Ephrata Area Sd

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Ephrata, Pennsylvania - 7 schools

An equity score of 46/100 ranks Ephrata Area Sd #355 of 648 districts in Pennsylvania (state average 49). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $16,676 per pupil, Ephrata Area Sd ranks #396 of 671 Pennsylvania districts by per-pupil spending (Pennsylvania districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,953
Total Enrollment
7
Schools
$16,676
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ephrata Area Sd operates 7 public schools serving 3,953 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Pennsylvania. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Lancaster County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,676 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 671 Pennsylvania districts by per-pupil spending. See how Pennsylvania compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 63.7% local, 29.0% state, and 7.2% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 46/100, ranked #355 of 648 in Pennsylvania against a state average of 49, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 7 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 329.9:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 15.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 74.7% White, 13.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Fulton El Sch, with a diversity index of 50.3/100.

Its largest campus is Ephrata Shs, enrolling 1,347 students (35% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Akron El Sch, at 276 students, a 5x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Ephrata Shs accounts for 34.1% of all Ephrata Area Sd student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Ephrata Area Sd-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ephrata Area Sd school enrollment varies 4.9× across entities

Ephrata Area Sd school enrollment ranges from 276 students (lowest) to 1,347 students (highest), a spread of 1,071 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ephrata Area Sd student-counselor ratio is 330:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Ephrata Area Sd is typically wider than the Ephrata Area Sd-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Ephrata Area Sd chronic absenteeism rate is 15.7% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Ephrata Area Sd is typically wider than the Ephrata Area Sd-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.2%
Federal
29.0%
State
63.7%
Local

Funding Equity

46
Equity Score
355 / 648
State Rank
49
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 7 schools in Ephrata Area Sd.

White 74.7%
Hispanic or Latino 13.6%
African American 2.4%
Asian 2.4%
Multiracial 6.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 41.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Ephrata Area Sd's schools, above the Pennsylvania average of 37.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Fulton El Sch 50.3
  2. 2 Akron El Sch 42.8
  3. 3 Ephrata Intermediate Sch 42.1
  4. 4 Clay El Sch 41.4
  5. 5 Ephrata Ms 39.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 7
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
329.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.7%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Ephrata Area Sd

School Enrollment
Ephrata Shs
1,347
Ephrata Ms
601
Ephrata Intermediate Sch
568
Highland El Sch
438
Clay El Sch
377
Fulton El Sch
297
Akron El Sch
276

How Ephrata Area Sd Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Pennsylvania districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Bethel Park Sd Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Upper St. Clair Sd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Spring Grove Area Sd Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Conestoga Valley Sd Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Peters Township Sd Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Ephrata Area Sd's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Pennsylvania

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Philadelphia City Sd
118,335 students · 219 schools · $17,892/pupil
Compare vs Ephrata Area Sd →
Commonwealth Charter Academy Cs
20,355 students · 1 schools · $13,853/pupil
Compare vs Ephrata Area Sd →
Pittsburgh Sd
20,034 students · 56 schools · $24,314/pupil
Compare vs Ephrata Area Sd →
Central Bucks Sd
17,540 students · 23 schools · $18,148/pupil
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Reading Sd
17,363 students · 19 schools · $13,219/pupil
Compare vs Ephrata Area Sd →

Compare Ephrata Area Sd

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Philadelphia City Sd →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Ephrata Area Sd?

Ephrata Area Sd has 7 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 5 elementary. Total enrollment is 3,953 students.

How much does Ephrata Area Sd spend per student?

Ephrata Area Sd spends $16,676 per student. The district has an equity score of 46/100, ranking #355 in Pennsylvania.

What is the demographic composition of Ephrata Area Sd?

Ephrata Area Sd students are 74.7% White, 13.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% African American, 2.4% Asian, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ephrata Area Sd?

Ephrata Area Sd has an equity score of 46/100, ranking #355 out of 648 districts in Pennsylvania.