Palmyra best among Lebanon County high schools in U.S. News rankings

Palmyra Area High School and several schools in the district received high marks in U.S. News & World Report’s Best School rankings for 2026.

According to the annual report, the high school ranked 88th out of 741 schools in Pennsylvania, and 2,284th out of 17,907 schools in the nation.

Palmyra Area High School received an overall score of 87.24/100, placing it comfortably ahead of other high schools in Lebanon County. Here’s how the other local high schools placed in the 2026 report:

• Cedar Crest High School, #2 in Lebanon County, #144 in Pennsylvania, #3,798 in the U.S. Overall score: 78.78/100.
• Eastern Lebanon County Senior High School, #3 in Lebanon County, #224 in Pennsylvania, #5,498 in the U.S. Overall score: 69.29/100.
• Annville Cleona High School , #4 in Lebanon County, #359 in Pennsylvania, #8,972 in the U.S. Overall score: 49.88/100.
• Northern Lebanon Senior High School, #5 in Lebanon County, #445 in Pennsylvania, #11,329 in the U.S. Overall score: 36.71/100.
• Lebanon Senior High School, #6 in Lebanon County, #522-672 in Pennsylvania, #13,427-17,901 in the U.S. Overall score: less than 25.*

* Schools that scored 25 or less out of 100 were not ranked individually but were lumped in the report as being somewhere in the range of 13,427 to 17,901 in the national rankings and in the range of 522 to 672 among Pennsylvania high schools.

Nearby Hershey High School ranked first among Harrisburg metro area high schools, placing #18 in Pennsylvania and #652 in the nation with an overall score of 96.36/100.

The magazine also rated more than 23,000 middle schools and about 47,000 elementary schools schools across the country (1,575 elementary schools and 860 middle schools in Pennsylvania) and, again, Palmyra earned high marks.

• Palmyra Area Middle School: 61st ranked middle school in Pennsylvania.
• Lingle Avenue Elementary School: 71st ranked elementary school in Pennsylvania.
• Northside Elementary School: 106th ranked elementary school in Pennsylvania.
• Pine Street Elementary School: 115th ranked elementary school in Pennsylvania.
• Forge Road Elementary School: 496th ranked elementary school in Pennsylvania.

“The Palmyra Area School District, over the years, has become known as one of the higher performing school districts in the region and across the Commonwealth,” Palmyra superintendent Dr. Bernie Kepler said in a release. “Having a highly effective staff and families who support our school system are instrumental in our success as a school district. Our team of educators continues to strive toward excellence in all that we do.”

The release also noted that Palmyra Area School District “attains these rankings while per pupil spending remains low in comparison to schools in the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Department of Education reports that in 2024 the Palmyra Area School District was 490th out of 500 school districts in per pupil expenditures. Understanding that only ten school districts in Pennsylvania spend less per student than Palmyra Area School District, these rankings are quite impressive.”

According to U.S. News & World Report, high schools were ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college. Elementary and middle school rankings were based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education.

“Recognizing schools that consistently deliver high-quality education, U.S. News’ 2026 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings showcase institutions that empower students from a variety of backgrounds,” LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in the release. “This data-rich resource helps parents choose schools that are truly making a difference in children’s academic journeys.”

Details of the rankings for Palmyra Area High School and other high schools in the report are available online, as are rankings for middle and elementary schools.