The top reported proficiency rate is 90% in Science. The lowest is 75% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Chestnutwold El Sch
Chestnutwold Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Ardmore, a mixed-use Main Line suburb that sits at the border of Delaware and Montgomery counties. The school is part of the School District of Haverford Township, one of the district's elementary buildings serving families in this portion of Ardmore along with nearby Bryn Mawr and Havertown.
The school's enrollment is moderate in size for the grade band, with a balanced distribution across grades. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller representation from Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students in special education and English learner populations was not provided by the district.
In terms of academic performance, Chestnutwold shows solid proficiency on state assessments for grades three through five. On the most recent Pennsylvania System of School Assessment results, proficiency in math stands in the upper range, and proficiency in English language arts is also substantially above the median. Science proficiency, last measured, was notably strong. Across tested subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among elementary schools in Delaware County, a meaningful strength in a county with varied school outcomes.
The broader context includes a district in the middle of sustained capital investment. Haverford Township recently completed a major renovation of its high school and is currently undertaking significant additions and renovations at other elementary buildings through a bond-financed capital program. That kind of facility investment typically signals confidence in the district's trajectory. At the same time, parents considering a move to Ardmore should know that property tax rates in Haverford Township have risen meaningfully in recent budgets and are expected to continue climbing. The district has also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum, Wit & Wisdom, a knowledge-building English Language Arts program now used across grades K-5. The district and teachers' union ratified a new four-year labor agreement after a period of contentious negotiations, providing multi-year stability on compensation.
Ardmore itself is a particularly distinctive suburb: walkable, with a dense downtown centered on Lancaster Avenue and Suburban Square, and currently experiencing substantial transit-oriented apartment development. The community blends older single-family homes with a bustling commercial core that feels more urban than many nearby suburbs, and it sits on the SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale rail line with regular service to Center City. The housing market in the Ardmore area is relatively expensive and has been rising, though rental options are increasingly available as new mixed-use buildings open near the train station. The local economy centers on retail, dining, and professional services in the downtown, along with institutional anchors like Lankenau Medical Center and nearby colleges. For families valuing a suburb with real street life, walkability, and transit access, Ardmore represents a distinct choice on the Main Line.
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