Needs Improvement
#2703 of 2,846 schools in PA
Castor Gardens MS
Middle School · Philadelphia City Sd · Philadelphia, PA
A Philadelphia City Sd middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1800 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111
- Math 17% vs PA 36% (2024)
- Reading 31% vs PA 53% (2024)
- 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Castor Gardens MS score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
2024 PSSA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 24% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 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 Castor Gardens MS 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 87Very Walkable
- Transit 51Good Transit
- Bike 63Bikeable
- 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
$60,441
Median home value
$244,000
Median rent
$1,221/mo
College educated
24.8%
Homeownership
55.3%
Poverty rate
15.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 19111; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacony Academy CsCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.2 | K–12 | 1.0 mi | 1,074 | Compare → |
| First Century Gospel SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.3private | K–10 | 1.1 mi | 170 | Compare → |
| Cedar Grove Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.2private | PK–9 | 1.2 mi | 251 | Compare → |
| Mast Community Cs IICharter · enrollment unverified | 3.0 | K–12 | 1.5 mi | 1,895 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
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
- #192 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
Castor Gardens MS is listed in Philadelphia City SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Castor Gardens MS
Castor Gardens MS is a public middle school in Philadelphia, PA, part of Philadelphia City Sd, serving approximately 1,269 students in grades 6th-8th with a 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,703 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Castor Gardens MS
What grades does Castor Gardens MS serve?
Castor Gardens MS serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Castor Gardens MS?
Castor Gardens MS has an enrollment of approximately 1,269 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Castor Gardens MS?
The student-teacher ratio at Castor Gardens MS is 17.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Castor Gardens MS rank in PA?
Castor Gardens MS ranks #2,703 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Castor Gardens MS's MySchoolScout rating?
Castor Gardens MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 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 Castor Gardens MS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Castor Gardens MS has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Castor Gardens MS a charter school?
No, Castor Gardens MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Castor Gardens MS a Title I school?
No, Castor Gardens MS is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Castor Gardens MS?
100.0% of students at Castor Gardens MS 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 71
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Philadelphia County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.7%
- Phone
- (215) 400-3190
- Area population (ZIP 19111)
- 65,821
- Area average commute
- 35.8 min
- Area median age
- 38.2
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 19111; 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, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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