Philadelphia suburbs located on the “Main Line” are noted for upscale neighborhoods and a dedication to education, according to Bloomberg Business Week. The term “Main Line” refers to a historically affluent region once serviced by the Philadelphia Railroad located within 20 miles of Philadelphia. According to SchoolMatters.com, the Radnor Township, Lower Merion Township and Tredyffrin/Easttown school districts achieve high scores for student proficiency in mathematics and reading, have low teacher-pupil ratios and provide funding for student education that exceeds the national average.
Radnor Township in Delaware County is about 19 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The Radnor School District is distinguished as one of the top school districts in the United States. The district has a 13 to 1 teacher-pupil ratio in its three elementary schools, a middle school and high school. The district-wide reading and math standardized test scores fall into the 90th percentile, and 97 percent of all students go on to secondary education institutions. The district expends over $19,000 per student and the median home price is around $500,000, according to Standard & Poor’s SchoolMatters.org.
Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County sits 12 miles west of Philadelphia. The Lower Merion Township School District has six elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. The residential community is affluent and the schools are ranked superior, according to Lower Merion.org. The school district is one of two school districts in Pennsylvania to earn Moody’s highest bond rating. The professional staff to student ratio is 11 to one at the high school level with an average class size of about 21 students. Teacher salaries and teacher development opportunities rank at the highest level in Pennsylvania. Student proficiency in standardized testing nears the 90th percentile in math and science.
The townships of Tredyffrin and Easttown are within 20 miles west of Philadelphia and form the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District in Chester County. The district-wide proficiency for all grades in standardized tests was well above the 90th percentile in mathematics, writing and reading for 2008, 2009 and 2010. The median home price in Tredyffrin Township is $368,000 and Easttown Township is about $427,000 as of 2010, according to BestPlaces.org. The teacher to pupil ratio is 15 to one in the district.
Villanova University, Bryn Mahr College and Haverford College are also located in the Radnor Township area. The region is noted for golf courses and scenic parks, according to Bloomberg Business Week.
