The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in Science. The lowest is 46% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Leedom El Sch
Leedom Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Ridley Park, a small historic borough in Delaware County that sits about a short commute from Philadelphia. The school draws its roughly small-to-mid-sized enrollment from a stable, residential community where multi-generational families occupy Victorian homes, Cape Cods, and the local single-story "flat tops" built over more than a century. Ridley Park itself is tree-lined and walkable, with a modest commercial strip anchored by the SEPTA train station and Boeing's major helicopter manufacturing presence. Housing values in the zip code sit modestly below state and well below national benchmarks, and the municipality is essentially built out; growth happens through renovation of older apartment stock near the station rather than new construction.
In academic terms, Leedom's state testing results show a mixed picture. In the most recent data available, the school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among Delaware County districts, though the underlying numbers tell a story of uneven performance across subjects. In mathematics, proficiency sits at a moderate level. English language arts proficiency is lower, with fewer than half of tested students meeting grade-level standards. Science results, based on the most recent available data from a prior school year, were substantially stronger. The school does not report participation rates, so a parent should clarify with the school whether any absences or opt-outs affected those results.
A substantial majority of Leedom's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects the economic profile of this Delaware County neighborhood. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller populations of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. The school is a regular public school, not charter or magnet, and sits within the Ridley School District proper.
The district itself has made two noteworthy shifts affecting elementary families. Full-day kindergarten was introduced in 2022-23 and retained; this eliminates the need for half-day childcare but also represents a structural change for younger learners. The district is also rolling out a cognitive-assessment-based personalized learning model called MindPrint into elementary grades, starting with third graders, which will shape how students are assessed and grouped for instruction as they move through the school.
Property tax has risen materially over recent years, including a further hike proposed for 2025-26, so the cost of homeownership in the district is a live issue for families considering a move here. State testing data for special education and English learner populations was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about services and supports if either applies to their child.
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