Top Rankings
Lower Merion School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Pennsylvania for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 1%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 1%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 9 public elementary schools serving 5,620 students in Lower Merion School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 1% of public elementary schools in Pennsylvania.
Public Elementary Schools in Lower Merion School District have an average math proficiency score of 79% (versus the Pennsylvania public elementary school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 85% (versus the 54% statewide average).
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Lower Merion School District are Merion Elementary School, Gladwyne School and Cynwyd School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Asian and Black), which is less than the Pennsylvania public elementary school average of 43% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (PA)
# Schools
11 Schools
2,141 Schools
# Students
8,533 Students
1,107,128 Students
# Teachers
770 Teachers
83,501 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Lower Merion School District, which is ranked within the top 5% of all 677 school districts in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 97% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#7 out of 685 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
79%
38%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
86%
55%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
87%
57%
Graduation Rate
97%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.57
0.62
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
12%
5%
% Hispanic
6%
16%
% Black
10%
15%
% White
63%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $33,910 is higher than the state median of $23,724. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $35,147 is higher than the state median of $23,146. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$289 MM
$39,541 MM
Spending
$300 MM
$38,578 MM
Revenue / Student
$33,910
$23,724
Spending / Student
$35,147
$23,146
Best Lower Merion School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Merion Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
549 S Bowman Ave
Merion Station, PA 19066
(610) 645-1470
Merion Station, PA 19066
(610) 645-1470
Gr: K-4 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #22.
Gladwyne School
(Math: 94% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
230 West Righters Mill Rd
Gladwyne, PA 19035
(610) 645-1440
Gladwyne, PA 19035
(610) 645-1440
Gr: K-4 | 556 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Cynwyd School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
101 W Levering Mill Rd
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(610) 645-1430
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(610) 645-1430
Gr: K-4 | 446 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Penn Wynne School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
250 Haverford Rd
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 645-1450
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 645-1450
Gr: K-4 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #55.
Penn Valley School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
301 Righters Mill Rd
Narberth, PA 19072
(610) 645-1460
Narberth, PA 19072
(610) 645-1460
Gr: K-4 | 542 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #66.
Bala-cynwyd Middle School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
510 Bryn Mawr Ave
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(610) 645-1480
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(610) 645-1480
Gr: 5-8 | 794 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #77.
Belmont Hills Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
200 School Street
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(610) 645-1420
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(610) 645-1420
Gr: K-4 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #88.
Welsh Valley Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
325 Tower Lane
Narberth, PA 19072
(610) 658-3920
Narberth, PA 19072
(610) 658-3920
Gr: 5-8 | 788 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: n/an/a
1860 W Montgomery Ave
Villanova, PA 19085
(484) 418-2222
Villanova, PA 19085
(484) 418-2222
Gr: 5-8 | 1,077 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
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