Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Upper Darby Township is a home rule
township bordering West Philadelphia
in Pennsylvania
. Although it retains the term "Township" in its legal name, presumably for historic reasons, it is the largest municipality of any type in Delaware County. Upper Darby is also home to the Tower Theater, a historic music venue on 69th street built in the 1920s. Upper Darby's population is diverse, representing over 100 ethnic cultures located within its densely populated, rowhouse streets. It is Pennsylvania's sixth most populous municipality.
Located just 2.8 miles from Center City
, many of Upper Darby's residents work in Center City (downtown Philadelphia). Upper Darby houses the western terminus of the Market-Frankford Line
of the SEPTA mass transit system of Philadelphia, with the location at 69th street in the heart of Upper Darby's principal business district. Multiple trolley and bus lines connect the 69th Street Terminal
to all major SEPTA lines of Philadelphia.
Upper Darby is 65% residential, 25% commercial, and 8% other. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 82,795. Because of a home-rule charter adopted in 1974 and effective in 1976, Upper Darby utilizes a mayor-council form of management, unlike communities that are still under the Pennsylvania Township Code. ("First Class" townships in Pennsylvania have a board of commissioners divided into wards, and "Second Class" townships having a board of supervisors, which are usually elected "at-large".)
.The Township was founded during a split from Darby Township on August 30, 1736. However it was not incorporated under the home rule
charter
until 1907. The abundance of creeks and streams in the area favored the development of mills and it was in Upper Darby that the first mills in Delaware County could be found. The mill trade greatly increased the population of Upper Darby, from just over 800 in 1800 to almost 5000 by 1890.
"The Swedish Cabin", thought to have been built in 1654, is located on Creek Road along the Darby Creek
and is believed by many to be a remnant of the early Swedes, who introduced the log cabin
to this area. Today the "Swedish Cabin" is designated with a Pennsylvania Historical Marker. The Cabin is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
.
In 1851 the seat was moved to Media
, where it remains today. Reflecting its Quaker beginnings, Upper Darby was active in the antislavery movement. Many homes in the area were stops on the Underground Railroad
. Two regiments from Upper Darby took part in the fighting in the American Civil War, and one, the 106th, was involved in the Battle of Antietam. The business district is noted for many fine examples of Art Deco style buildings. The 20th century saw a population explosion in Upper Darby. By the 1960s it ranked as the 7th most populous municipality in Pennsylvania, eclipsing such cities as Harrisburg (the state capital), Chester and Bethlehem.
, the township has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km²). The township lies on the edge of the Piedmont slightly above the City of Philadelphia (60 to 260 feet above sea level). The area is crossed by several small creeks. The borough
of East Lansdowne
, Pennsylvania
is an enclave completely surrounded by Upper Darby Township; additionally, an exclave of Upper Darby Township is separated from the rest of the township.
The census-designated place
of Drexel Hill
and the communities (or neighborhoods) of Aronimink, Beverly Hills, Bywood, Drexel Park, Highland Park, Kellyville, Kirklyn, Oakview, Primos, Secane
, Stonehurst, and Westbrook Park are part of Upper Darby Township.
began a campaign to have the Pennsylvania Firefly
declared the official state insect of Pennsylvania. With advice and support from state legislator
s, the students began a campaign that included letter writing, the circulation of petitions, and the distribution of bumper sticker
s. On April 10, 1974, Governor Milton J. Shapp signed their bill making the Pennsylvania Firefly their state's official insect. A couple of years later, Highland Park Elementary School was presented with a bronze
plaque
in honor of the students' achievement.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 85,038 people, 32,551 households, and 20,474 families residing in the township. The population density
was 14,658.7 people per square mile. There were 34,322 housing units at an average density of 4,361.6 per square mile (1,683.8/km²). The racial makeup of Upper Darby was 59.1% White
; 20.5% African American
; 15.3% Asian
; 0.12% Native American
; 0.03% Pacific Islander
; 0.52% from other races and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
of any race were 2.4% of the population. Recent estimates have indicated a large increase in the hispanic population of Upper Darby.
There were 32,551 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64 and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,489, and median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $38,090 versus $30,416 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $20,770. About 7.3% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
. In all, the 12 Public Schools plus the Kindergarten Center serve nearly 12,000 students. The district has one high school, Upper Darby High School
, and two middle schools, Beverly Hills Middle School
and Drexel Hill Middle School
. Upper Darby High School
is the largest High School in the State of Pennsylvania with well over 4,000 students.
In addition to the public school district, Upper Darby is home to several parochial and private schools. Monsignor Bonner High School
(for boys) and Archbishop Prendergast High School
(for girls), both Roman Catholic, are the largest private schools in the Township. Both schools offer grades 9-12 with a combined enrollment close to 55,00students. In addition to the two high schools, there are nine parochial primary and middle schools located in the Township including the St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments, with a combined enrollment of 2,867. Almost all of the private academic schools in the Township are administered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia except for the Holy Child Academy, which is a Catholic academy run by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
Also available to residents of Upper Darby and surrounding areas is the Upper Darby Adult Evening Program (UDAEP). UDAEP offers professional development and general education classes to township residents. UDAEP is an independent non-profit entity separate from the Upper Darby School District
.
Home Rule Municipality (Pennsylvania)
A Home Rule Municipality in Pennsylvania is one incorporated under its own unique charter, created pursuant to the state's Home Rule and Optional Plans Law and approved by referendum. "Local governments without home rule can only act where specifically authorized by state law; home rule...
township bordering West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Although it retains the term "Township" in its legal name, presumably for historic reasons, it is the largest municipality of any type in Delaware County. Upper Darby is also home to the Tower Theater, a historic music venue on 69th street built in the 1920s. Upper Darby's population is diverse, representing over 100 ethnic cultures located within its densely populated, rowhouse streets. It is Pennsylvania's sixth most populous municipality.
Located just 2.8 miles from Center City
Center City, Philadelphia
Center City, or Downtown Philadelphia includes the central business district and central neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As of 2005, its population of over 88,000 made it the third most populous downtown in the United States, after New York City's and Chicago's...
, many of Upper Darby's residents work in Center City (downtown Philadelphia). Upper Darby houses the western terminus of the Market-Frankford Line
Market-Frankford Line
The Market–Frankford Line is a rapid transit line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority .-Route:The Market–Frankford Line begins at 69th Street Transportation Center, in Upper Darby...
of the SEPTA mass transit system of Philadelphia, with the location at 69th street in the heart of Upper Darby's principal business district. Multiple trolley and bus lines connect the 69th Street Terminal
69th Street Terminal
69th Street Transportation Center is a SEPTA terminal in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It is also the southwestern terminus of Philadelphia's EL, the Market-Frankford Line ....
to all major SEPTA lines of Philadelphia.
Upper Darby is 65% residential, 25% commercial, and 8% other. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 82,795. Because of a home-rule charter adopted in 1974 and effective in 1976, Upper Darby utilizes a mayor-council form of management, unlike communities that are still under the Pennsylvania Township Code. ("First Class" townships in Pennsylvania have a board of commissioners divided into wards, and "Second Class" townships having a board of supervisors, which are usually elected "at-large".)
Early settlement
The area was first settled in the late 1653 by a group from New SwedenNew Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America from 1638 to 1655. Fort Christina, now in Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement. New Sweden included parts of the present-day American states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania....
.The Township was founded during a split from Darby Township on August 30, 1736. However it was not incorporated under the home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
until 1907. The abundance of creeks and streams in the area favored the development of mills and it was in Upper Darby that the first mills in Delaware County could be found. The mill trade greatly increased the population of Upper Darby, from just over 800 in 1800 to almost 5000 by 1890.
"The Swedish Cabin", thought to have been built in 1654, is located on Creek Road along the Darby Creek
Darby Creek
Darby Creek may refer to:*Darby Creek , a tributary of the Delaware River*Two streams in central Ohio:** Big Darby Creek** Little Darby Creek...
and is believed by many to be a remnant of the early Swedes, who introduced the log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
to this area. Today the "Swedish Cabin" is designated with a Pennsylvania Historical Marker. The Cabin is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
19th and 20th Centuries
Upper Darby Township was settled by Quakers and formed out of Darby Township in 1736. In 1789, Upper Darby was one of the several municipalities that voted to secede from Chester County and form a new county, hence Delaware County was established with the seat at Chester CityChester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
.
In 1851 the seat was moved to Media
Media, Pennsylvania
The borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and is located west of Philadelphia. Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat. The population was 5,533 at the 2000 census. Its school district is the Rose Tree Media School District...
, where it remains today. Reflecting its Quaker beginnings, Upper Darby was active in the antislavery movement. Many homes in the area were stops on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. Two regiments from Upper Darby took part in the fighting in the American Civil War, and one, the 106th, was involved in the Battle of Antietam. The business district is noted for many fine examples of Art Deco style buildings. The 20th century saw a population explosion in Upper Darby. By the 1960s it ranked as the 7th most populous municipality in Pennsylvania, eclipsing such cities as Harrisburg (the state capital), Chester and Bethlehem.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km²). The township lies on the edge of the Piedmont slightly above the City of Philadelphia (60 to 260 feet above sea level). The area is crossed by several small creeks. The borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of East Lansdowne
East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania
East Lansdowne is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Lansdowne is located at ....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
is an enclave completely surrounded by Upper Darby Township; additionally, an exclave of Upper Darby Township is separated from the rest of the township.
The census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of Drexel Hill
Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Drexel Hill is a census-designated place in Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Drexel Hill is located southwest of Center City, Philadelphia and is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area...
and the communities (or neighborhoods) of Aronimink, Beverly Hills, Bywood, Drexel Park, Highland Park, Kellyville, Kirklyn, Oakview, Primos, Secane
Secane, Pennsylvania
Secane is a small community in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It located in two school districts, Upper Darby and Ridley School District. It is located between Primos and Morton and is one of the stops on SEPTA's Media/Elwyn Line, which runs to/from Philadelphia and Elwyn...
, Stonehurst, and Westbrook Park are part of Upper Darby Township.
Adjacent municipalities
- Haverford Township, Delaware CountyHaverford Township, PennsylvaniaHaverford Township is a home rule township in Delaware County, near Philadelphia, in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States. It maintains its legal name as the Township of Haverford, presumably for historic reasons...
- north - Millbourne Borough, Delaware CountyMillbourne, PennsylvaniaMillbourne is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1159 at the 2010 census. Millbourne borders Philadelphia along Cobbs Creek...
- northeast - City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County - east
- East Lansdowne Borough, Delaware CountyEast Lansdowne, PennsylvaniaEast Lansdowne is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Lansdowne is located at ....
- southeast - Yeadon Borough, Delaware CountyYeadon, PennsylvaniaYeadon is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It borders the City of Philadelphia. The population was 11,762 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yeadon is located at ....
- southeast - Lansdowne Borough, Delaware CountyLansdowne, PennsylvaniaLansdowne is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States located southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It was named for the Marquess of Lansdowne. The borough grew quickly in the early part of the twentieth century when a railroad stop was established near the intersection of...
- south - Darby Borough, Delaware CountyDarby, PennsylvaniaDarby is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, along Darby Creek southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It has a public library founded in 1743 and a cemetery more than 300 years old. The Quakers lived there early in the colonial era. Darby was settled about 1660 and was...
- south - Clifton Heights, Delaware CountyClifton Heights, PennsylvaniaClifton Heights is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, six miles west of downtown Philadelphia and on Darby Creek. The population was at 2,330 in 1900, and 3,155 in 1910...
- south - Aldan Borough, Delaware CountyAldan, PennsylvaniaAldan is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,313 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
- south - Darby Township, Delaware CountyDarby Township, PennsylvaniaDarby Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,622 at the 2000 census. Darby Township is a distinct municipality from the nearby and similarly named Darby Boro.-Geography:...
- south - Ridley Township, Delaware CountyRidley Township, PennsylvaniaRidley Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 30,791 at the 2000 census.Students residing within the district generally attend schools within the Ridley School District, although there are several Catholic schools located in the township as...
- southwest - Springfield Township, Delaware CountySpringfield Township, Delaware County, PennsylvaniaSpringfield Township, or simply Springfield, is a township and a Census Designated Place in Delaware County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The population was 23,677 at the 2000 census...
- west
Pennsylvania State Insect
In the early 1970s, students from Highland Park Elementary SchoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
began a campaign to have the Pennsylvania Firefly
Photuris pennsylvanica
Photuris pennsylvanica, known by the common names Pennsylvania firefly, lightning bug, Pennsylvania lightning bug, and glowworm, is a species of firefly from the United States and Canada.-Description:...
declared the official state insect of Pennsylvania. With advice and support from state legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
s, the students began a campaign that included letter writing, the circulation of petitions, and the distribution of bumper sticker
Bumper sticker
A bumper sticker is an adhesive label or sticker with a message, intended to be attached to the bumper of an automobile and to be read by the occupants of other vehicles - although they are often stuck onto other objects...
s. On April 10, 1974, Governor Milton J. Shapp signed their bill making the Pennsylvania Firefly their state's official insect. A couple of years later, Highland Park Elementary School was presented with a bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
in honor of the students' achievement.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township was 56.6% White, 27.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 11.1% Asian, and 2.7% of the population were of two or more races. 4.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestryhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 85,038 people, 32,551 households, and 20,474 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 14,658.7 people per square mile. There were 34,322 housing units at an average density of 4,361.6 per square mile (1,683.8/km²). The racial makeup of Upper Darby was 59.1% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
; 20.5% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
; 15.3% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
; 0.12% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
; 0.03% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
; 0.52% from other races and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race were 2.4% of the population. Recent estimates have indicated a large increase in the hispanic population of Upper Darby.
There were 32,551 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64 and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,489, and median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $38,090 versus $30,416 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $20,770. About 7.3% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Upper Darby Township's Public Education is served by the Upper Darby School DistrictUpper Darby School District
Upper Darby School District is a school district of approximately 12,000 students in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.It consists of an area including Upper Darby Township, Clifton Heights borough, and Millbourne borough...
. In all, the 12 Public Schools plus the Kindergarten Center serve nearly 12,000 students. The district has one high school, Upper Darby High School
Upper Darby High School
Upper Darby High School is a four-year public high school located in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, United States, as part of the Upper Darby School District. UDHS is also the oldest high school in Delaware County, PA, having been established in 1895...
, and two middle schools, Beverly Hills Middle School
Beverly Hills Middle School
Beverly Hills Middle School, located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, United States, was founded in 1930 by James Targett, and originally served as a junior high school. More than 1525 students attend the school. It is one of the two middle schools in the Upper Darby School District which serves...
and Drexel Hill Middle School
Drexel Hill Middle School
Drexel Hill Middle School , located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States, is one of the two middle schools in the Upper Darby School District...
. Upper Darby High School
Upper Darby High School
Upper Darby High School is a four-year public high school located in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, United States, as part of the Upper Darby School District. UDHS is also the oldest high school in Delaware County, PA, having been established in 1895...
is the largest High School in the State of Pennsylvania with well over 4,000 students.
In addition to the public school district, Upper Darby is home to several parochial and private schools. Monsignor Bonner High School
Monsignor Bonner High School
Monsignor Bonner High School is an all-male Augustinian Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States. Bonner was created in 1953 as Archbishop Prendergast High School for Boys...
(for boys) and Archbishop Prendergast High School
Archbishop Prendergast High School
Archbishop Prendergast High School is an all-girl Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. The school is often referred to by its nickname, "Prendie". The school operates in a landmark building that formerly served as St....
(for girls), both Roman Catholic, are the largest private schools in the Township. Both schools offer grades 9-12 with a combined enrollment close to 55,00students. In addition to the two high schools, there are nine parochial primary and middle schools located in the Township including the St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments, with a combined enrollment of 2,867. Almost all of the private academic schools in the Township are administered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia except for the Holy Child Academy, which is a Catholic academy run by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
Also available to residents of Upper Darby and surrounding areas is the Upper Darby Adult Evening Program (UDAEP). UDAEP offers professional development and general education classes to township residents. UDAEP is an independent non-profit entity separate from the Upper Darby School District
Upper Darby School District
Upper Darby School District is a school district of approximately 12,000 students in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.It consists of an area including Upper Darby Township, Clifton Heights borough, and Millbourne borough...
.
Parochial schools
- Monsignor Bonner High SchoolMonsignor Bonner High SchoolMonsignor Bonner High School is an all-male Augustinian Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, United States. Bonner was created in 1953 as Archbishop Prendergast High School for Boys...
for boys - Archbishop Prendergast High SchoolArchbishop Prendergast High SchoolArchbishop Prendergast High School is an all-girl Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. The school is often referred to by its nickname, "Prendie". The school operates in a landmark building that formerly served as St....
for girls - Holy Child Academy (Private)
- Saint Andrew the Apostle School
- Saint Bernadette's School
- Saint Dorothy School
- Saint Laurence
- Saint Cyril (East Lansdowne)