The Gettysburg Area School District was ranked 95th out of 493 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2016, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on the last three years of PSSAs results in: reading, writing, mathematics and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, Algebra 1, Biology I) in high school. Three public school districts were excluded because they do not operate high schools (Saint Clair Area School District, Midland Borough School District, Duquesne City School District). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.