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- calendar_today October 20, 2026
U.S. News & World Report Unveils Best Middle and Elementary Schools in Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia region has swept the top spots in the 2027 edition of the U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of public elementary and middle schools in Pennsylvania. The highly anticipated report, released Tuesday, analyzes about 46,000 public elementary schools and 24,000 middle schools across the country, ranking them by state and school district instead of nationally.
All Top Eight Middle Schools in Pennsylvania Are in the Philly Region
For middle schools, the Philadelphia area made a clean sweep, with its schools occupying the top eight positions in the state. The Julia R. Masterman School, a Fairmount-based institution serving grades 5 through 12, was named Pennsylvania's best middle school. Notably, Masterman was also previously recognized as the No. 3 high school in the country, making it a standout in multiple educational categories.
Following Masterman on the state middle school list were:
- Penn Alexander School (West Philadelphia)
- Black Rock Middle School (Villanova)
- William M. Meredith School (Queen Village)
- Gen. George A. McCall School (Society Hill)
- Radnor Middle School (Wayne)
- Girard Academic Music Program (South Philadelphia)
- Souderton Charter School Collaborative (Souderton)
Two schools outside the Philadelphia area rounded out the statewide top 10 for middle schools: the Infinity Charter School in Harrisburg and Fort Couch Middle School in Pittsburgh.
School District of Philadelphia's Strong Showing
Five of the top 10 middle schools in the state are part of the School District of Philadelphia, further highlighting the district's presence in public education. These schools include Julia R. Masterman, Penn Alexander, William M. Meredith, Gen. George A. McCall, and the Girard Academic Music Program.
Montgomery County Schools Shine in Elementary Rankings
While middle schools in Philadelphia and its suburbs dominated state rankings, elementary schools in the immediate city were less prominent at the very top. However, the Philadelphia region, especially Montgomery County, maintained a strong foothold in statewide elementary school rankings:
- Merion Elementary School claimed the No. 4 spot statewide
- Penn Valley School was ranked No. 8
- Conshohocken Elementary School came in at No. 10
Other schools that serve both elementary and middle grades also received high marks. Penn Alexander School, which enrolls students from kindergarten through eighth grade, was ranked No. 11 in the elementary category. Similarly, William M. Meredith and Gen. George A. McCall schools also made the elementary school list at No. 15 and No. 67, respectively, indicating consistent performance across grade bands.
Methodology and Broader Implications
Unlike the national rankings familiar in comparing high schools and colleges, U.S. News & World Report's elementary and middle school lists focus strictly on statewide and district-level comparisons. The 2027 update includes thousands of schools, underscoring the competitive nature of education in Pennsylvania and, particularly, the continued achievements of public institutions in the Philadelphia region.
This year's results reinforce the Philadelphia area's educational reputation and highlight Montgomery County's contribution at the elementary level.
Conclusion
The current U.S. News & World Report rankings showcase the Philadelphia region's exceptional performance among Pennsylvania's middle schools, with all top eight spots secured by local schools. At the elementary level, Montgomery County schools have also demonstrated strong results, further emphasizing the region's educational strengths.
Source: phillyvoice.com.
