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Very Good

#702 of 2,842 schools in PA

Top 25% in state

Decatur Stephen Sch

Elementary School · Philadelphia City SD

3500 Academy Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154

Enrollment

965

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

7.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Philadelphia

#43 of 300

public schools

Pennsylvania elementary schools

#521 of 1,625

In district

#41 of 218

Philadelphia City SD

Academic growth

8.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Decatur Stephen Sch

Decatur Stephen School serves 965 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in Philadelphia's 19154 zip code. With 63 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1, providing reasonable class sizes for this large elementary school. Academically, Decatur Stephen has room for growth, with 54% of students performing proficiently or above in English Language Arts and 37% meeting proficiency standards in mathematics.

The school ranks in the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania elementary schools, placing it at #1707 out of 2852 schools statewide. While these results indicate areas for improvement, the school continues to focus on supporting student development across all grade levels. The school serves a diverse community where the median household income is $89,078 and the poverty rate stands at 8.4%.

About one-quarter of neighborhood residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the median home value is $257,700, reflecting a stable middle-class area. Located on Academy Road, Decatur Stephen School operates as a regular public school within Philadelphia's large urban educational landscape, providing elementary and middle school education to nearly 1,000 students in this Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.07 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics7.0Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency36.3%
Reading/ELA Proficiency53.7%
Math vs. State Avg-15.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-2.1 pts
Overall Proficiency45%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected+11.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile56th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment5.1Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,638

Decatur Stephen Sch — Students at Decatur Stephen Sch score 45% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

100.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 35.0%
School
State
40.7%
ELA Proficiency 53.0%
School
State
53.3%

Based on 18 test records from PA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
37%
ELA
54%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
48%
2024
Math
36.5%
ELA
53.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.7/10.

How Decatur Stephen Sch Compares

See how Decatur Stephen Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.5/10
75th percentile in PA
Academic
7.0/10
7.0/10
Growth
8.7/10
Above average
Environment
5.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
63 teachers

Location

3500 Academy Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Decatur Stephen Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. John Hancock Demonstration Sch (rated 7.4/10, 2.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is ST MARTHA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Benjamin Rush El Sch (rated 7.2/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Bensalem), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Philadelphia, see our Philadelphia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
ST ANSELM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Philadelphia 0.5 mi 6.2
Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush Philadelphia 0.9 mi 5.8
Fitzpatrick Aloysius L Sch Philadelphia 1.1 mi 6.3
ST MARTHA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Philadelphia 1.0 mi 7.2
OUR LADY OF CALVARY SCHOOL Philadelphia 1.2 mi 4.4
ARCHBISHOP RYAN HIGH SCHOOL Philadelphia 1.1 mi 5.5
PHILADELPHIA CHRISTIAN CENTER ACADEMY Bensalem 1.4 mi 4.4
Cornwells El Sch Bensalem 1.3 mi 6.1
Samuel K Faust El Sch Bensalem 1.7 mi 6.9
MaST Community CS III Philadelphia 1.5 mi 6.2
School Lane CS Bensalem 1.6 mi 6.3
Cecelia Snyder MS Bensalem 1.6 mi 4.9
HOLY GHOST PREP Bensalem 1.7 mi 6.1
Benjamin Rush El Sch Bensalem 1.7 mi 7.2
CHRIST THE KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Philadelphia 1.9 mi 6.6
Robert K Shafer MS Bensalem 1.7 mi 6.9
John Hancock Demonstration Sch Philadelphia 2.2 mi 7.4
Mathematics Science & Technology Community CS Philadelphia 2.2 mi 4.6
Philadelphia Academy CS Philadelphia 2.1 mi 5.6
ALPHA HOUSE NURSERY & KINDERGARTEN Philadelphia 2.7 mi 4.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19154 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$93,479

Median Home Value

$274,400

Median Rent

$1,396/mo

Population

34,084

College Educated

26.7%

Homeownership

80.3%

Avg Commute

30.9 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

38.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Decatur Stephen Sch has a median household income of $93,479. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $274,400, with a median rent of $1,396/month. The local poverty rate of 9.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bear Creek School Elizabethtown, PA 7.5
Marshall El Sch Wexford, PA 7.5
Saucon Valley El Sch Hellertown, PA 7.5
Charleroi Area El Ctr Charleroi, PA 7.6
Chatham Park El Sch Havertown, PA 7.4
Chestnutwold El Sch Ardmore, PA 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Decatur Stephen Sch

What grades does Decatur Stephen Sch serve?

Decatur Stephen Sch serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Decatur Stephen Sch?

Decatur Stephen Sch has an enrollment of approximately 965 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Decatur Stephen Sch?

The student-teacher ratio at Decatur Stephen Sch 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 Decatur Stephen Sch rank in PA?

Decatur Stephen Sch is ranked #702 out of 2,842 schools in PA.

What is Decatur Stephen Sch's MySchoolScout rating?

Decatur Stephen Sch has a composite rating of 7.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Decatur Stephen Sch?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Decatur Stephen Sch has 35.0% math proficiency and 53.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Decatur Stephen Sch a charter school?

No, Decatur Stephen Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Decatur Stephen Sch a Title I school?

No, Decatur Stephen Sch is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Decatur Stephen Sch?

100.1% of students at Decatur Stephen Sch qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
55 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
49 Some Transit
Bike Score
39 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (5,504/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Philadelphia). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
965
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
63
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Philadelphia County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Philadelphia City SD
District Enrollment
117,907
Schools in District
220
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,897
District Rank
#41 of 218

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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