Serving 667 students in grades 7-8, Penn Wood Middle School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 8% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 38%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 31% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 55%).
The student-teacher ratio of 13:1 is equal to the Pennsylvania state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 40% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Quick Facts (26-27)
- Grades: 7-8
- Enrollment: 667 students
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
- Minority Enrollment: 98%
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50% in PA
- Math Proficiency: 8% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 31% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 22% (Btm 50%)
- Attendance Zone: Penn Wood MS's attendance zone covers the entire school district in Darby, PA, encompassing approximately 4.7 square miles. Families within the zone can typically expect a 5-10 minute drive to the school, with an average distance of 1.4 miles to the zone's edge and a maximum distance of 2.3 miles to its furthest point.
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education
School Overview
Penn Wood Middle School's student population of 667 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 53 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 7-8
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
667 students
Showing 2016–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Total Classroom Teachers
53 teachers
Showing 2016–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
School Calendar
School Rankings
Penn Wood Middle School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 2,733 schools in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Penn Wood Middle School is 0.26, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.60. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#2466 out of 2733 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
8%
38%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
31%
55%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
22%
57%
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Showing 2016–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
American Indian
1%
n/a
Asian
2%
5%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Hispanic
4%
16%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Black
86%
14%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
White
2%
60%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Two or more races
5%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
Showing 2016–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(22-23)48.7%
23.3%
Eligible for Free Lunch
95%
59%
Showing 2016–2025. Full 17-year historical data available below ↓
Eligible for Reduced Lunch (16-17)
7%
3%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Sports
Colors
Blue and White
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Penn Wood Middle School's ranking?
Penn Wood Middle School is ranked #2466 out of 2,733 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Pennsylvania.
What schools are Penn Wood Middle School often compared to?
Penn Wood Middle Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Haverford Middle School, Richardson Middle School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
8% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 38% PA state average), while 31% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 55% PA state average).
How many students attend Penn Wood Middle School?
667 students attend Penn Wood Middle School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
86% of Penn Wood Middle School students are Black, 5% of students are Two or more races, 4% of students are Hispanic, 2% of students are Asian, 2% of students are White, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student-teacher ratio of Penn Wood Middle School?
Penn Wood Middle School has a student ration of 13:1, which is equal to the Pennsylvania state average of 13:1.
What grades does Penn Wood Middle School offer ?
Penn Wood Middle School offers enrollment in grades 7-8 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Penn Wood Middle School part of?
Penn Wood Middle School is part of William Penn School District.
School Reviews
5 10/10/2025
I am a student, and have to say that the teachers do a great job at teaching (with a few exceptions..) and the staff and all are pretty good. It's mostly the students that make the school of lower quality. Most of them are bad behavior-wise, and aren't very bright despite receiving good-quality learning. I am in the Advanced route, so luckily I don't experience most of the bad people except in specials, where learning level obviously doesn't matter. A lot of the students are still really nice though. I never experienced bullying really.. if you avoid the bad students you'll be fine. I kind of feel bad that my school gets trashed a lot. Just get good grades, try to avoid bad students as best as possible (which is pretty easy being advanced; most advanced kids are nice) and you'll be fine. Oh and there's "semi-advanced" classes or just the smart people as well it seems. It's pretty easy to get there at least if you're not at a gifted level and these people are nice too. Someone won't punch you in the face for no reason, I promise lol.
All in all try giving it a go. The school isn't the prettiest school I can admit ^^ but the staff really tries to bring in fun activities and more.
Review Penn Wood Middle School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
When a Public School Cancels a Course Your Child Needs
Learn what parents can do when public schools cancel essential courses, including protecting graduation credits, finding approved alternatives, requesting substitutions, and preventing disruptions to college or career plans before deadlines.
Verify School Assignment Before Buying a House
Before buying a house, learn how to verify your child's assigned public school, check conflicting property listings, confirm enrollment eligibility, and avoid costly school assignment surprises before closing on a property.
School Bus Commute Times: What Parents Should Know
Discover how long school bus commutes really take, why routes vary, and what parents should ask about pickup times, student fatigue, transportation reliability, and daily schedules before choosing schools.
