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Penn Alexander School

Public Grades K-8

6^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,511 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Better than 100% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

Summary

Penn Alexander School is a public elementary school serving grades K-8 in the Philadelphia City School District, with 583 students. Despite serving a high-poverty population, the school has consistently ranked among the top elementary schools in Pennsylvania, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years.

Penn Alexander School significantly outperforms the Philadelphia City School District and the state of Pennsylvania in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subjects. In 2024-2025, 89% of Penn Alexander students were proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to just 25% for the district and 41.7% for the state. The school's performance is particularly impressive in Math, with 100% of 8th graders proficient or better, compared to 19.9% for the district and 30.5% for the state. Penn Alexander also excels in Science, with 94.6% of students proficient or better in 2023-2024, compared to 41.3% for the district and 65.8% for the state.

Despite the challenges faced by high-poverty schools, Penn Alexander consistently ranks among the top schools in the state for low-income students, with a 5-star rating in this category. The school's academic success is in stark contrast to the nearby Locke Alain School, Powel Samuel School, and Washington Martha School, which have significantly lower proficiency rates in Math and English Language Arts. The nearby charter schools, such as KIPP Philadelphia Octavius Catto Charter School and Global Leadership Academy Charter School Southwest at Huey, also lag behind Penn Alexander in academic achievement, despite serving similar student populations.

595

Students ?

16.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,834

Per pupil spending ?

98.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4209 Spruce St
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4022

(215) 400-7760

District: Philadelphia City School District

Students who attend Penn Alexander School usually attend:

High:

West Philadelphia High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.4%

Asian:

25.4%

African American:

11.9%

See top rated Pennsylvania elementary schools

Compare Penn Alexander School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 90th percentile in 2015 → 100th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Pennsylvania average (89% vs 45% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Pennsylvania elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school89%

District avg29%

Pennsylvania avg45%

Elementary school

6^th of 1,511

Pennsylvania public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 10 pts since 2015

From top 10% (2015) to top 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

3^rd of 873

Pennsylvania public middle schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Pennsylvania Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 148Elementary Schools in the Philadelphia City School District

473^rd of 606Philadelphia City School District among Pennsylvania districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	97.2	6 of 1511	99.6%	★★★★★
2024	94.9	7 of 1526	99.5%	★★★★★
2023	92.2	57 of 1534	96.3%	★★★★★
2022	89.5	106 of 1534	93.1%	★★★★★
2021	88.5	107 of 1433	92.5%	★★★★★
2019	85.6	151 of 1544	90.2%	★★★★★
2018	88.6	84 of 1530	94.5%	★★★★★
2017	89.7	57 of 1547	96.3%	★★★★★
2016	89.1	71 of 1554	95.4%	★★★★★
2015	85.4	152 of 1474	89.7%	★★★★☆
2014	78.3	269 of 1467	81.7%	★★★★☆
2013	78.4	280 of 1519	81.6%	★★★★☆
2012	79.6	222 of 1599	86.1%	★★★★☆
2011	75.1	335 of 1597	79.0%	★★★★☆
2010	74.4	368 of 1579	76.7%	★★★★☆
2009	74.7	352 of 1549	77.3%	★★★★☆
2008	76.6	299 of 1551	80.7%	★★★★☆
2007	66.8	567 of 1555	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	59.0	735 of 1545	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2005	46.6	856 of 1299	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	37.3	934 of 1308	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	19.4	1093 of 1302	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	81.3	20 of 151	86.8%	★★★★☆
2024	77.0	28 of 168	83.3%	★★★★☆
2023	60.2	79 of 160	50.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	97.3	2 of 1466	99.9%	★★★★★
2024	95.0	3 of 1488	99.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	97.4	9 of 1369	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	96.8	4 of 1432	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	88.6	70 of 1414	95.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	95.9	12 of 1475	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	93.1	23 of 1495	98.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	97.4	3 of 1201	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	97.3	1 of 1229	99.9%	★★★★★
2023	94.2	15 of 1236	98.8%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	99.1	3 of 873	99.7%	★★★★★
2024	98.4	3 of 891	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	97.3	12 of 893	98.7%	★★★★★
2022	97.2	9 of 883	99.0%	★★★★★
2021	92.0	35 of 797	95.6%	★★★★★
2019	95.5	10 of 891	98.9%	★★★★★
2018	95.1	9 of 861	99.0%	★★★★★
2017	95.3	10 of 877	98.9%	★★★★★
2016	94.7	16 of 870	98.2%	★★★★★
2015	95.0	15 of 835	98.2%	★★★★★
2014	81.1	92 of 728	87.4%	★★★★☆
2013	87.0	25 of 758	96.7%	★★★★★
2012	87.4	26 of 834	96.9%	★★★★★
2011	73.6	205 of 825	75.2%	★★★★☆
2010	72.3	215 of 805	73.3%	★★★★☆
2009	68.7	242 of 770	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	68.3	254 of 753	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	73.6	174 of 749	76.8%	★★★★☆
2006	63.8	294 of 736	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	66.3	261 of 687	62.0%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2024	99.1	4 of 408	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	94.5	13 of 421	96.9%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2023	73.9	37 of 144	74.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	98.6	2 of 835	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	98.1	1 of 860	99.9%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	99.2	5 of 843	99.4%	★★★★★
2024	98.8	5 of 877	99.4%	★★★★★
2023	96.0	14 of 874	98.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	98.6	5 of 839	99.4%	★★★★★
2024	97.9	6 of 870	99.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Pennsylvania percentile	Rating
2025	99.2	2 of 649	99.7%	★★★★★
2024	99.4	1 of 673	99.9%	★★★★★
2023	98.8	4 of 681	99.4%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Female (2025)100th percentile~ school

White (2025)100th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile~ school

Male (2025)99th percentile~ school

Asian (2025)87th percentile-13 vs school

Middle school

Female (2025)100th percentile~ school

White (2025)100th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile~ school

Male (2025)99th percentile~ school

African American (2024)99th percentile~ school

Asian (2023)74th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Pennsylvania (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts90%+41 vs state

Math89%+47 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, February 2, 2020

EXCELLENT school! From the staff to the kids. I have 2 children here & it’s beyond anything I could ask for in a school. The staff is so attentive to the students. And they have a VERY low tolerance for violence & bad behavior. They nip it in the bud right away. And they encourage all the kids to do well & support them in that too. I’m very happy with this school & I honestly wouldn’t want my kids in any other elementary school in Philadelphia. I’d rather move out of town before I put my kids somewhere else! Close Quote

Schools Near Penn Alexander School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PSSA Math (2025)							PSSA English Language Arts (2025)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSSA Math 3rd Grade	PSSA Math 4th Grade	PSSA Math 5th Grade	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 7th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Penn Alexander School	Public	K-8	4209 Spruce St	Philadelphia	19104	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7760	595	36	16.3	98.2%	276 (46.4%)	71 (11.9%)	33 (5.5%)	151 (25.4%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (10.1%)	97.2	6^th of 1511 public elementary schools	99.6%		94.9	7^th of 1526 public elementary schools	99.5%	1	94.5	88.4	83.9	86.2	81.2	100.0	89.0	93.0	84.3	90.3	84.5	90.6	98.0	89.9	$17,834	$5,561	$12,273
Lea Henry C School	Public	PK, KG-8	4700 Locust St	Philadelphia	19139	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7660	503	38	13.0	96.2%	58 (11.5%)	283 (56.3%)	36 (7.2%)	91 (18.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (6.4%)	33.5	1042^nd of 1511 public elementary schools	31.0%		19.5	1227^th of 1526 public elementary schools	19.6%	185	36.5	44.2	13.1	25.0	10.0	17.6	25.6	48.4	48.9	15.5	42.9	32.5	40.7	38.6	$18,865	$6,079	$12,786
KIPP Philadelphia Octavius Catto Charter School	Public, Charter	K-3	4601 Market St	Philadelphia	19139	Philadelphia County	KIPP Philadelphia Octavius Catto Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(267) 417-3070	398	27	14.7	75.9%	8 (2.0%)	342 (85.9%)	18 (4.5%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.8%)								(n/a)	29.9						29.9	23.9						23.9	$16,136	$1,853	$14,284
Locke Alain School	Public	K-8	4550 Haverford Ave	Philadelphia	19139	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7670	264	27	9.8	98.9%	7 (2.7%)	202 (76.5%)	20 (7.6%)	25 (9.5%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	6 (2.3%)	6.6	1433^rd of 1511 public elementary schools	5.2%		6.6	1425^th of 1526 public elementary schools	6.6%	8	11.5	9.6	8.3	8.7	18.1	5.6	10.5	15.4	14.3	8.4	17.4	27.2	16.7	16.4	$76,228	$59,635	$16,593
Powel Samuel School	Public	K-4	3610 Warren St	Philadelphia	19104	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7740	324	22	15.0	95.1%	92 (28.4%)	183 (56.5%)	19 (5.9%)	13 (4.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.6%)	78.4	312^th of 1511 public elementary schools	79.4%		66.7	558^th of 1526 public elementary schools	63.4%	246	73.8	59.2					67.2	76.9	57.4					68.1	$20,552	$7,060	$13,492
Washington Martha School	Public	K-8	766 N 44th St	Philadelphia	19104	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7770	204	27	7.6	108.8%	7 (3.4%)	178 (87.3%)	10 (4.9%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)	13	1301^st of 1511 public elementary schools	13.9%		13.4	1311^th of 1526 public elementary schools	14.1%	10	0.0	0.0	20.0	13.3	5.3	0.0	6.7	30.8	18.2	20.0	28.6	36.9	5.6	23.3	$24,785	$5,610	$19,174
Comegys Benjamin B School	Public	K-8	5100 Greenway Ave	Philadelphia	19143	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7860	252	18	13.9	106.0%	4 (1.6%)	231 (91.7%)	10 (4.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	11.6	1324^th of 1511 public elementary schools	12.4%		5	1469^th of 1526 public elementary schools	3.7%	145	4.2	9.6	7.6	16.7	3.0	11.5	8.4	8.3	19.0	7.6	41.7	24.2	20.0	20.3	$26,190	$7,941	$18,249
Global Leadership Academy Charter School Southwest at Huey	Public, Charter	K-8	5200 Pine Street	Philadelphia	19143	Philadelphia County	Global Leadership Academy Charter School Southwest at Huey	Yes	No	No	Yes	(215) 471-2978	586	26	22.5	102.2%	1 (0.2%)	571 (97.4%)	7 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.0%)	5.9	1457^th of 1511 public elementary schools	3.6%		5.3	1458^th of 1526 public elementary schools	4.5%	1	15.1	13.1	5.0	5.2	1.5	4.3	6.6	9.3	10.9	8.8	14.3	20.0	31.5	16.1	$21,590	$6,625	$14,965
McMichael Morton School	Public	PK, KG-8	3543 Fairmount Ave	Philadelphia	19104	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7750	285	28	10.1	98.2%	2 (0.7%)	266 (93.3%)	12 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	5.8	1458^th of 1511 public elementary schools	3.5%		4.8	1472^nd of 1526 public elementary schools	3.5%	14	4.5	18.1	0.0	4.5	0.0	4.0	5.0	13.6	18.2	10.0	9.1	11.8	16.0	13.0	$23,710	$5,244	$18,466
Rhoads James School	Public	K-8	4901 Parrish St	Philadelphia	19139	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7680	421	44	9.6	97.4%	3 (0.7%)	400 (95.0%)	12 (2.9%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	10	1349^th of 1511 public elementary schools	10.7%		4.7	1478^th of 1526 public elementary schools	3.1%	129	19.6	25.0	16.7	0.0	4.0	0.0	10.3	21.6	13.8	16.3	22.9	4.0	10.5	16.0	$27,127	$6,264	$20,863

Frequently Asked Questions about Penn Alexander School

Is Penn Alexander School a good school?

Yes! Penn Alexander School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 6^th of 1511 Pennsylvania elementary schools.

How many students attend Penn Alexander School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 595 students attended Penn Alexander School.

What is the racial makeup of Penn Alexander School?

Students at Penn Alexander School are 46% White, 25% Asian, 12% African American, 10% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Penn Alexander School attend?

Students who attend Penn Alexander School usually go on to attend:

High : West Philadelphia High School

What district is Penn Alexander School in?

Philadelphia City School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.