Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 10 schools in district

Merion El Sch

549 S Bowman Ave, Merion Station, PA 19066Lower Merion SD →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–04Non-Charter
446
Students
Total enrolled
$38,412
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 168% vs nat'l
11.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 24% vs nat'l
58/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↑ 16% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 446 students in grades KG–04 in Merion Station, Pennsylvania.
168% above average funding
District spends $38,412 per pupil, 168% more than the national average of $14,347.
Above-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 58th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Merion El Sch is a mid-sized elementary in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, serving grades KG–04 with 446 students. The district invests $38,412 per student — 168% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 13% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Merion El Sch

446
Total Students
11.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
13%
Free Lunch
38
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–04) are served by this school
Gender Distribution246 male · 200 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility13%
National avg 52% · 59 students
Student Composition
14%
64%
11%
Asian14%
White64%
Hispanic / Latino6%
Black5%
Multiracial11%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 421416003287

Academic Outcomes at Merion El Sch

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
58
/ 100
Above-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 58th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 97th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 19066

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$38,412Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$38,412
State avg
$97,525
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$16,901
Student Support$7,298
Administration$4,609
Operations$5,762
Other$3,841
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $38,412 spent per student, an estimated $17,016 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
14%
84%
State government
14.1%
Local (property tax)
83.7%
Federal programs
2.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $38,412/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 13% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Penn Wynne SchGladwyne SchPenn Valley SchCynwyd Sch
+1 more
↓
Middle
Welsh Valley MSBala-Cynwyd MS
↓
High School
Lower Merion HSHarriton SHS
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 04
Location—
CountyMontgomery County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictLower Merion SD →
Phone: (610)645-1470
NCES ID: 421416003287
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Merion Station seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Lower Merion SD
High
Lower Merion HS
1,712 students · 09–12
● 50 opp17% FRL
High
Harriton SHS
1,261 students · 09–12
● 54 opp14% FRL
Mid
Welsh Valley MS
814 students · 05–08
● 53 opp16% FRL
Mid
Bala-Cynwyd MS
809 students · 05–08
● 56 opp12% FRL
Elem
Penn Wynne Sch
615 students · KG–04
19% FRL
Elem
Gladwyne Sch
540 students · KG–04
● 66 opp9% FRL
Elem
Penn Valley Sch
514 students · KG–04
● 53 opp17% FRL
Elem
Cynwyd Sch
431 students · KG–04
● 56 opp11% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
549 S Bowman Ave, Merion Station, PA 19066
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

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.