Average
#2034 of 2,846 schools in PA
Building 21
High School · Philadelphia City Sd · Philadelphia, PA
A Philadelphia City Sd high school where students score 20 points below what's typical for similar communities.
6501 Limekiln Pike, Philadelphia, PA 19138
- Math 3% vs PA 42% (2024)
- Reading 25% vs PA 64% (2024)
- 62.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Building 21 score 14% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 14% in 2024, across a 9-year record (2016–2024).
Show all 7 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 10% (multi-year average, 2016-2024) · reading/ELA 31% (multi-year average, 2016-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 12 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Building 21 sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Philadelphia map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 82Very Walkable
- Transit 61Good Transit
- Bike 68Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,504/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Philadelphia), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$51,586
Median home value
$167,300
Median rent
$1,172/mo
College educated
17.9%
Homeownership
64.3%
Poverty rate
22.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 19138; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imhotep Institute ChsCharter · enrollment unverified | 2.8 | 9–12 | 0.3 mi | 618 | Compare → |
| King Martin Luther HSEnrollment path unverified | 3.9 | 9–12 | 0.5 mi | 527 | Compare → |
| Parkway NorthwestEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 9–12 | 0.7 mi | 218 | Compare → |
| New Medina Learning InstitutePrivate · tuition | 6.3private | K–12 | 1.0 mi | 49 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Philadelphia City Sd
- Schools in district
- 220
- Rank in district
- #82 of 218
- District spending per student
- $18,897NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 28.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Building 21 is listed in Philadelphia City SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Building 21
Building 21 is a public high school in Philadelphia, PA, part of Philadelphia City Sd, serving approximately 382 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks #2,034 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 10% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2024) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Building 21
What grades does Building 21 serve?
Building 21 serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Building 21?
Building 21 has an enrollment of approximately 382 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Building 21?
The student-teacher ratio at Building 21 is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Building 21 rank in PA?
Building 21 ranks #2,034 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Building 21's MySchoolScout rating?
Building 21 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Building 21?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Building 21 has 10% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2024) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2024).
Is Building 21 a charter school?
No, Building 21 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Building 21 a Title I school?
No, Building 21 is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Building 21?
100.0% of students at Building 21 qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 382
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Philadelphia County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.8%
- Phone
- (215) 400-7450
- 4-Year Graduation
- 62.0%
- Area population (ZIP 19138)
- 31,737
- Area average commute
- 34 min
- Area median age
- 36.9
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 19138; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2016-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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