and Rowan, I've not only survived but thrived in this demanding environment, and for that, I'm immensely grateful.... Read 58 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 3,931

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  71 reviews

Freshman: This school district is wonderful. It's full of accepting students who truly care. The teachers are great! We do lack in racial and cultural diversity though. We have only one black teacher in the high school (Spanish teacher). Every other teacher in the high school, to my knowledge is white. Overall it's a great school district with great teachers and wonderful students. I recommend sending your kids here if that's what you're here to find out about.... Read 71 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 4,158

• 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 3,443

• 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 2,702

• Mcmurray, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  59 reviews

Senior: Excellent district. Teachers are caring and compassionate, want to see students excel. elementary schools provide a great start. Adequate sports representation for variety. High school provides range of classes including honors and many AP options for those students wanting to push themselves to do more. Many clubs available for students to participate.... Read 59 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,939

• Leetsdale, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.37 out of 5  41 reviews

Alum: Overall, it was a fairly good experience. Most teachers that I have had in the school district are great teachers that are very accepting and good at what they do. Despite this, there are always those few that you will come across that are not good at teaching their students in a way that will help them learn the material. The high school specifically is falling apart, and they have taken extensive amounts of time to being building a new one.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 4

• Students 1,863

• 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 3,049

• Murrysville, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  60 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 60 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 4

• Students 3,369

• 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 3,852

• Gibsonia, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  47 reviews

Senior: The high school is a very nice building. The teachers are very nice and very good at their job. There are a lot of different types of people. The school district seems to be mostly Caucasian but seems to be diversifying more and more as time goes on. My little brother is three years younger and his grade seems to be more diverse. There are some very well-off people in the district but there are also a decent amount of less fortunate people. I would like to see academics treated as important or more important than athletics. Athletics are very important to the school district and they get a lot of praise from the administration. The school is very adamant about preventing bullying. Since kindergarten, I have always remembered learning about the fill-a-bucket method. Now the school uses the RAMS way method. Respectful, accountable, motivated, and safe. This is how the school functions on the daily.... Read 47 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 6

• Students 4,550

• Moon Township, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  95 reviews

Senior: I really enjoyed my experience at Moon Area High School. I was provided an excellent education with many AP and CHS courses available. Taking advantage of this, I took AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP European History, AP Calculus AB and BC, AP English Literature and AP English Language and Composition. All of the teachers for these classes were very devoted to making sure the students succeeded. They were willing to help outside of school hours and created a great learning experience. Outside of the classroom, there is a lot of great opportunities with sports, music groups, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. My experience at Moon Area High School was very memorable because of all of the support and excellent opportunities.... Read 95 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 8

• Students 3,995

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  79 reviews

Alum: The teachers that I have learned most of my knowledge from have been incredibly supporting and caring. They'd always be concerned with how students would be performing and would go the extra mile if they needed to. The faculty also showed compassion of the highest degree making sure the students knew they weren't alone. The less fortunate side of North Hills is that it was hard to get any assistance if you or a fellow student was being bullied. The child in need would only be suggested that they go see the guidance counselor, instead of solving the issue by consulting the bully.... Read 79 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 6

• Students 4,554

• Latrobe, PA•

• School District

• •
  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 minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,511

• Canonsburg, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  126 reviews

Senior: I have enjoyed the past 3 years and am looking forward to starting senior year! I love the connection I have made with my teachers. Several teachers have had a huge impact on my decision to study Chemistry in college, they are all supportive and very encouraging. I have never hesitated to ask a question or for advice because I know they truly care about my success.... Read 126 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 9

• Students 5,309

• Imperial, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  45 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 45 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,316

• 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 minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,556

• Jefferson Hills, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  28 reviews

Senior: Going on twelve years of being a jaguar and all of my years I have never really had a teacher that I absolutely did not like. There were a few that I've butted heads with but even then, they still provided the same amount of compassion that they'd give to even their favorite student. If there were one thing I'd like to change about the highschool it would have to be within the selection of classes offered. I've always dreamed of learning some latin. Unfortunately, at my high school there are only two languages to chose from. I wish there were more options when it came to that department, but overall I am still very happy with my school!... Read 28 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,256

• Bethel Park, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  67 reviews

Senior: This school offers a wide range of education to anyone, whether their interested in Stem or the Arts. Ive found myself, as an artistic student, that i learned a lot of valuable tips and tricks by the staff of art teachers. Ive learned as well from the students around me, and seeing their creativity through their work. I have also learned about the bad from this school when it comes to bullying and disrespect. This usually come with any school, but there will never be a day when I don’t hear something problematic from another student. I have seen people grow in Bethel Park for the better, but some just stay the same. Maybe they'll change too, now probably isn't the time. Bethel Park makes me happy to be there everyday, regardless. Amazing people come out of that school and I can’t wait to be the next in line.... Read 67 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 8

• Students 3,894

• Monroeville, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  54 reviews

Senior: Personally, I had a great experience! I was able to excel in my classes, especially the honors and ap level ones. I participated in a variety of sports and clubs and made great friends. The stuff was great and very helpful. The school was very diverse as well.... Read 54 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 6

• Students 3,420

• 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 5,070

• 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 1,884

• Elizabeth, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  36 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 36 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 6

• Students 2,355

• Pittsburgh, PA•

• School District

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  28 reviews

Senior: As a student of Avonworth since kindergarten, I really enjoyed my experience here. Although there may have been some inadequate teachers and problems along the way, that exists at any school. It really depends on how you decide to utilize the system and take advantage of all the perks of going to a small public school. As a student who loads up on AP classes, the teachers really try to work with the students to not only prepare you to pass that exam, but adjust to make your learning experience as best as possible. I have seen the teachers and administration change drastically since my older siblings attended. I am sad they did not get to see it but the people in charge right now are always for the students. They are very supportive of having fun while prioritizing academics. One of the best perks of being a small school is that everybody has the chance to be heard if they choose to speak out. I am very fortunate to say that I will be very sad to leave Avonworth!... Read 28 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 4

• Students 1,895