Lower Merion High School

Summary:

Lower Merion High School is a highly-ranked public high school serving grades 9-12 in the affluent suburb of Ardmore, Pennsylvania. With consistently outstanding academic performance, the school is ranked 9th out of 686 high schools in the state for the 2023-2024 school year.

Lower Merion High School stands out for its exceptional student achievement, with 80.1% of 11th-graders proficient or better in Algebra I, 85.7% in Biology, and 90.4% in Literature - far exceeding the state averages. The school also performs exceptionally well across various student subgroups, ranking 10th out of 665 Pennsylvania high schools for female students, 12th out of 662 for male students, and within the top 50 for African American, Hispanic, and multi-racial students. Additionally, the school ranks 5th out of 84 for English Language Learners and 3rd out of 513 for disabled students. With a 96.7% four-year graduation rate and a very low 0.1% dropout rate, Lower Merion High School is a standout academic institution.

When compared to nearby schools, Roxborough High School and Mastery Charter School - Shoemaker Campus have significantly lower rankings and academic performance. However, another school in the Lower Merion School District, Harriton Senior High School, also ranks highly, demonstrating the district's commitment to academic excellence. Despite its high performance, Lower Merion High School serves a relatively diverse student population, with 17.41% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting the school's ability to provide a quality education to students from various socioeconomic backgrounds.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 315 E Montgomery Ave
       Ardmore, PA  19003-3339


(610) 645-1810

District: Lower Merion School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
9th of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $29,676 Help


Feeder schools for Lower Merion High School:

Elementary:    Cynwyd School
    Merion Elementary School
    Penn Wynne School
Middle:    Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.1 Help
Number of students:  1,712

Racial breakdown:

White:
63.8%
African American:
12.0%
Asian:
10.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  17.4% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Lower Merion High School ranks better than 98.7% of high schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.12. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Lower Merion High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (63.8%), African American (12%), Asian (10.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 17.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lower Merion High School is 12.1. (See more...)
Help
Compare Lower Merion High School employs 140.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lower Merion High School is $29,676.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lower Merion High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Lower Merion High School 9th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Lower Merion High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner 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 Lower Merion High School

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Rank History for all students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 96.49 6th 583 99.0%
2004 94.50 9th 590 98.5%
2005 89.49 17th 593 97.1%
2006 88.20 23rd 604 96.2%
2007 89.25 18th 615 97.1%
2008 91.60 15th 621 97.6%
2009 91.20 15th 632 97.6%
2010 89.51 22nd 649 96.6%
2011 88.22 27th 660 95.9%
2012 89.56 18th 664 97.3%
2013 91.34 10th 591 98.3%
2014 85.87 46th 580 92.1%
2015 91.04 10th 680 98.5%
2016 87.57 21st 677 96.9%
2017 86.14 36th 663 94.6%
2018 87.41 30th 673 95.5%
2019 91.60 10th 693 98.6%
2021 87.62 33rd 537 93.9%
2022 86.69 50th 634 92.1%
2023 96.75 6th 674 99.1%
2024 96.12 9th 686 98.7%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 97.51 2nd 129 98.4%
2024 89.71 13th 150 91.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 91.23 5th 84 94.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 90.09 41st 652 93.7%
2024 87.89 49th 664 92.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 95.03 10th 665 98.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 100.00 1st 502 99.8%
2024 99.93 3rd 513 99.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 96.37 12th 662 98.2%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 83.28 15th 112 86.6%
2024 77.99 21st 121 82.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 89.45 23rd 260 91.2%
2024 80.26 46th 284 83.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 97.46 8th 252 96.8%
2024 90.78 21st 274 92.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Lower Merion High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 98.17 4th 577 99.3%
2024 98.49 6th 595 99.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Department 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.

Lower Merion High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Lower Merion High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1055 107 43 8 2 n/a n/a 0 1215
1989 986 89 48 12 2 n/a n/a 0 1137
1990 878 95 63 7 3 n/a n/a 0 1046
1991 858 91 51 8 0 n/a n/a 0 1008
1992 905 79 43 16 2 n/a n/a 0 1045
1993 868 77 49 6 4 n/a n/a 0 1004
1994 878 73 56 13 1 n/a n/a 0 1021
1995 913 116 44 9 4 n/a n/a 0 1086
1996 913 116 44 9 4 n/a n/a 0 1086
1997 961 132 55 19 3 n/a n/a 0 1170
1998 1009 131 53 15 13 n/a n/a 0 1221
1999 1059 124 51 8 8 n/a n/a 0 1250
2000 1089 115 58 18 9 n/a n/a 0 1289
2001 1104 109 55 13 6 n/a n/a 0 1287
2002 1224 118 64 15 16 n/a n/a 0 1437
2003 1224 118 64 15 16 n/a n/a 0 1437
2004 1278 134 67 18 2 n/a n/a 0 1499
2005 1331 133 79 19 4 n/a n/a 0 1566
2006 1332 131 92 25 4 n/a n/a 0 1584
2007 1323 169 101 31 5 n/a n/a 0 1629
2008 1262 156 93 26 5 n/a n/a 0 1542
2009 1174 161 94 34 3 n/a n/a 3 1469
2010 1099 175 90 29 3 n/a n/a 5 1401
2011 1025 154 104 31 2 0 7 0 1323
2012 957 155 111 30 1 0 5 0 1259
2013 969 146 129 34 0 0 5 0 1283
2014 972 152 129 34 0 0 6 0 1293
2015 975 164 146 48 0 0 17 0 1350
2016 1022 174 156 59 0 0 29 0 1440
2017 1013 183 150 55 0 0 33 0 1434
2018 1030 184 162 65 0 0 35 0 1476
2019 1036 192 168 70 0 0 46 0 1512
2020 1038 189 175 69 0 0 61 0 1532
2021 1051 190 169 84 0 1 73 0 1568
2022 1058 195 178 94 0 3 100 0 1628
2023 1092 205 178 121 1 3 112 0 1712

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 Lower Merion High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1215 77.6 15.6 n/a
1989 1137 88.4 12.8 n/a
1990 1046 85.0 12.3 0
1991 1008 83.0 12.1 n/a
1992 1045 75.0 13.9 n/a
1993 1004 76.8 13.1 n/a
1994 1021 78.2 13.1 n/a
1995 1086 85.6 12.7 n/a
1996 1086 85.6 12.7 n/a
1997 1170 87.2 13.4 n/a
1998 1221 91.4 13.4 n/a
1999 1250 93.4 13.4 n/a
2000 1289 95.0 13.6 4.7
2001 1287 96.7 13.3 5.4
2002 1437 110.9 13.0 4.4
2003 1437 110.9 13.0 4.4
2004 1499 113.3 13.2 3.9
2005 1566 112.1 14.0 4
2006 1584 114.7 13.8 6.1
2007 1629 120.6 13.5 5.4
2008 1542 131.2 11.8 7.1
2009 1469 133.2 11.0 8.2
2010 1401 128.0 10.9 7.4
2011 1323 122.6 10.7 7.3
2012 1259 117.7 10.6 10.3
2013 1283 116.7 10.9 10.1
2014 1293 116.9 11.0 9.7
2015 1350 117.0 11.5 12.9
2016 1440 118.0 12.2 14
2017 1434 118.6 12.0 10.8
2018 1476 120.4 12.2 12.8
2019 1512 121.9 12.4 11.5
2020 1532 128.5 11.9 14
2021 1568 126.2 12.4 15.1
2022 1628 133.2 12.2 13.7
2023 1712 140.6 12.1 17.4

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 Lower Merion High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1215 77.6 15.6 n/a
1989 1137 88.4 12.8 n/a
1990 1046 85.0 12.3 0
1991 1008 83.0 12.1 n/a
1992 1045 75.0 13.9 n/a
1993 1004 76.8 13.1 n/a
1994 1021 78.2 13.1 n/a
1995 1086 85.6 12.7 n/a
1996 1086 85.6 12.7 n/a
1997 1170 87.2 13.4 n/a
1998 1221 91.4 13.4 n/a
1999 1250 93.4 13.4 n/a
2000 1289 95.0 13.6 4.7
2001 1287 96.7 13.3 5.4
2002 1437 110.9 13.0 4.4
2003 1437 110.9 13.0 4.4
2004 1499 113.3 13.2 3.9
2005 1566 112.1 14.0 4
2006 1584 114.7 13.8 6.1
2007 1629 120.6 13.5 5.4
2008 1542 131.2 11.8 7.1
2009 1469 133.2 11.0 8.2
2010 1401 128.0 10.9 7.4
2011 1323 122.6 10.7 7.3
2012 1259 117.7 10.6 10.3
2013 1283 116.7 10.9 10.1
2014 1293 116.9 11.0 9.7
2015 1350 117.0 11.5 12.9
2016 1440 118.0 12.2 14
2017 1434 118.6 12.0 10.8
2018 1476 120.4 12.2 12.8
2019 1512 121.9 12.4 11.5
2020 1532 128.5 11.9 14
2021 1568 126.2 12.4 15.1
2022 1628 133.2 12.2 13.7
2023 1712 140.6 12.1 17.4

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 Lower Merion High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $193 (0.7%) $26,600 (99.3%) $26,794
2020 $146 (0.5%) $26,975 (99.5%) $27,122
2021 $332 (1.2%) $28,359 (98.8%) $28,690
2022 $285 (1.0%) $29,391 (99.0%) $29,676

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Lower Merion High 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 10th of 693 High schoolsRanks 6th of 674 High schools
 0.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Lower Merion High School)89.275.5
 13.7%
   11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)63.334.1
 29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Lower Merion High School)93.585.8
 7.7%
   11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)63.250.7
 12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Lower Merion High School)96.292.9
 3.3%
   11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)71.565.3
 6.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students15121712
 13.2%
African American192205
 6.8%
American Indian01
Asian168178
 6%
Hispanic70121
 72.9%
Pacific Islander03
White10361092
 5.4%
Two or More Races46112
 143.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients11.5%17.4%
 5.9%


Schools Near Lower Merion High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Lower Merion High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,712 students attended Lower Merion High School.

Yes! Lower Merion High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 9th of 686 Pennsylvania high schools.

Lower Merion High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cynwyd School
Elementary : Merion Elementary School
Elementary : Penn Wynne School
Middle : Bala-Cynwyd Middle School

Students at Lower Merion High School are 64% White, 12% African American, 10% Asian, 7% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.


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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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