Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Summary:

Bala-Cynwyd Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 5-8 in the Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania, with 809 students. This well-established and high-performing school consistently ranks among the top middle schools in the state, maintaining a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for several years.

Bala-Cynwyd Middle School stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with students consistently outperforming state and district averages on PSSA tests across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 75.7% of students were proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to 80.6% for the Lower Merion School District and 40.4% for the state of Pennsylvania. The school also demonstrates strong performance across various student subgroups, ranking highly for female, male, Asian, Hispanic, white, and multi-racial students, as well as for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Bala-Cynwyd Middle School's excellence is further highlighted by its remarkably low dropout rates, with a 0.0% rate in the 2022-2023 school year and a 1.6% rate in the 2021-2022 school year, significantly lower than the state average. Additionally, the school's spending per student, at $30,919 in the 2021-2022 school year, indicates a strong investment in resources and support for student learning. When compared to nearby middle schools in the Lower Merion School District, such as Black Rock Middle School and Welsh Valley Middle School, Bala-Cynwyd Middle School performs similarly or slightly better, demonstrating the overall excellence of the district's middle schools. However, when compared to middle schools in other districts, such as Wagner Gen Louis Middle School, Young Scholars Charter School, and Drexel Hill Middle School, Bala-Cynwyd Middle School significantly outperforms these schools in academic achievement, highlighting the disparities in educational outcomes across different districts.


Detail:

Public 5-8

 510 Bryn Mawr Ave
       Bala Cynwyd, PA  19004-2740


(610) 645-1480

District: Lower Merion School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
13th of 891 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $30,919 Help


Students who attend Bala-Cynwyd Middle School usually attend:

High:    Lower Merion High School

Feeder schools for Bala-Cynwyd Middle School:

Elementary:    Cynwyd School
    Merion Elementary School
    Penn Wynne School

Student/teacher ratio:  10.1 Help
Number of students:  809

Racial breakdown:

White:
65.0%
Asian:
13.1%
Two or more races:
9.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  12% Help


 See top rated Pennsylvania middle schools

 Compare Bala-Cynwyd Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Bala-Cynwyd Middle School ranks better than 98.5% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 2nd among 3 ranked middle schools in the Lower Merion School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.89. (See more...)
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Bala-Cynwyd Middle School has the smallest middle school student body size in the Lower Merion School District. Racial makeup is: White (65%), Asian (13.1%), two or more races (9.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 12% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Lower Merion School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School is 10.1, which is the lowest among 3 middle schools in the Lower Merion School District! (See more...)
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Compare Bala-Cynwyd Middle School employs 79.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School is $30,919. 1 middle schools in the Lower Merion School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bala-Cynwyd Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bala-Cynwyd Middle School 13th of 891 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Bala-Cynwyd Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Lower Merion School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Lower Merion School District 7th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 92.14 23rd 643 96.4%
2004 92.09 20th 663 97.0%
2005 91.56 31st 687 95.5%
2006 86.43 45th 736 93.9%
2007 86.95 33rd 749 95.6%
2008 88.91 23rd 753 96.9%
2009 87.05 35th 770 95.5%
2010 88.87 14th 805 98.3%
2011 86.12 36th 825 95.6%
2012 87.83 21st 834 97.5%
2013 88.87 13th 758 98.3%
2014 90.51 7th 728 99.0%
2015 94.99 16th 835 98.1%
2016 95.34 12th 870 98.6%
2017 95.23 12th 877 98.6%
2018 94.96 12th 861 98.6%
2019 95.70 9th 891 99.0%
2021 97.80 8th 797 99.0%
2022 97.18 8th 883 99.1%
2023 98.02 7th 893 99.2%
2024 96.89 13th 891 98.5%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 94.05 9th 187 95.2%
2024 93.37 13th 199 93.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 89.67 47th 874 94.6%
2024 85.19 73rd 877 91.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 95.66 13th 860 98.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 99.99 1st 660 99.8%
2024 99.94 1st 672 99.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 96.85 15th 870 98.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 77.07 26th 144 81.9%
2024 79.22 27th 145 81.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 93.50 16th 421 96.2%
2024 73.15 79th 408 80.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 98.54 6th 362 98.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 98.83 3rd 681 99.6%
2024 97.38 13th 673 98.1%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Bala-Cynwyd Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 







Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, January 8, 2016

Open Quote no one should go to this school my son is bullied and he comes home sad everyday. If you are not smoking weed you wont fit in. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 582 43 23 2 1 n/a n/a -9 642
1989 613 34 21 2 3 n/a n/a 0 673
1990 607 36 17 4 0 n/a n/a 0 664
1991 664 30 16 2 0 n/a n/a 0 712
1992 636 39 15 1 0 n/a n/a 0 691
1993 684 43 11 8 0 n/a n/a 0 746
1994 712 32 19 6 5 n/a n/a 0 774
1995 753 38 33 6 9 n/a n/a 0 839
1996 753 38 33 6 9 n/a n/a 0 839
1997 746 41 30 13 5 n/a n/a 0 835
1998 731 39 25 10 5 n/a n/a 0 810
1999 778 35 22 6 0 n/a n/a 0 841
2000 751 47 27 3 25 n/a n/a 0 853
2001 818 42 41 4 1 n/a n/a 0 906
2002 754 46 44 9 3 n/a n/a 0 856
2003 754 46 44 9 3 n/a n/a 0 856
2004 767 55 42 10 5 n/a n/a 0 879
2005 754 56 43 14 2 n/a n/a 0 869
2006 714 72 47 14 2 n/a n/a 0 849
2007 672 75 56 12 2 n/a n/a 0 817
2008 638 76 61 14 2 n/a n/a 0 791
2009 623 81 79 13 0 n/a n/a 0 796
2010 630 79 91 17 0 n/a n/a 0 817
2011 634 79 93 21 0 0 3 0 830
2012 662 69 98 31 0 0 6 0 866
2013 676 77 98 30 0 0 10 0 891
2014 695 76 102 33 0 0 16 0 922
2015 660 83 105 30 0 1 20 0 899
2016 622 72 105 35 0 1 32 0 867
2017 643 71 115 36 0 1 45 0 911
2018 707 67 128 48 0 3 58 0 1011
2019 716 83 137 50 0 3 70 0 1059
2020 713 91 134 46 0 3 67 0 1054
2021 679 98 142 43 0 2 86 0 1050
2022 655 96 132 50 0 0 83 0 1016
2023 526 59 106 42 0 0 76 0 809

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 642 56.4 11.3 n/a
1989 673 55.9 12.0 n/a
1990 664 54.5 12.1 0
1991 712 53.2 13.3 n/a
1992 691 54.6 12.6 n/a
1993 746 49.4 15.1 n/a
1994 774 54.4 14.2 n/a
1995 839 62.0 13.5 n/a
1996 839 62.0 13.5 n/a
1997 835 61.7 13.5 n/a
1998 810 63.6 12.7 n/a
1999 841 67.6 12.4 n/a
2000 853 67.6 12.6 2.3
2001 906 70.1 12.9 3.8
2002 856 72.6 11.8 3.6
2003 856 72.6 11.8 3.6
2004 879 72.8 12.1 2.8
2005 869 73.4 11.8 3.6
2006 849 75.8 11.2 4.8
2007 817 76.8 10.6 3.8
2008 791 82.3 9.6 4.6
2009 796 81.3 9.8 5.8
2010 817 82.0 9.9 6.2
2011 830 82.1 10.1 5.7
2012 866 79.5 10.8 6.9
2013 891 82.1 10.8 6.8
2014 922 85.6 10.7 7.7
2015 899 84.0 10.7 8.2
2016 867 84.0 10.3 8.8
2017 911 83.1 10.9 8.9
2018 1011 86.2 11.7 10.7
2019 1059 92.8 11.4 9.9
2020 1054 97.5 10.8 11.8
2021 1050 97.4 10.7 13.6
2022 1016 99.5 10.2 11.5
2023 809 79.5 10.1 12

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 642 56.4 11.3 n/a
1989 673 55.9 12.0 n/a
1990 664 54.5 12.1 0
1991 712 53.2 13.3 n/a
1992 691 54.6 12.6 n/a
1993 746 49.4 15.1 n/a
1994 774 54.4 14.2 n/a
1995 839 62.0 13.5 n/a
1996 839 62.0 13.5 n/a
1997 835 61.7 13.5 n/a
1998 810 63.6 12.7 n/a
1999 841 67.6 12.4 n/a
2000 853 67.6 12.6 2.3
2001 906 70.1 12.9 3.8
2002 856 72.6 11.8 3.6
2003 856 72.6 11.8 3.6
2004 879 72.8 12.1 2.8
2005 869 73.4 11.8 3.6
2006 849 75.8 11.2 4.8
2007 817 76.8 10.6 3.8
2008 791 82.3 9.6 4.6
2009 796 81.3 9.8 5.8
2010 817 82.0 9.9 6.2
2011 830 82.1 10.1 5.7
2012 866 79.5 10.8 6.9
2013 891 82.1 10.8 6.8
2014 922 85.6 10.7 7.7
2015 899 84.0 10.7 8.2
2016 867 84.0 10.3 8.8
2017 911 83.1 10.9 8.9
2018 1011 86.2 11.7 10.7
2019 1059 92.8 11.4 9.9
2020 1054 97.5 10.8 11.8
2021 1050 97.4 10.7 13.6
2022 1016 99.5 10.2 11.5
2023 809 79.5 10.1 12

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $183 (0.7%) $25,114 (99.3%) $25,297
2020 $147 (0.5%) $27,148 (99.5%) $27,296
2021 $334 (1.2%) $28,573 (98.8%) $28,907
2022 $297 (1.0%) $30,622 (99.0%) $30,919

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 9th of 891 Middle schoolsRanks 7th of 893 Middle schools
 0.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Math (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)7685.2
 9.2%
   6th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)3936.4
 2.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)89.288.1
 1.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)6355.6
 7.4%
7th Grade Math (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)74.370.9
 3.4%
   7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)38.233.2
 5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)90.387.6
 2.7%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.554.5
 6%
8th Grade Math (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)6472.6
 8.6%
   8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)32.226
 6.2%
8th Grade Science (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)87.494.2
 6.8%
   8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)58.257
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)86.386.5
 0.2%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)57.952.8
 5.1%
All Grades Math (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)71.779
 7.3%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)87.494.2
 6.8%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Bala-Cynwyd Middle School)88.787.8
 0.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.953.8
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students1059809
 23.6%
African American8359
 28.9%
American Indian00
Asian137106
 22.6%
Hispanic5042
 16%
Pacific Islander30
 100%
White716526
 26.5%
Two or More Races7076
 8.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients9.9%12%
 2.1%


Schools Near Bala-Cynwyd Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Students who attend Bala-Cynwyd Middle School usually go on to attend Lower Merion High School

Yes! Bala-Cynwyd Middle School is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 13th of 891 Pennsylvania middle schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 809 students attended Bala-Cynwyd Middle School.

Students at Bala-Cynwyd Middle School are 65% White, 13% Asian, 9% Two or more races, 7% African American, 5% Hispanic.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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