Lower Merion School District

School district in Pennsylvania

Lower Merion School District

Address

301 East Montgomery Avenue

Ardmore

, Pennsylvania, 19003
United States
District information
Type| Public
Grades| K–12[1]
NCES District ID| 4214160 [1]
Students and staff
Students| 8,467 (2021–2022)[1]
Teachers| 747.55 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Student–teacher ratio| 11.33[1]
Other information
Website| www.lmsd.org
The public school districts of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania with Lower Merion School District in the southern corner of the county Lower Merion High School

Lower Merion School District, or LMSD, is a public school district located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The school district includes residents of both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth. Established in 1836, LMSD is one of the oldest districts in Pennsylvania. It is the wealthiest school district in the state, and one of the wealthiest school districts in the country.[2]

## Schools

[edit]

### High schools

[edit]

* Lower Merion High School[3]
* Harriton High School[4]

### Middle schools

[edit]

* Bala Cynwyd Middle School[5]
* Welsh Valley Middle School[6]
* Black Rock Middle School

### Elementary schools

[edit]

Merion Elementary School

* Belmont Hills Elementary School (originally the Ashland Avenue School)[7][8]
* Belmont Hills Elementary closed in 1981,[9] but by 1996 the district considered reopening it or Narberth Elementary, though the district leadership was closer to supporting the reopening of Belmont Hills elementary, as reopening Narberth Elementary meant that LMSD would have had to reacquire the building, which it could not do in a manner the district leadership felt was timely.[10] Belmont Hills Elementary closed in 1981,[11] By 1998 the school district re-established an attendance boundary for Belmont Hills Elementary, which included the northern Narberth, with that section taken from Cynwyd Elementary. This meant that students began to have longer times to travel to school. The organization "Parents Against Gerrymandering," made up of parents from the borough, sued the school district to try to stop the rezoning.[12]
* Cynwyd Elementary School
* Beginning in 1978, the school's attendance boundary included sections of Narberth borough, after the closure of Narberth Elementary,[13] and prior to the reopening of Belmont Hills Elementary School.[14]
* Gladwyne Elementary School[15]
* Merion Elementary School[16]
* Penn Wynne Elementary School.[17]
* Penn Valley Elementary School[18]

## Former schools

[edit]

Ardmore Junior High School closed in 1978.[19]

Bala Elementary School's second building opened in 1974, and the school closed in 1978.[20] The second building had an open classroom plan.[21] Various private schools used the building after the closure of Bala Elementary.[20]

Narberth Elementary School closed in 1978.[21] The school district gave the school to the borough government, and an engineering company rented the building.[22] The lease agreement had a stipulation in the event that LMSD needed additional school space.[23] In 1996 the former school was still being used as an office facility. That year the district considered reopening it, but the district leadership was closer to supporting the reopening of Belmont Hills elementary, as reopening Narberth Elementary meant that LMSD would have had to reacquire the building, which it could not do in a manner the district leadership felt was timely.[10] People living in Narberth did not significantly advocate for the reopening of Narberth Elementary.[14]

Wynnwood Road Elementary School closed in 1978.[19]

## Laptop webcams lawsuit

[edit]

Main article: Robbins v. Lower Merion School District

In February 2010, a class action lawsuit was filed against the school district, alleging that Harriton High School had been secretly using remotely activated webcams built into laptops issued to their students to spy on the students in their homes, thereby infringing on their privacy rights.[24] The webcam picture-snapping function was part of an anti-theft mechanism to help locate laptops that were reported by students as stolen. This function was activated by the school district on numerous occasions without adherence to the established guidelines. The lawsuit was filed by the parents of a student who had been warned by Lindy Matsko, an assistant principal, that he had been engaging in "improper behavior" in his bedroom. The schools admitted to snapping over 66,000 pictures and screenshots, including webcam shots of students in their bedrooms.[25][26] However, no individuals were found guilty of spying.

## See also

[edit]

* List of school districts in Pennsylvania

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Lower Merion SD". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
2. ^ "Philadelphia Magazine". Phillymag.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
3. ^ "Lower Merion High School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
4. ^ "Harriton High School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
5. ^ "Bala Cynwyd Middle School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
6. ^ "Cynwyd Elementary School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
7. ^ "Belmont Hills Elementary School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
8. ^ "Belmont Hills Elementary Schools: About Belmont Hills: History". Lower Merion School District. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
9. ^ Maier, Phyllis C. "Lower Merion". The Lower Merion Historical Society. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
10. ^ a b Barnard, Anne (1996-10-02). "Parents oppose school district shift in Lower Merion". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. B2 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ Maier, Phyllis C. "Lower Merion". The Lower Merion Historical Society. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
12. ^ Stanley, Stephanie A. (1998-05-25). "Judge expected to rule on injunction against plan". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. B2 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ Cass, Julia (1978-09-20). "In Merion, a smooth transition". Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1-B, 3-B - via Newspapers.com. \- Cited: p. 3-B.
14. ^ a b "Narberth residents voice displeasure over school plan". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1997-02-16. p. MD1 - via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ "Gladwyne Elementary School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
16. ^ "Merion Elementary School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
17. ^ "Penn Wynne Elementary School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
18. ^ "Welsh Valley Middle School". LMSD. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
19. ^ a b Wayne, Leslie (1978-03-28). "Lower Merion to close 4 schools at end of term". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 3-B - via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ a b "Second Bala Elementary School. Built c1974". The Lower Merion Historical Society. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
21. ^ a b Herskowitz, Linda S. (1978-03-02). "Narberth parents say school closing 'busts up family'". Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1-B, 3-B - via Newspapers.com.
22. ^ O'Brien, Ellen (1984-09-11). "For empty school buildings come new uses and new life". Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1-B, 4-B.
23. ^ Tallmadbge, Ruth (1984-11-12). "Borough income tax is shelved — for now". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 10-M - via Newspapers.com.
24. ^ "School used student laptop webcams to spy on them at school and home". Boing Boing. February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
25. ^ Doug Stanglin (February 18, 2010). "School district accused of spying on kids via laptop webcams". USA Today. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
26. ^ "Initial LANrev System Findings" Archived 2010-06-15 at the Wayback Machine, LMSD Redacted Forensic Analysis, L-3 Services – prepared for Ballard Spahr (LMSD's counsel), May 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania

Founded 1713

Communities|

* Ardmore‡
* Bala Cynwyd
* Belmont Hills
* Bryn Mawr‡
* Gladwyne
* Haverford‡
* Merion
* Penn Valley
* Penn Wynne
* Rosemont‡
* Villanova‡
* Wynnewood

Educational Institutions|

| Primary & Secondary
Schools|

* Lower Merion SD
* Cynwyd ES and Bala Cynwyd MS
* Harriton HS
* Lower Merion HS
* Baldwin
* French Int'l School
* Friends' Central
* Haverford
* Kohelet Yeshiva HS
* Kosloff Torah Acad. HS
* Merion Mercy Acad.
* Shipley
* Waldron Mercy

|

Colleges and universities|

* Bryn Mawr College
* Harcum College
* Rosemont College
* Joseph Sinnott Mansion
* St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
* Saint Joseph's University
* Haverford College

SEPTA Regional Rail stations|

* Bala
* Cynwyd
* Merion
* Wynnewood
* Ardmore
* Haverford
* Bryn Mawr
* Rosemont

Medical facilities|

* Bryn Mawr Hospital
* Lankenau Medical Center

History|

* Merion air disaster
* Robbins v. Lower Merion School District

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent township or townships

* v
* t
* e

Education in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Colleges and universities|

* Arcadia University
* Bryn Athyn College
* Bryn Mawr College
* Gwynedd Mercy University
* Haverford College
* Manor College
* Montgomery County Community College
* Salus University
* Penn State Abington
* Rosemont College
* St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
* Temple University Ambler
* Ursinus College
* Westminster Theological Seminary

Public school districts|

* Abington School District
* Boyertown Area School District
* Bryn Athyn School District
* Cheltenham Township School District
* Colonial School District
* Hatboro-Horsham School District
* Jenkintown School District
* Lower Merion School District
* Lower Moreland Township School District
* Methacton School District
* Norristown Area School District
* North Penn School District
* Perkiomen Valley School District
* Pottsgrove School District
* Pottstown School District
* Souderton Area School District
* Springfield Township School District
* Spring-Ford Area School District
* Upper Dublin School District
* Upper Merion Area School District
* Upper Moreland School District
* Upper Perkiomen School District
* Wissahickon School District

Private secondary schools|

* Academy Of The New Church Boys School
* Academy Of The New Church Girls School
* Abington Friends School
* AIM Academy
* Bishop McDevitt High School
* Calvary Baptist School
* Coventry Christian Schools
* Dock Mennonite Academy
* Episcopal Academy
* Friends' Central School
* Germantown Academy
* Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
* The Baldwin School
* The Haverford School
* The Hill School
* Huntingdon Valley Christian Academy
* Indian Creek Mennonite School
* Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
* Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School
* Kohelet Yeshiva High School
* Lakeside School
* Lansdale Catholic High School
* La Salle College High School
* Lincoln Academy
* Main Line Academy
* Martin Luther School
* Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Catholic School
* Meadowbrook School
* Merion Mercy Academy
* Mount Saint Joseph Academy
* New Life Youth & Family Svcs
* The Pathway School
* The Perkiomen School
* Pope John Paul II Catholic High School
* Reformation Christian School
* Saint Aloysius School
* Saint Basil Academy
* Saint Katherine Day School
* Saint Pius X High School
* Stowe Lighthouse Christ Academy
* Shipley School
* Torah Academy of Greater Philadelphia
* Trinity Christian Academy
* Valley Forge Baptist Academy
* Wyncote Academy

* v
* t
* e

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, schools

Main school districts

Abington|

* Abington Senior High School

Bryn Athyn|

* Does not operate any schools

Cheltenham|

* Cheltenham High School
* Cedarbrook Middle School

Colonial|

* Plymouth Whitemarsh High School
* Colonial Middle School

Hatboro-Horsham|

* Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School
* Keith Valley Middle School

Jenkintown|

* Jenkintown Middle/High School

Lower Merion|

* Lower Merion High School
* Harriton High School
* Bala Cynwyd Middle School
* Welsh Valley Middle School

Lower Moreland Township|

* Lower Moreland High School

Methacton|

* Methacton High School

Norristown Area|

* Norristown Area High School

North Penn|

* North Penn High School

Perkiomen Valley|

* Perkiomen Valley High School

Pottsgrove|

* Pottsgrove High School

Pottstown|

* Pottstown Senior High School

Springfield Township|

* Springfield Township High School

Upper Dublin|

* Upper Dublin High School

Upper Merion Area|

* Upper Merion Area High School

Upper Moreland|

* Upper Moreland High School

Wissahickon|

* Wissahickon High School
* Wissahickon Middle School

Other schools

Boyertown Area|

* Boyertown Area Senior High School
* Other schools are in Berks County

Private schools|

* Abington Friends School
* Academy Of The New Church Boys School
* Academy Of The New Church Girls School
* AIM Academy
* Armenian Sisters Academy
* Calvary Baptist School
* Coventry Christian Schools
* Dock Mennonite Academy
* Episcopal Academy
* French International School of Philadelphia
* Friends' Central School
* Germantown Academy
* Huntingdon Valley Christian Academy
* Indian Creek Mennonite School
* Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
* La Salle College High School
* Lakeside School
* Lincoln Academy
* Main Line Academy
* Martin Luther School
* Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Catholic School
* Meadowbrook School
* Merion Mercy Academy
* Mount Saint Joseph Academy
* New Life Youth & Family Svcs
* Reformation Christian School
* Saint Aloysius School
* Saint Basil Academy
* Saint Katherine Day School
* Shipley School
* Stowe Lighthouse Christ Academy
* The Baldwin School
* The Haverford School
* The Hill School
* The Pathway School
* The Perkiomen School
* Torah Academy of Greater Philadelphia
* Trinity Christian Academy
* Valley Forge Baptist Academy
* Wyncote Academy

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia|

* Bishop McDevitt High School
* Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
* Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
* Lansdale Catholic High School
* Pope John Paul II High School

Souderton Area|

* Souderton Area High School
* Other schools are in Bucks County

Spring-Ford Area|

* Spring-Ford Senior High School
* Other schools are in Chester County

Upper Perkiomen|

* Upper Perkiomen High School
* Other schools are in Berks County

Sections of the Boyertown Area, Souderton Area, Spring-Ford Area, and Upper Perkiomen school districts extend into other counties; only schools in Montgomery County should be listed in this template
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