Delco School Tax Increases: How Does Rose Tree Media Compare?

MEDIA, PA — Delaware County has 14 school districts. Which one has biggest tax increase this year?

A recent analysis by the Philadelphia Inquirer, which looked at districts in Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester counties to determine the largest tax increases, shows where residents in Delaware County will be hit the hardest.

So how does the Rose Tree Media School District compare?

According to the analysis, residents in the district will pay an average of $121 more in 2019-20.

That's a 2.3 percent increase over last year. Over the past 10 years, RTMSD residents have experienced a 22 percent increase in taxes.

Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, is experiencing the largest percent tax increase this year, the analysis says. Residents there will pay 3.2 percent more in 2019-20, which is $261 for the average homeowner.

Radnor tied with Southeast Delco School District with a 3 percent hike.

The following districts have increases that range from 1.4 to 2.9 percent: Interboro, Penn-Delco, William Penn, Rose Tree Media, Haverford, Springfield, Upper Darby, Marple Newtown, Garnet Valley, and Ridley.

Taxes in the Chichester School District will not see an increase this year.

You may be wondering how your tax dollars are translating to student performance.

A new school district ranking was released last week by data compiler Niche, and many in Delaware County made the top 100 in the state. In that assessment, the top-ranked Delco school district is Radnor, which came second in the state.

Next up was Wallingford-Swarthmore, which was ranked sixth in Pennsylvania. Garnet Valley School District came in 12th in the state.

Rose Tree Media was ranked 13th, the School District of Haverford Township No. 21, Springfield No. 34, and Marple Newtown 40th. (You can read more about the methodology here.)