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Average

#1955 of 2,842 schools in PA

Furness Horace HS

High School · Philadelphia City SD

1900 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Enrollment

822

Student-Teacher

14.2:1

Score

5.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Philadelphia

#197 of 300

public schools

Pennsylvania high schools

#407 of 641

In district

#173 of 218

Philadelphia City SD

Academic growth

8.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Furness Horace HS

Furness Horace High School serves students in grades 9 through 12 in Philadelphia, located at 1900 S 3rd St. The school enrolls 822 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1 and 58 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. Academically, Furness Horace is working to strengthen student achievement.

Currently, 22% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading, and 22% meet proficiency in math across grade levels. The school has a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks 2309th out of 2852 schools statewide, placing it in the lower performance range. This indicates significant room for academic growth and improvement in core subject areas.

As a regular public high school in Philadelphia's large urban setting, Furness Horace serves the community in a dense city neighborhood.

What Parents Should Know

While current test scores at Furness Horace HS are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.02 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics2.4Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22%
Reading/ELA Proficiency5%
Math vs. State Avg-20 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-59 pts
Overall Proficiency14%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected-19.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile7th
College Readiness5.5Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation10.2%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.2Above Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,638

Furness Horace HS — Students at Furness Horace HS score 14% proficient, which is below 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%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 22.2%
School
State
42.0%
ELA Proficiency 22.2%
School
State
64.0%

Based on 6 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
27%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
5%
2024
Math
17.5%
ELA
34.6%

* 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: 8.6/10.

How Furness Horace HS Compares

See how Furness Horace HS performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.6/10
31th percentile in PA
Academic
2.4/10
2.4/10
Growth
8.6/10
Above average
Environment
6.2/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
58 teachers

Location

1900 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Furness Horace HS may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Academy at Palumbo (rated 7.6/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, South Philadelphia HS (rated 5.8/10, 0.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Philadelphia, see our Philadelphia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Sharswood George Sch Philadelphia 0.3 mi 6.4
Taggart John H Sch Philadelphia 0.5 mi 7.7
Kirkbride Eliza B Sch Philadelphia 0.5 mi 5.6
Southwark Sch Philadelphia 0.5 mi 6.1
Vare-Washington El Sch Philadelphia 0.7 mi 7.4
Key Francis Scott Sch Philadelphia 0.6 mi 8.0
THE BRIDGE WAY SCHOOL Philadelphia 0.8 mi
Nebinger George W Sch Philadelphia 0.9 mi 8.0
Fell D Newlin Sch Philadelphia 0.9 mi 6.8
Mastery CS -Thomas Campus Philadelphia 0.9 mi 6.1
Meredith William M Sch Philadelphia 1.1 mi 8.6
Fanny Jackson Coppin Sch Philadelphia 1.0 mi 8.7
South Philadelphia HS Philadelphia 0.9 mi 5.8
Christopher Columbus CS Philadelphia 1.1 mi 6.7
Jenks Abram Sch Philadelphia 1.0 mi 7.5
ST PETERS SCHOOL Philadelphia 1.3 mi 8.0
Academy at Palumbo Philadelphia 1.3 mi 7.6
Philadelphia Performing Arts CS Philadelphia 1.1 mi 4.5
BETHEL BAPTIST ACADEMY Philadelphia 1.1 mi 8.3
McCall Gen George A Sch Philadelphia 1.4 mi 8.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19148 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$80,469

Median Home Value

$296,800

Median Rent

$1,492/mo

Population

50,777

College Educated

39.3%

Homeownership

66.1%

Avg Commute

29.2 min

Poverty Rate

14.9%

Median Age

37.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Furness Horace HS has a median household income of $80,469. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $296,800, with a median rent of $1,492/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.9%. The average commute for residents is 29 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
ARCHBISHOP WOOD HIGH SCHOOL Warminster, PA 5.6
Bellefonte Area HS Bellefonte, PA 5.6
Blackhawk HS Beaver Falls, PA 5.6
Cocalico SHS Denver, PA 5.6
Eastern Lebanon Co SHS Myerstown, PA 5.6
Highlands SHS Natrona Heights, PA 5.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Furness Horace HS

What grades does Furness Horace HS serve?

Furness Horace HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Furness Horace HS?

Furness Horace HS has an enrollment of approximately 822 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Furness Horace HS?

The student-teacher ratio at Furness Horace HS is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Furness Horace HS rank in PA?

Furness Horace HS is ranked #1955 out of 2,842 schools in PA.

What is Furness Horace HS's MySchoolScout rating?

Furness Horace HS has a composite rating of 5.6 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 Furness Horace HS?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Furness Horace HS has 22.2% math proficiency and 22.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Furness Horace HS a charter school?

No, Furness Horace HS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Furness Horace HS a Title I school?

No, Furness Horace HS is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Furness Horace HS?

100.0% of students at Furness Horace HS 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

City Safety
High (5,504/100K)

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
822
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
58
Free/Reduced Lunch
100.0%
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
#173 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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