Downingtown Area Sd, PA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Downingtown Area Sd

Downingtown Area School District serves a mid-sized enrollment across kindergarten through twelfth grade in Chester County, Pennsylvania, operating ten elementary schools, a dedicated sixth-grade center, two middle schools, and two high school campuses. The district spans four townships: Chester Springs, Downingtown, Exton, and Glenmoore, a region of mixed suburban character where housing values range widely depending on location within the district's boundaries.

The district's student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Asian population and smaller Black and Hispanic enrollments. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, so a parent seeking that context may want to contact the district directly.

On state assessment results, the district's proficiency on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment in grades three through eight showed roughly two-thirds of students meeting or exceeding proficiency in mathematics, and just under three-quarters meeting or exceeding proficiency in English language arts. When placed among Chester County's other districts, Downingtown sits in the top quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. The district also ranks in the top quartile for chronic absenteeism, meaning its absenteeism rate is among the lowest in the county. Graduation rate data was not available in the payload.

A significant structural change now underway shapes the early-grades experience: the district moved to full-day kindergarten at all ten elementary schools beginning in August 2025, replacing a prior half-day model. This expands instructional time in academics, social-emotional learning, and core subjects for students in that age band and is a lasting shift families with young children should factor into their choice.

Enrollment appears stable and moderately growing. The district is executing major expansion and renovation projects at Beaver Creek and West Bradford Elementary Schools to accommodate enrollment gains and the full-day kindergarten program, along with new gymnasiums under construction at Bradford Heights and Lionville Elementary. These capital improvements represent sustained investment in elementary facilities and reflect a district responding to growing demand.

Property tax and housing economics matter here. Housing values in the district's zipcodes vary considerably: neighborhoods in Coatesville tend toward the lower end of the district's range, while Chester Springs neighborhoods anchor the upper end. Across the district's eight-zipcode weighted average, home values sit modestly above the state benchmark. Rents are also in the upper-middle tier regionally. The district has raised the real estate tax millage every year since the 2021-22 school year, with the 2025-26 increase explicitly tied to funding the full-day kindergarten expansion. The district also cited added charter tuition obligations and commercial real estate assessment losses since 2020 as drivers of the cumulative tax trajectory. For prospective homeowners or renters, the ongoing tax increases are a material cost-of-living factor worth discussing with the district.

Per-pupil spending sits in the middle range among Chester County districts, in the lower half of that range. State proficiency rankings place the district solidly among the stronger performers in the county, and its absenteeism rate is favorable. The district operates a STEM Academy, signaling pathways for students drawn to those fields, though program-specific detail on other course access and specialized offerings was not available.

A parent evaluating this district should weigh its academic standing against the ongoing tax increases and rising housing costs, understand the full-day kindergarten transition if they have young children, and inquire directly about program breadth, special education and English learner supports, and the graduation rate to complete the picture.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

13,238

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 3%

White 67%

Asian 20%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

56%

—

Gr 4

47%

—

Gr 5

40%

—

Gr 6

43%

—

Gr 7

35%

—

Gr 8

41%

—

Gr 38

43%

—

Math

Gr 3

53%

—

Gr 4

54%

—

Gr 5

50%

—

Gr 6

36%

—

Gr 7

22%

—

Gr 8

23%

—

Gr 38

39%

—

Schools in this District

16 schools are officially reported under this district.

Lionville MS

Downingtown MS

Downingtown HS East Campus

Downingtown HS West Campus

Beaver Creek El Sch

Brandywine-Wallace El Sch

Pickering Valley El Sch

Springton Manor El Sch

Downingtown STEM Academy

Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center

Shamona Creek El Sch

Bradford Hgts El Sch

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

68%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

73%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$632,757

Year-over-year change+2.8%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$388K to $769K

vs. state typical2.21x

vs. national typical1.72x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
19335	Downingtown	$580K	+2.3%	44.1%
19343	Glenmoore	$682K	+4.9%	17.5%
19425	Chester Springs	$769K	+2.2%	17.2%
19341	Exton	$618K	+2.4%	7.3%
19382	West Chester	$676K	+2.3%	5.0%
19380	West Chester	$650K	+2.9%	4.5%
19320	Coatesville	$388K	+3.4%	4.1%
19344	Honey Brook	$465K	+4.0%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,208/mo

Year-over-year change+3.7%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$1,861 to $2,538/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
19335	Downingtown	$2,104	+3.0%	44.1%
19425	Chester Springs	$2,538	—	17.2%
19341	Exton	$2,281	+4.8%	7.3%
19382	West Chester	$2,201	+6.3%	5.0%
19380	West Chester	$2,171	+3.4%	4.5%
19320	Coatesville	$1,861	+6.8%	4.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,193/mo

Home price / national median income7.6x

Annual rent / national median income31.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$985/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$286,387 (+2.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.