Southern Lehigh SD

Center Valley, Pennsylvania — 5 schools

3,078
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$22,201
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Southern Lehigh SD operates 5 public schools serving 3,078 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Pennsylvania. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 3,057 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Lehigh County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $22,201 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 75.3% local, 20.8% state, and 3.9% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $98,770 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 29/100, ranked #537 of 659 in Pennsylvania against a state average of 49 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (18 AP courses district-wide), a 459.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 10.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 79.1% White, 7.2% Asian, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Southern Lehigh Shs accounts for 33.1% of all Southern Lehigh SD student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Southern Lehigh SD-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Southern Lehigh SD school enrollment varies 2.4× across entities

Southern Lehigh SD school enrollment ranges from 426 students (lowest) to 1,013 students (highest), a spread of 587 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Southern Lehigh SD student-counselor ratio is 460:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Southern Lehigh SD chronic absenteeism rate is 10.3% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

3.9%
Federal
20.8%
State
75.3%
Local

Funding Equity

29
Equity Score
537 / 659
State Rank
49
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Lehigh County county, where this district is located.

$1,130
Studio/mo
$1,341
1 BR/mo
$1,634
2 BR/mo
$2,087
3 BR/mo
$2,195
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$98,770
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Southern Lehigh SD.

White 79.1%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
African American 2.0%
Asian 7.2%
Multiracial 4.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
18 AP courses total
459.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
10.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Southern Lehigh SD

School Enrollment
Southern Lehigh Shs
1,013
Southern Lehigh Intermediate Sch
702
Southern Lehigh Ms
471
Liberty Bell El Sch
445
Hopewell El Sch
426

Nearby Districts in Pennsylvania

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Philadelphia City SD
118,335 students · 219 schools · $36,791/pupil
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Commonwealth Charter Academy CS
20,355 students · 1 schools · $16,959/pupil
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Pittsburgh SD
20,034 students · 56 schools · $37,128/pupil
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Central Bucks SD
17,540 students · 23 schools · $20,246/pupil
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Reading SD
17,363 students · 19 schools · $17,489/pupil
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Compare Southern Lehigh SD

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Southern Lehigh SD?

Southern Lehigh SD has 5 schools, including 1 high, 3 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 3,078 students.

How much does Southern Lehigh SD spend per student?

Southern Lehigh SD spends $22,201 per student. The district has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #537 in Pennsylvania.

What is the average teacher salary in Southern Lehigh SD?

The average teacher salary in Southern Lehigh SD is $98,770 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Southern Lehigh SD?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Lehigh County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Southern Lehigh SD?

Southern Lehigh SD students are 79.1% White, 7.2% Asian, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% African American, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Southern Lehigh SD?

Southern Lehigh SD has an equity score of 29/100, ranking #537 out of 659 districts in Pennsylvania. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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