Lower Merion Sd School District
School District · Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Avg Rating
9.4
out of 10
Schools
11
6 elem, 3 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$31,428
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.9:1
Avg Rating
9.4
out of 10
Schools
11
6 elem, 3 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$31,428
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.9:1
Evaluating Lower Merion Sd?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Lower Merion Sd as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Harriton Shs
Rosemont · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Black Rock MS
Villanova · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Lower Merion HS
Ardmore · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Pennsylvania rank
#1 of 494
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+3.2
above Pennsylvania avg
Per-pupil spending
$31,428
+$13,288 vs Pennsylvania median
District size
8,518 students
Much larger than Pennsylvania median
The short answer
Lower Merion Sd ranks #1 of 494 Pennsylvania districts by overall school rating. Lower Merion Sd's schools with real test data average 9.4/10 across 11 schools. Its top-rated schools are Harriton Shs (9.8/10), Black Rock MS (9.8/10), and Lower Merion HS (9.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lower Merion Sd schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lower Merion Sd
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (11 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harriton Shs | 9.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Black Rock MS | 9.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Lower Merion HS | 9.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Penn Valley Sch | 9.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Merion EL Sch | 9.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Penn Wynne Sch | 9.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Belmont Hills EL Sch | 9.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Gladwyne Sch | 9.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Cynwyd Sch | 9.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Welsh Valley MS | 9.0 / 10 |
See all 11 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Lower Merion Sd
Lower Merion Sd is a Ardmore, Pennsylvania school district serving 11 schools. The district educates 8,518 students with a student-teacher ratio of 10.9:1. The district invests $31,428 per student annually.
With an average rating of 9.4/10, Lower Merion Sd is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Harriton Shs, which has a composite score of 9.8/10.
In standardized testing, Lower Merion Sd students show an average math proficiency of 83.5% and ELA proficiency of 88.0%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Lower Merion Sd, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Lower Merion Sd with test data.
Schools in Lower Merion Sd
11 schools Elementary Schools 6
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 2
District Details
- State
- Pennsylvania
- City
- Ardmore
- Total Enrollment
- 8,518
- Teachers (FTE)
- 780
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lower Merion Sd?
Lower Merion Sd has 11 schools in total — 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Lower Merion Sd?
The average composite rating for Lower Merion Sd is 9.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Lower Merion Sd?
Lower Merion Sd spends $31,428 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lower Merion Sd?
The average student-teacher ratio in Lower Merion Sd is 10.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Lower Merion Sd?
Harriton Shs is the highest-rated school in Lower Merion Sd with a composite score of 9.8/10.
What are the test scores in Lower Merion Sd?
Across schools in Lower Merion Sd with test data, the average math proficiency is 83.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 88.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Lower Merion Sd compare to other districts in Pennsylvania?
Lower Merion Sd has an average school rating of 9.4/10 across 11 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Pennsylvania by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 9.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 83.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 88.0%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in PA
Compare Lower Merion Sd with neighboring districts in the state.
- Philadelphia City Sd (220)
- Pittsburgh Sd (56)
- Central Bucks Sd (23)
- Bethlehem Area Sd (22)
- Allentown City Sd (21)
- Central Dauphin Sd (19)
- Lancaster Sd (19)
- Reading Sd (19)
- Chambersburg Area Sd (17)
- North Penn Sd (17)
- West Chester Area Sd (17)
- Downingtown Area Sd (16)
- Erie City Sd (15)
- Scranton Sd (15)
- Council Rock Sd (14)
- Pennsbury Sd (14)
- Upper Darby Sd (13)
- West Shore Sd (13)
- Harrisburg City Sd (12)
- Norristown Area Sd (12)
- Parkland Sd (12)
- Altoona Area Sd (11)
- Cumberland Valley Sd (11)
- Hazleton Area Sd (11)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Pennsylvania Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.