The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Philadelphia for 2026 are Penn Alexander Sch (9.2/10), Jenks Abram Sch (9.0/10), and Meredith William M Sch (9.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 190 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Philadelphia's elementary school landscape spans 192 ranked schools, giving families a wide range of options across the city's distinct neighborhoods. The average composite score sits at 6.2/10, but the top of the field pulls well above that mark — Dobson James School and Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy both earn 8.9/10, the highest ratings in the city at this level. Strong performers aren't limited to a handful of outliers. Thirty percent of ranked elementary schools — 57 in total — score 7 or higher, meaning families have a realistic shot at finding a high-quality school without landing at the very top of the list. Hackett Horatio B School, Penn Alexander School, and Fanny Jackson Coppin School round out the upper tier, each scoring 8.7 or better. Use the table below to sort by overall score, specific subject performance, or other factors that matter most to your family.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.2
- 29.0
- 39.0
- 48.8
- 58.8
- 68.7
- 78.6
- 88.5
- 98.5
- 108.2
All 190 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 190
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Penn Alexander SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 583student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 2Jenks Abram SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 255student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 3Meredith William M SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 515student-teacher ratio 15.6:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 4Fanny Jackson Coppin SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 537student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 5Powel Samuel SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 306student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades Kindergarten–4th
- 6Adaire Alexander SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 416student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 7Bache-Martin SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 567student-teacher ratio 10.7:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 8John Story Jenks Academy for the Arts and SciencesPhiladelphia City SDstudents 385student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 9Cook-Wissahickon SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 412student-teacher ratio 14.7:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 10Moffet John SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 224student-teacher ratio 9.7:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 11Hackett Horatio B SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 442student-teacher ratio 13.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 12Stanton Edwin M SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 293student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 13Mccall Gen George a SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 617student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 14Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures CscharterFolk Arts-Cultural Treasures Csstudents 494student-teacher ratio 13.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 15Shawmont SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 417student-teacher ratio 12.6:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 16Marian Anderson Neighborhood AcademyPhiladelphia City SDstudents 309student-teacher ratio 12.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 17Christopher Columbus CscharterChristopher Columbus Csstudents 835student-teacher ratio 13.0:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 18Mifflin Thomas SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 387student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 19Universal Creighton CscharterUniversal Creighton Csstudents 673student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 20Houston Henry E SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 419student-teacher ratio 14.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 21Lingelbach Anna L SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 331student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 22Catharine Joseph SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 421student-teacher ratio 12.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23Logan James SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 243student-teacher ratio 10.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 24Fell D Newlin SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 534student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 25Fox Chase SchPhiladelphia City SDstudents 472student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Pennsylvania education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in Pennsylvania. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Penn Alexander Sch
Philadelphia City SD
583 students · 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 7.4
- 2
Jenks Abram Sch
Philadelphia City SD
255 students · 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 7.1
- 3
Meredith William M Sch
Philadelphia City SD
515 students · 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 2% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 7.0
- 4
Fanny Jackson Coppin Sch
Philadelphia City SD
537 students · 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 3% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 7.4
- 5
Powel Samuel Sch
Philadelphia City SD
306 students · 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–4th
Top 3% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 6.0
- 6
Adaire Alexander Sch
Philadelphia City SD
416 students · 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 4% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 9.1
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 6.8
- 7
Bache-Martin Sch
Philadelphia City SD
567 students · 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 5% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 7.6
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 7.7
- 8
John Story Jenks Academy for the Arts and Sciences
Philadelphia City SD
385 students · 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 7% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 8.2
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 6.1
- 9
Cook-Wissahickon Sch
Philadelphia City SD
412 students · 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 7% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 4.8
- 10
Moffet John Sch
Philadelphia City SD
224 students · 9.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 11% in Pennsylvania
- Academics
- 7.1
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 6.6
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Penn Alexander Sch is the top-rated elementary school in Philadelphia with a composite score of 9.2/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia has 276 elementary schools, including 44 charter schools. Of these, 259 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Philadelphia?
Among 259 Philadelphia elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.0/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Pennsylvania).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Pennsylvania, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Pennsylvania, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Philadelphia elementary school rankings?
Philadelphia has 44 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Philadelphia2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Philadelphia2026 rankings and ratings
- All 432 schools in PhiladelphiaElementary, middle and high
- Pennsylvania schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings