Photo: Ii2nmd · CC BY-SA 4.0Lower Merion Township’s public schools outscore almost every Pennsylvania district
Math proficiency in Lower Merion Township’s districts is 75%, above the Pennsylvania average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Lower Merion Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Pennsylvania, not nationally.
From Pennsylvania state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Lower Merion Township’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 86% and math 75% in spring 2022, against 55% and 36% statewide; 97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $32,865 per student, against $21,758 across Pennsylvania (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Six elementary schools, then three middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Friends Central School (private), Waldron Mercy Academy (private), Caskey Torah Academy of Greater Philadelphia (private), French International School of Philadelphia (private), Holy Child School at Rosemont (private), The Gladwyne Montessori School (private), Regina Angelorum Academy (private), Robert J Wilf Preschool and Kindergarten (private), Main Line Reform Temple School for Early Childhood (private), I S Kosloff Torah Academy High School for Girls (private), Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children (private), Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El Early Childhood Center (private), Gan Chabad of the Main Line (private), The Bala House Montessori School (private), The Gateway School (private), Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia (private), St. Katherine School (private), Fusion Academy, Ardmore (private), St. Katherine Day School (private), Fusion Academy - Ardmore (private), Wetherill School (private), Childrens School at St. Johns (private), Noreen Cook Center for Ece of Har Zion Temple (private) and Ancona Montessori School (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Lower Merion Township’s grade
A+: better than 99% of Pennsylvania school districts, #1 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Pennsylvania average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lower Merion Township, with each school’s own grade.
5th grade in Lower Merion Township · depends on your address
Black Rock MS
Grades 5–8 · 1,077 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Villanova
Bala-Cynwyd MS
Grades 5–8 · 794 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Bala Cynwyd
Welsh Valley MS
Grades 5–8 · 788 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Narberth
6th grade in Lower Merion Township · depends on your address
Black Rock MS
Grades 5–8 · 1,077 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Villanova
Bala-Cynwyd MS
Grades 5–8 · 794 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Bala Cynwyd
Welsh Valley MS
Grades 5–8 · 788 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Narberth
7th grade in Lower Merion Township · depends on your address
Black Rock MS
Grades 5–8 · 1,077 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Villanova
Bala-Cynwyd MS
Grades 5–8 · 794 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Bala Cynwyd
Welsh Valley MS
Grades 5–8 · 788 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Narberth
8th grade in Lower Merion Township · depends on your address
Black Rock MS
Grades 5–8 · 1,077 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Villanova
Bala-Cynwyd MS
Grades 5–8 · 794 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Bala Cynwyd
Welsh Valley MS
Grades 5–8 · 788 students · 10:1 students per teacher · in Narberth
9th grade in Lower Merion Township · depends on your address
Lower Merion HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,674 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Ardmore
Harriton SHS
Grades 9–12 · 1,239 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Rosemont
10th grade in Lower Merion Township · depends on your address
Lower Merion HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,674 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Ardmore
Harriton SHS
Grades 9–12 · 1,239 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Rosemont
11th grade in Lower Merion Township · depends on your address
Lower Merion HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,674 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Ardmore
Harriton SHS
Grades 9–12 · 1,239 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Rosemont
12th grade in Lower Merion Township · depends on your address
Lower Merion HS
Grades 9–12 · 1,674 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Ardmore
Harriton SHS
Grades 9–12 · 1,239 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Rosemont
Lower Merion Township’s public schools are run by Lower Merion School District, which also serves Narberth. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Lower Merion Township vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Pennsylvania towns that share Lower Merion Township’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Merion Township | A+ | Lower Merion |
| Philadelphia | D | Philadelphia City |
| Haverford | A+ | Haverford Township |
| Radnor | A+ | Radnor Township |
| West Conshohocken | A− | Upper Merion Area |
| Whitemarsh | A+ | Colonial |
| Upper Merion | A− | Upper Merion Area |
| Conshohocken | A+ | Colonial |
Every school in Lower Merion Township
35 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Pennsylvania’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Lower Merion Township’s schools
Are Lower Merion Township’s schools good?
By Pennsylvania’s own tests, yes: the public schools Lower Merion Township children attend outscore 99% of Pennsylvania’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade, #1 of 1,037 Pennsylvania towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 96%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Lower Merion Township in?
Lower Merion School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 8,533 students in 11 schools (2024–25).
Where do Lower Merion Township kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Lower Merion HS and Harriton SHS.
What is Lower Merion Township’s graduation rate?
97% of the class of 2023 in Lower Merion School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Pennsylvania.
How much does Lower Merion Township spend per student?
$32,865 in Lower Merion School District (FY2024), against $21,758 across Pennsylvania. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Lower Merion Township?
Yes: Friends Central School (religious, grades PK–12, 848 students), Waldron Mercy Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 409 students), Caskey Torah Academy of Greater Philadelphia (religious, grades PK–8, 376 students), French International School of Philadelphia (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 352 students), Holy Child School at Rosemont (Catholic, grades PK–8, 319 students), The Gladwyne Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 231 students), Regina Angelorum Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 184 students), Robert J Wilf Preschool and Kindergarten (religious, grades PK–K, 174 students), Main Line Reform Temple School for Early Childhood (religious, grades PK–K, 162 students), I S Kosloff Torah Academy High School for Girls (religious · all-girls, grades 9–12, 134 students), Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 116 students), Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El Early Childhood Center (religious, grades PK–K, 116 students), Gan Chabad of the Main Line (religious, grades PK–K, 82 students), The Bala House Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 81 students), The Gateway School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 80 students), Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia (religious · all-boys, grades 9–12, 64 students), St. Katherine School (Catholic, grades , 60 students), Fusion Academy, Ardmore (special education, grades 6–12, 59 students), St. Katherine Day School (Catholic, grades , 58 students), Fusion Academy - Ardmore (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 57 students), Wetherill School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 57 students), Childrens School at St. Johns (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 50 students), Noreen Cook Center for Ece of Har Zion Temple (religious, grades PK–K, 45 students) and Ancona Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades K, 2 students).
Parents talk
What Lower Merion Township families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lower Merion Township → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Pennsylvania. Stars are from neighbors.