Bethlehem Area SD is a mid-sized urban district in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, serving 12,973 students across 22 schools with a student-teacher ratio of 13.5:1. The district experienced minimal enrollment decline of 0.5% in the prior year, suggesting relative stability. Academically, proficiency rates fall below state averages, with 30.2% of students meeting math standards compared to the state average of 43.3%, and 36.1% meeting reading standards versus 49.8% statewide. The graduation rate stands at 86.0%, below Pennsylvania's average of 89.5%, while the dropout rate of 1.4% remains relatively low. Chronic absenteeism affects 15.4% of students.
The district serves a diverse student population: 54.7% are economically disadvantaged, 19.3% receive special education services, and 9.8% are English learners. Racially, the enrollment is 47.1% Hispanic, 37.0% White, 11.2% Black, and 2.9% Asian. Financially, the district's per-pupil spending of $21,090 significantly exceeds the state average of $10,570. With a total budget of $337.1 million, the district relies heavily on local funding (67.4%), supplemented by state contributions (28.3%) and federal support (4.3%). This funding structure suggests a district operating with substantial resources relative to peer averages, despite academic outcomes trailing state performance.
This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 4, 2026.
This data is aggregated from state and federal public datasets. While we believe it is accurate, we always recommend confirming it on the corresponding state or federal site. See Data Notes for more.
Total Students
12,973
Schools
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,090
Data Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, NCES F-33 Finance Survey, EDFacts
Federal Data Year: 2024-25
State Data Year: 2024-25
Note: Some data may be unavailable for certain districts or years. Proficiency rates reflect state-specific assessment standards.
Math Proficiency
30.2%
Staff counts are Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) from NCES 2024-25 data.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Future Ready PA Index & Assessment Data, 2024-25 School Year