Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Lower Merion SD

Pennsylvania · Public School District
10
Schools
7,486
Students
$38,412
Per-Pupil Spend
+168% nat'l
14.8%
Free Lunch Rate
-37pp vs nat'l
97.2%
Graduation Rate
+10.7pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Lower Merion SD is a public school district in Pennsylvania serving 7,486 students across 10 schools. It includes 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high schools. Its graduation rate of 97.2% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $38,412 is above average for a US public school district. Only 15% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a relatively low-poverty student body. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 56/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (10)
Elementary Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Belmont Hills El SchKG–04344
Cynwyd SchKG–04431
Gladwyne SchKG–04540
Merion El SchKG–04446
Penn Valley SchKG–04514
Penn Wynne SchKG–04615
Middle Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bala-Cynwyd MS05–08809
Welsh Valley MS05–08814
High Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Harriton SHS09–121,261
Lower Merion HS09–121,712
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$38,412+168% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
14%
84%
State
14.1%
Local (property tax)
83.7%
Federal
2.3%

This district draws the majority of its budget from local property taxes (84%), typical of wealthier suburban districts.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
10
Schools
7,486
Students
15%
Free Lunch
$38K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate97.2%
Opportunity Score56/100
StatePennsylvania →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
97.2% graduation rate — 10.7 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High per-student investment
Spends $38,412 per pupil — 168% above the national average of $14,347.
Low economic disadvantage rate
Only 15% of students qualify for free lunch, well below the national rate of 52.2%.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lower Merion SD?
Lower Merion SD has 10 public schools, serving a total of 7,486 students.
What is the graduation rate for Lower Merion SD?
The graduation rate is 97.2%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Lower Merion SD spend per student?
Lower Merion SD spends $38,412 per pupil — 168% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Lower Merion SD?
15% of students in Lower Merion SD qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Lower Merion SD?
No, Lower Merion SD does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Lower Merion SD serve?
Lower Merion SD serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Lower Merion SD?
The median opportunity score across schools in Lower Merion SD is 56/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.