Rose Tree Media Sd, PA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Rose Tree Media Sd

Rose Tree Media School District serves a mid-sized enrollment across kindergarten through grade twelve in the Media area of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The district's student body is predominantly white, with Asian, multiracial, and Black students forming smaller but meaningful parts of the enrollment. The free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, so economic diversity cannot be assessed from the data provided.

On state mathematics assessments for grades three through eight, the district's proficiency rate sits solidly above the midpoint for Delaware County districts. In English language arts, the proficiency rate is notably stronger. Across both subjects, the district ranks in the top quartile among the county's districts on an overall proficiency measure. These results reflect a district where most students are meeting grade-level standards, though math proficiency lags somewhat behind ELA. Trend data and scale scores were not available, so it is not possible to see whether performance has been rising, falling, or stable year to year.

The district operates six schools: four elementary buildings, a middle school, and Penncrest High School. A graduation rate was not available in the data. Chronic absenteeism sits at about the midpoint for Delaware County districts, meaning attendance patterns are typical for the region. The district's per-pupil spending is in the upper range among county districts, suggesting a well-resourced operation. However, information on staffing levels, course breadth, program depth, and special-population support was not provided, so a fuller picture of what the district offers students with varied needs remains incomplete.

The district faces a significant structural challenge that affects planning for families. Elementary schools are overcrowded. For decades, kindergarten operated on a half-day schedule. In response, the Board of Education approved a new K-1 Early Learning Center slated to open in the 2029-2030 school year on district land near Penncrest High School. This will bring full-day kindergarten to Rose Tree Media for the first time, with smaller classes and purpose-built facilities for early learners. It is a long-awaited change for families seeking full-day programming, though it means waiting until 2029 for implementation.

The path to this decision ran through a failed capital project. The district spent years evaluating potential sites and settled on a parcel in Edgmont Township for a full elementary school. In early 2023, Edgmont's Board of Supervisors voted against rezoning the land, citing infrastructure and traffic concerns. The district sued, but ultimately abandoned the effort. The Edgmont site is now for sale. The pivot to a K-1 center instead of a full elementary school leaves the northern part of the district, where population is growing, without a new school building and reflects real friction between the district's growth needs and neighboring municipal land-use decisions.

The district's towns are in an affluent corridor south and west of Philadelphia. Housing values in the district's footprint are well above state benchmarks and trending upward. Rents are moderate relative to home prices, and the rent-to-income ratio suggests affordability challenges for renters but typical costs for the region. Unemployment is low and median household income is solidly above national figures. This is an affluent, stable, suburban market where school choice and housing decisions are tied to school assignment and family circumstance.

A parent looking at Rose Tree Media should expect solid, above-average proficiency in both reading and math, a well-funded district operation, and a stable, affluent peer environment. The immediate trade-off is overcrowding in elementary grades and the half-day kindergarten status quo that will persist for several more years. The district's data does not include graduation rate, special-education indicators, English learner enrollment, advanced coursework offerings, or staff composition, so families should speak directly with the district about high school pathways, support for students with disabilities or emerging English proficiency, and the full range of academic and career offerings available to their own child.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,188

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 4%

White 77%

Asian 8%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

58%

—

Gr 4

50%

—

Gr 5

63%

—

Gr 6

67%

—

Gr 7

71%

—

Gr 8

55%

—

Gr 38

61%

—

Math

Gr 3

77%

—

Gr 4

37%

—

Gr 5

67%

—

Gr 6

53%

—

Gr 7

57%

—

Gr 8

34%

—

Gr 38

54%

—

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

72%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

80%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$667,964

Year-over-year change+3.8%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$265K to $761K

vs. state typical2.33x

vs. national typical1.81x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
19063	Media	$646K	+4.0%	67.5%
19073	Newtown Square	$761K	+3.5%	18.0%
19342	Glen Mills	$689K	+3.4%	12.4%
19015	Brookhaven	$265K	+1.1%	1.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,271/mo

Year-over-year change+3.4%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1,679 to $2,967/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
19063	Media	$2,067	+1.5%	67.5%
19073	Newtown Square	$2,967	—	18.0%
19342	Glen Mills	$2,426	+14.0%	12.4%
19015	Brookhaven	$1,679	—	1.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,371/mo

Home price / national median income8.0x

Annual rent / national median income32.5%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,100/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$286,387 (+2.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.