Understanding the School Districts in West Chester

Many home buyers are eager to find the perfect home within the West Chester Area School District. This renowned school district consistently ranks amongst the top public school districts in Pennsylvania, ranked 22nd on Niches’ 2025 “best school districts in PA” list, which includes over 500 PA school districts. 

Searching for a home in this school district can be tricky, however. Some neighborhoods in the West Chester area include two, sometimes three, different school districts, such as Great Valley School District (ranked 34th) and Downingtown Area School District (ranked 23rd).

These tricky subsections can mean that some homes with West Chester mailing addresses aren’t zoned for the West Chester Area School District. 

Top West Chester realtors like Mike Ciunci are here to help you understand the various schools in West Chester, PA. Here’s what to know about some of the tricky neighborhoods in the area when buying a home.

West Chester Area School District Split Neighborhoods 

In some areas, even homes on the same street encompass multiple school districts.

Grandview Dr., Exton

Exton is a great place to buy a home to access schools in West Chester, PA. One example of a split neighborhood is on Grandview Drive in Exton. The eastern portion of this street is part of the Great Valley School District. 

Young children living here cannot access West Chester elementary schools, such as Mary C. Howse Elementary. On the other hand, the middle section of the street is part of the West Chester School District. Only teenagers living in the middle section of the street will attend high schools in West Chester, PA. The western side of the street is part of Downingtown School District. 

Tulip Dr., East Goshen Township

Another example of a divided area in West Chester is the neighborhood on Tulip Drive in East Goshen Township. This neighborhood is split between 1332 and 1334 N. Tulip Dr, with half as part of the West Chester Area School District and the other half as a part of the Great Valley School District. Even neighboring houses on this street could have their kids attend completely different school districts!

Radley Run 

Only part of the Radley Run neighborhood attends West Chester PA schools, whereas the other half is part of the Unionville School District. The Radley Run area is split right between next-door neighbors 1049 and 1051 Squire Cheney Drive.

Buy a Home Zoned for West Chester, PA Schools

With over 16 years of experience in the area, Mike Ciunci is an expert in buying and selling West Chester Area School District homes. Mike understands the importance of buying within the district for families with children in the school system. He helps guide the buying and selling process, answering questions to make you feel at ease every step of the way. To learn more, contact Mike if you want to buy or sell a home in West Chester.