Southern Lehigh Middle School

Summary:

Southern Lehigh Middle School is a high-performing public middle school serving grades 7-8 in the Southern Lehigh School District in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. With 466 students and a student-teacher ratio of 12.8, the school has consistently been ranked among the top middle schools in the state, currently holding a 5-star rating and ranking 53 out of 891 schools in Pennsylvania.

Southern Lehigh Middle School stands out for its exceptional academic performance, significantly outperforming the state and district averages on PSSA tests across all subjects and grade levels. In 2023-2024, 76.8% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 53% statewide, and 51.6% were proficient in math, compared to 40.4% statewide. The school also boasts very low dropout rates, ranging from 0.0% to 1.6% over the past few years, significantly lower than the state average. Additionally, the school spends significantly more per student ($20,964 in 2021-2022) compared to the state average, which likely contributes to its strong academic performance.

When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Northeast Middle School in the Bethlehem Area School District, which ranks 699th in the state and has significantly lower proficiency rates, Southern Lehigh Middle School stands out as a high-performing institution. However, the school's lower rankings for Asian students and students of low socioeconomic status suggest potential equity concerns that the school may need to address to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 3715 Preston Lane
       Center Valley, PA  18034-9453


(610) 282-3700

District: Southern Lehigh School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
53rd of 891 Pennsylvania Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $20,964 Help


Students who attend Southern Lehigh Middle School usually attend:

High:    Southern Lehigh Senior High School

Feeder schools for Southern Lehigh Middle School:

Elementary:    Hopewell Elementary School
    Liberty Bell Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.1 Help
Number of students:  483

Racial breakdown:

White:
85.5%
Asian:
6.6%
Hispanic:
5.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  18% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Southern Lehigh Middle School ranks better than 94.1% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 91.57. (See more...)
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (85.5%), Asian (6.6%), Hispanic (5.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 18% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southern Lehigh Middle School is 14.1. (See more...)
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Compare Southern Lehigh Middle School employs 34.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southern Lehigh Middle School is $20,964.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Southern Lehigh Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Southern Lehigh Middle School 53rd of 891 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Southern Lehigh Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Asian students:
White students:




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Rank History for Southern Lehigh Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Southern Lehigh Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 79.64 125th 643 80.6%
2004 83.59 82nd 663 87.6%
2005 65.86 268th 687 61.0%
2006 77.23 142nd 736 80.7%
2007 76.11 147th 749 80.4%
2008 80.12 108th 753 85.7%
2009 78.58 123rd 770 84.0%
2010 85.17 52nd 805 93.5%
2011 80.51 108th 825 86.9%
2012 78.97 136th 834 83.7%
2013 81.82 92nd 758 87.9%
2014 85.27 53rd 728 92.7%
2015 89.07 56th 835 93.3%
2016 85.68 95th 870 89.1%
2017 83.37 112th 877 87.2%
2018 91.06 41st 861 95.2%
2019 92.63 34th 891 96.2%
2021 94.01 23rd 797 97.1%
2022 93.69 32nd 883 96.4%
2023 91.06 52nd 893 94.2%
2024 91.57 53rd 891 94.1%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Southern Lehigh Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 64.96 262nd 874 70.0%
2024 72.80 171st 877 80.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Southern Lehigh Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 86.62 74th 860 91.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Southern Lehigh Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 64.55 162nd 660 75.5%
2024 73.94 102nd 672 84.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Southern Lehigh Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 93.46 34th 870 96.1%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Southern Lehigh Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 74.51 33rd 144 77.1%
2024 69.61 51st 145 64.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at Southern Lehigh Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 85.78 59th 681 91.3%
2024 86.97 58th 673 91.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Dept of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Southern Lehigh Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

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Enrollment information for Southern Lehigh Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 503 1 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 506
1989 521 1 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 525
1990 490 2 3 3 0 n/a n/a 0 498
1991 480 6 4 1 0 n/a n/a 0 491
1992 477 5 3 7 0 n/a n/a 0 492
1993 535 4 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1994 590 4 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 594
1995 599 3 4 0 1 n/a n/a 0 607
1996 599 3 4 0 1 n/a n/a 0 607
1997 600 5 9 4 0 n/a n/a 0 618
1998 578 6 10 4 0 n/a n/a 0 598
1999 624 4 10 8 0 n/a n/a 0 646
2000 629 3 14 3 1 n/a n/a 0 650
2001 674 2 15 5 0 n/a n/a 0 696
2002 690 6 12 16 0 n/a n/a 0 724
2003 690 6 12 16 0 n/a n/a 0 724
2004 700 7 12 15 0 n/a n/a 0 734
2005 700 11 9 14 2 n/a n/a 0 736
2006 696 9 12 16 1 n/a n/a 0 734
2007 690 7 16 28 2 n/a n/a 0 743
2008 666 20 32 23 1 n/a n/a 0 742
2009 649 15 32 22 2 n/a n/a 1 721
2010 444 16 25 15 0 n/a n/a 0 500
2011 418 10 18 35 0 0 13 0 494
2012 452 10 24 28 1 0 3 0 518
2013 458 12 27 25 1 0 4 0 527
2014 451 10 28 24 0 0 5 0 518
2015 460 12 25 25 0 0 2 0 524
2016 452 15 21 26 1 0 3 0 518
2017 450 20 25 23 4 0 6 0 528
2018 447 14 33 26 3 0 9 0 532
2019 448 5 31 36 2 0 4 0 526
2020 435 7 23 32 2 1 3 0 503
2021 440 8 36 35 0 1 4 0 524
2022 431 8 46 31 0 0 3 0 519
2023 391 7 37 25 2 1 3 0 466
2024 413 4 32 27 3 2 2 0 483

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Southern Lehigh Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 506 35.3 14.3 n/a
1989 525 37.6 13.9 n/a
1990 498 37.6 13.2 0
1991 491 37.9 12.9 n/a
1992 492 38.2 12.8 n/a
1993 540 32.0 16.9 n/a
1994 594 30.0 19.8 n/a
1995 607 33.0 18.4 n/a
1996 607 33.0 18.4 n/a
1997 618 36.0 17.2 n/a
1998 598 36.0 16.6 n/a
1999 646 37.0 17.5 n/a
2000 650 39.5 16.5 4.5
2001 696 45.0 15.5 4.7
2002 724 45.8 15.8 7.2
2003 724 45.8 15.8 7.2
2004 734 46.8 15.7 6.1
2005 736 46.8 15.7 7.1
2006 734 46.7 15.7 7.6
2007 743 50.5 14.7 8.6
2008 742 50.3 14.8 8.9
2009 721 53.7 13.4 8.3
2010 500 40.4 12.3 10
2011 494 39.5 12.4 10.7
2012 518 40.3 12.8 9.8
2013 527 40.6 12.9 11.4
2014 518 41.2 12.5 12
2015 524 44.0 11.9 10.3
2016 518 41.0 12.6 12
2017 528 41.9 12.6 12.3
2018 532 41.9 12.6 12.4
2019 526 42.9 12.2 16.2
2020 503 41.1 12.2 16.3
2021 524 39.2 13.3 17.4
2022 519 37.2 13.9 15.8
2023 466 36.2 12.8 15.7
2024 483 34.2 14.1 18

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Southern Lehigh Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 506 35.3 14.3 n/a
1989 525 37.6 13.9 n/a
1990 498 37.6 13.2 0
1991 491 37.9 12.9 n/a
1992 492 38.2 12.8 n/a
1993 540 32.0 16.9 n/a
1994 594 30.0 19.8 n/a
1995 607 33.0 18.4 n/a
1996 607 33.0 18.4 n/a
1997 618 36.0 17.2 n/a
1998 598 36.0 16.6 n/a
1999 646 37.0 17.5 n/a
2000 650 39.5 16.5 4.5
2001 696 45.0 15.5 4.7
2002 724 45.8 15.8 7.2
2003 724 45.8 15.8 7.2
2004 734 46.8 15.7 6.1
2005 736 46.8 15.7 7.1
2006 734 46.7 15.7 7.6
2007 743 50.5 14.7 8.6
2008 742 50.3 14.8 8.9
2009 721 53.7 13.4 8.3
2010 500 40.4 12.3 10
2011 494 39.5 12.4 10.7
2012 518 40.3 12.8 9.8
2013 527 40.6 12.9 11.4
2014 518 41.2 12.5 12
2015 524 44.0 11.9 10.3
2016 518 41.0 12.6 12
2017 528 41.9 12.6 12.3
2018 532 41.9 12.6 12.4
2019 526 42.9 12.2 16.2
2020 503 41.1 12.2 16.3
2021 524 39.2 13.3 17.4
2022 519 37.2 13.9 15.8
2023 466 36.2 12.8 15.7
2024 483 34.2 14.1 18

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Southern Lehigh Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $100 (0.5%) $19,866 (99.5%) $19,966
2020 $129 (0.6%) $20,079 (99.4%) $20,208
2021 $313 (1.5%) $20,172 (98.5%) $20,485
2022 $399 (1.9%) $20,565 (98.1%) $20,964

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southern Lehigh Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 34th of 891 Middle schoolsRanks 52nd of 893 Middle schools
 2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade Math (Southern Lehigh Middle School)68.351.1
 17.2%
   7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)38.233.2
 5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Southern Lehigh Middle School)8171.4
 9.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.554.5
 6%
8th Grade Math (Southern Lehigh Middle School)59.751.1
 8.6%
   8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)32.226
 6.2%
8th Grade Science (Southern Lehigh Middle School)80.685.1
 4.5%
   8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)58.257
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Southern Lehigh Middle School)80.275
 5.2%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)57.952.8
 5.1%
All Grades Math (Southern Lehigh Middle School)63.951.1
 12.8%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (Southern Lehigh Middle School)80.685.1
 4.5%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Southern Lehigh Middle School)80.673.2
 7.4%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.953.8
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students526466
 11.4%
African American57
 40%
American Indian22
Asian3137
 19.4%
Hispanic3625
 30.6%
Pacific Islander01
White448391
 12.7%
Two or More Races43
 25%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients16.2%15.7%
 0.5%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Lehigh Middle School

In the 2023-24 school year, 483 students attended Southern Lehigh Middle School.

Yes. Southern Lehigh Middle School ranks in the top 5.9% of Pennsylvania middle schools.

Students at Southern Lehigh Middle School are 86% White, 7% Asian, 6% Hispanic.

Students who attend Southern Lehigh Middle School usually go on to attend Southern Lehigh Senior High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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