Pennsylvania Top 10 SWD School Districts

Ranked by SWD Support Score • Academic Performance • Special Education Infrastructure

Data current as of May 2026 from public government records

Acronyms used on this page — hover or tap for the full term

Methodology

Academic Performance

College readiness test results and the percentage of students meeting state standards in math and reading. Reflects overall instructional quality all students receive.

Special Education Support Quality

Whether specialist staff — SLP, OT, school psychologist, nurse, and BCBA — are physically present at the school in sufficient numbers for the students being served.

Program & Intensity Fit

Whether the school has the right classroom program for the severity level of students served. A resource room for Mild needs. A specialized SDC for Severe needs. Mismatch lowers the score.

T1 — Mild

RSP/Resource Room. Learning disabilities, speech, mild ADHD. Shared specialists acceptable.

T2 — Moderate

SDC Mild/Moderate. Mild autism, intellectual disability. Most specialists on-site.

T3 — Mod-Severe

SDC Moderate/Severe. All primary specialists must be on-site full-time.

T4 — Severe

Specialized center. Medically complex. Full dedicated staffing required. Shared nurse triggers an automatic critical warning.

District Rankings

Score legend:85–100 Excellent75–84 Good65–74 Moderate55–64 Low0–54 Critical

#	District	County	Tier	Students	SAT	Math %	ELA %	SWD %	▼ SWD Support Score	IEP-Ready Score	★
1	Lower Merion SD ✅ No vacancy	Montgomery	T3 Mod-Severe	9,800	1310	73	78	14.5	71	75	3.5
2	North Allegheny SD ✅ No vacancy	Allegheny	T3 Mod-Severe	9,200	1250	67	73	14.5	71	73	3
3	Tredyffrin-Easttown SD ✅ No vacancy	Chester	T2 Moderate	6,200	1300	72	78	14	71	75	3.5
4	Radnor Township SD ✅ No vacancy	Delaware	T2 Moderate	4,100	1290	71	77	14.2	68	73	3
5	Mt. Lebanon SD ✅ No vacancy	Allegheny	T2 Moderate	5,400	1270	69	75	13.8	68	72	3
6	West Chester Area SD ✅ No vacancy	Chester	T2 Moderate	14,500	1200	62	69	15.5	68	69	2.5
7	Upper St. Clair SD ✅ No vacancy	Allegheny	T2 Moderate	4,600	1260	68	74	14	63	70	3
8	Unionville-Chadds Ford SD ✅ No vacancy	Chester	T2 Moderate	4,000	1270	70	76	14	63	70	3
9	Central Bucks SD ✅ No vacancy	Bucks	T2 Moderate	19,000	1220	64	71	15.2	63	68	2.5
10	Council Rock SD ✅ No vacancy	Bucks	T2 Moderate	12,500	1210	63	70	15	61	67	2.5

SWD% shown for context only and not used in any score. Hover the SWD Support Score and IEP-Ready Score headers to see how they differ.

District Profiles

Lower Merion SD

SWD: 71/100

Ardmore, Montgomery · 12 schools · 9,800 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 3 — Mod-Severe

IEP-Ready Score

★ 3.5

1310

SAT · Acad 79

73% / 78%

Math / ELA

14.5%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✅

SWD Support — Mod-Severe Program:NOREP compliance strong; SLP & OT on-site; BCBA team; SDC Mild through Severe

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Lower Merion SD.

North Allegheny SD

SWD: 71/100

Pittsburgh North, Allegheny · 12 schools · 9,200 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 3 — Mod-Severe

IEP-Ready Score

★ 3

1250

SAT · Acad 74

67% / 73%

Math / ELA

14.5%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✅

SWD Support — Mod-Severe Program:Full SWD continuum; BCBA on staff; SLP on-site all campuses; strong Chapter 14 compliance

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at North Allegheny SD.

Tredyffrin-Easttown SD

SWD: 71/100

Berwyn, Chester · 8 schools · 6,200 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 3.5

1300

SAT · Acad 78

72% / 78%

Math / ELA

14%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✅

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Chapter 14 compliance strong; SLP & OT on-site; psychologist per campus; BCBA on staff

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Tredyffrin-Easttown SD.

Radnor Township SD

SWD: 68/100

Wayne, Delaware · 5 schools · 4,100 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 3

1290

SAT · Acad 78

71% / 77%

Math / ELA

14.2%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ⚠️ Shared

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Strong NOREP track record; SLP & OT on-site; SDC & inclusion dual model; BCBA shared

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Radnor Township SD.

Mt. Lebanon SD

SWD: 68/100

Pittsburgh area, Allegheny · 8 schools · 5,400 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 3

1270

SAT · Acad 76

69% / 75%

Math / ELA

13.8%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ⚠️ Shared

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Full SDC range; SLP on-site; OT campus-based; BCBA shared; compensatory ed track record

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Mt. Lebanon SD.

West Chester Area SD

SWD: 68/100

West Chester, Chester · 19 schools · 14,500 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2.5

1200

SAT · Acad 71

62% / 69%

Math / ELA

15.5%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ⚠️ Shared

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Full SDC Mild through Severe; SLP & OT on-site; BCBA team shared

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at West Chester Area SD.

Upper St. Clair SD

SWD: 63/100

Upper St. Clair, Allegheny · 6 schools · 4,600 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 3

1260

SAT · Acad 75

68% / 74%

Math / ELA

14%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ⚠️ SharedPsych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:SDC Mild/Mod; on-site SLP; psychologist team; NOREP timely; OT shared

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Upper St. Clair SD.

Unionville-Chadds Ford SD

SWD: 63/100

Kennett Square, Chester · 5 schools · 4,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 3

1270

SAT · Acad 77

70% / 76%

Math / ELA

14%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ⚠️ SharedPsych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:SDC & inclusion model; SLP on-site; OT campus-based; NOREP timely

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Unionville-Chadds Ford SD.

Central Bucks SD

SWD: 63/100

Doylestown, Bucks · 25 schools · 19,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2.5

1220

SAT · Acad 72

64% / 71%

Math / ELA

15.2%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ⚠️ SharedPsych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:SDC programs at each level; SLP & OT on-site; NOREP compliance

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Central Bucks SD.

Council Rock SD

SWD: 61/100

Newtown, Bucks · 18 schools · 12,500 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2.5

1210

SAT · Acad 72

63% / 70%

Math / ELA

15%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ⚠️ SharedPsych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Full SDC range; SLP on-site; OT itinerant; Chapter 14 compliance

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Council Rock SD.

Some specialist staffing is estimated from district averages and may not reflect every campus. Source: IDEA §618 personnel data (2024–25). Confirm with the district before placement decisions.

Pennsylvania State IEP Guide — Downloadable Resource

A complete guide to the IEP process in Pennsylvania — state-specific timelines, terminology, parent rights, and how to use iepguide.org for school placement research.

View Online Download PDF

For informational purposes only. Does not constitute legal advice.

For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified special education advocate or attorney for guidance specific to your child's situation.

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