School district or education agency · NCES 4225290

West Chester Area School District

West Chester, PA

District overview See comparisons

Students12,109

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools17

operational schools · 2023–24

Students12,109

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$18,039

per student

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictPAUnited States

Academic standing2025

61st percentile51st percentile45th percentile

This district is 10 percentile points higher than the state figure and 16 percentile points higher than the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23

11.7%23.3%27.8%

This district is 11.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 16.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023

$24,359$24,823$19,509

This district is $464 per student lower than the state figure and $4,850 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023

$18,039$18,240$15,859

This district is $201 per student lower than the state figure and $2,180 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023

$1,664$1,977$1,964

This district is $313 per student lower than the state figure and $300 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023

$607$513$336

This district is $94 per student higher than the state figure and $271 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023

$3,311$3,520$1,793

This district is $209 per student lower than the state figure and $1,518 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023

$9,311$8,815$8,742

This district is $496 per student higher than the state figure and $569 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023

$5,499$5,632$3,769

This district is $133 per student lower than the state figure and $1,730 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023

$19,988$15,642$11,715

This district is $4,346 per student higher than the state figure and $8,273 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023

$1,474$1,342$869

This district is $132 per student higher than the state figure and $605 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24

13:113:115:1

This district is about the same as the state figure and 2.0 students per teacher lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per counselor2023–24

288:1319:1376:1

This district is 31 students per counselor lower than the state figure and 88 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24

124.8151.6138.9

This district is 26.8 staff per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 14.1 staff per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24

9.419.518.5

This district is 10.1 aides per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 9.1 aides per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24

1.41.00.9

This district is 0.4 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 0.5 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Regular diplomas among completers2023–24

100.0%100.0%99.0%

This district is about the same as the state figure and 1.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24

0.6%2.1%2.6%

This district is 1.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools

3.9%5.4%12.0%

This district is 1.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 8.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools

13.7%18.2%14.0%

This district is 4.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schools

5.1%3.2%3.9%

This district is 1.8 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.1 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools

100.0%97.8%95.8%

This district is 2.2 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24

+0.2%+0.9%+0.5%

This district is 0.7 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records

16.3%47.9%50.6%

This district is 31.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 34.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollment

1.9%4.2%4.5%

This district is 2.3 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.6 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment

9.9%8.8%9.0%

This district is 1.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.9 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollment

3.9%4.0%6.7%

This district is 0.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.8 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students enrolled in district distance education2021–22 · matched enrollment

0.1%7.5%5.1%

This district is 7.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 5.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate

3.7%14.3%14.4%

This district is 10.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 10.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Kindergarten–grade 55,464 students

45.1%

Grades 6–82,704 students

22.3%

Grades 9–123,941 students

32.5%

See enrollment for every grade

Kindergarten856

Grade 1889

Grade 2901

Grade 3927

Grade 4939

Grade 5952

Grade 6922

Grade 7918

Grade 8864

Grade 9991

Grade 10996

Grade 11971

Grade 12983

Students by race and ethnicity

White8,674 (71.6%)

Hispanic/Latino1,143 (9.4%)

Asian1,067 (8.8%)

Two or more races610 (5.0%)

Black or African American604 (5.0%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander9 (0.1%)

American Indian or Alaska Native2 (0.0%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

1,511.7All district staff, full-time equivalent

934.8Teachers, full-time equivalent

42School counselors, full-time equivalent

16.8School psychologists, full-time equivalent

114Instructional aides, full-time equivalent

16Librarians and media specialists, full-time equivalent

32School administrators, full-time equivalent

48Student support staff, full-time equivalent

See detailed staffing

Pre-K teachers7 FTE

Kindergarten teachers33 FTE

Elementary teachers363.2 FTE

Secondary teachers432.6 FTE

Ungraded teachers99 FTE

Instructional coordinators18.1 FTE

District administrators9 FTE

District administrative support24 FTE

School administrative support51 FTE

Library and media support9 FTE

Other support staff197 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

High-school outcomes · 2023–24

How many students completed school or dropped out?

966Total completers

966Regular diplomas

22Reported dropouts, grades 9–12

Regular diplomas among completers

District100.0%

PA100.0%

United States99.0%

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12

District0.6%

PA2.1%

United States2.6%

Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.

Teachers and staff

Teacher workforce

Loading the district’s workforce comparison…

Graduation · 2022–23

How many students graduated within four years?

Loading the district's official graduation record…

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

3.9%Students learning English468 students · 17 of 17 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District3.9%

PA5.4%

U.S.12.0%

13.7%Students receiving IDEA special-education services1,650 students · 17 of 17 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District13.7%

PA18.2%

U.S.14.0%

5.1%Students with Section 504 plans610 students · 17 of 17 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District5.1%

PA3.2%

U.S.3.9%

0.9%English learners also receiving IDEA services107 students · 17 of 17 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District0.9%

PA0.7%

U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

100.0%Teachers reported as certified

Teacher certification comparison

District100.0%

PA97.8%

United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

Community context · 2024

How many school-age children live in poverty?

This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.

16,105children ages 5 to 17

598estimated to live in families below the poverty line

3.7%about 1 in 27 school-age children

District3.7%

PA14.3%

United States14.4%

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.

District geography · 2024–25

What area does this district cover?

NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.

Loading the official district boundary…

Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.

Comparable districts

Districts serving a similar student population

These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in PA receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.

North Penn School DistrictLansdale, PA12,997 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Central Dauphin School DistrictHarrisburg, PA12,543 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Downingtown Area School DistrictDowningtown, PA13,238 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Bethlehem Area School DistrictBethlehem, PA12,864 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Upper Darby School DistrictDrexel Hill, PA12,494 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →

Student outcomes

How are students doing?

Four views answer different questions. State test percentages show grade-level expectations; the national research trend shows change over time; graduation and dropout measures describe high-school outcomes.

Nationally comparable trend · 2019–2025

Are results improving over time?

61^stlatest estimated national standing

20192022202320242025

12 percentile points lower than 2019.

Annual dropout · 2023–24

How many high-school students left during the year?

0.6%of students enrolled in grades 9–12

District0.6%

PA2.1%

U.S.2.6%

Lower is better. This annual rate is not the opposite of the graduation rate because the measures use different students and time periods.

State proficiency standards differ and should not be used for cross-state rankings. Graduation ranges and privacy protections are preserved exactly. The academic trend uses Stanford Education Data Archive estimates and is not a state proficiency percentage.

Academic results · 2025

How do results differ among student groups?

Asian students653 assessments

79 out of 100

Students not economically disadvantaged5,784 assessments

67 out of 100

White students4,942 assessments

63 out of 100

Fem3,383 assessments

62 out of 100

Mal3,556 assessments

60 out of 100

Black students294 assessments

33 out of 100

Economically disadvantaged students1,155 assessments

31 out of 100

Hispanic students612 assessments

28 out of 100

A score of 50 marks the national 2019 midpoint. Higher numbers indicate stronger results on the comparable Stanford research scale. This is not a state proficiency rate.

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

3Middle schools

11Elementary schools

3High schools

17Suburb setting

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

2.5%Federal

16.8%State

80.7%Local

Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$18,039Total current spending per student

$12,004Instruction per student

$5,686Support services per student

Revenue by source: percentages and dollars

$7.4MFederal revenue2.5% of total revenue

$49.7MState revenue16.8% of total revenue

$238.8MLocal revenue80.7% of total revenue

How operating money was used

$12,004Instructionper student

$5,686Student and instructional supportper student

$3,311Special educationper student

$1,673Building operations and maintenanceper student

$712Student transportationper student

$349Food servicesper student

$606Technologyper student

People costs

$113.1MSalaries$9,311 per student

$66.8MEmployee benefits$5,499 per student

Equipment, buildings and debt

$7.4MEquipmentFY 2023

$20.2MCapital outlay$1,664 per student

$12.8MConstructionincluded in capital outlay

$242.8MDebt outstanding at year end$19,988 per student

$188KNew debt issuedFY 2023

$17.9MDebt principal retiredFY 2023

$10.3MInterest paid on debtFY 2023

Selected federal program revenue

$522KTitle I$43 per student

$1.6MChild nutrition$134 per student

What changed since FY 2022

Operating spending per student

FY 2022$17,702

FY 2023$18,039

Capital spending per student

FY 2022$942

FY 2023$1,664

Debt outstanding per student

FY 2022$21,535

FY 2023$19,988

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–216.2%

744 of 11,959 students

2021–2215.5%

1,871 of 12,080 students

2022–2311.7%

1,417 of 12,117 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

1Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE17 reporting schools

3Security staff FTE17 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Algebra I3 reporting schools

Calculus3 reporting schools

Biology3 reporting schools

Chemistry3 reporting schools

Physics3 reporting schools

Computer science3 reporting schools

Advanced Placement3 reporting schools

Dual enrollment3 reporting schools

Gifted programs17 reporting schools

International Baccalaureate3 reporting schools

Athletics3 reporting schools

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

345Out-of-school suspensions17 reporting schoolsSee schools →23In-school suspensions17 reporting schoolsSee schools →143Law-enforcement referrals17 reporting schoolsSee schools →5School-related arrests17 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

100%Schools reporting Wi-Fi17 reporting schools

100%Schools reporting fiber17 reporting schools

6Student devices reported17 reporting schools

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Six questions parents ask

What the available data says

Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.

Are students making academic progress?5 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2025Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?11.7% chronically absent2022–23 · 12,117 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?8 student groups2025 research estimatesExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$18,039current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?288:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →

Data status

8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →