Average
#2136 of 2,842 schools in PA
Lowell James R Sch
Elementary School · Philadelphia City SD
450 W Nedro Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19120
Enrollment
522
Student-Teacher
17.4:1
Score
5.3
Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Enrollment
522
Student-Teacher
17.4:1
Score
5.3
Grades
Pre-K – 4th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Philadelphia
#218 of 300
public schools
Pennsylvania elementary schools
#1,255 of 1,625
In district
#184 of 218
Philadelphia City SD
Academic growth
7.5 / 10
Very strong
About Lowell James R Sch
Lowell James R Sch is an elementary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, the school has a total enrollment of 522 students and boasts a student-teacher ratio of 17.4:1 with 30 full-time equivalent teachers. The school operates as a regular public institution within a large city setting.
While Lowell James R Sch currently ranks in the lower percentile of Pennsylvania schools, the community is dedicated to fostering academic growth and development for all its students. With a MySchoolScout Rating of 3.2 out of 10 and an Academic Score of 2.0 out of 10, there's room for improvement in areas like ELA/Reading proficiency (25%) and Math proficiency (12%). The school is focused on supporting its students' learning needs with a strong teacher presence to help them succeed.
Lowell James R Sch is situated within the bustling city of Philadelphia, where it plays an important role in the neighborhood's educational landscape.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Lowell James R Sch 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 · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Lowell James R Sch — Students at Lowell James R Sch score 19% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores PA PSSA (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from PA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 7.5/10.
How Lowell James R Sch Compares
See how Lowell James R Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 16% (2019) to 11.9% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 30% (2019) to 26.4% (2024).
Location
450 W Nedro Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19120
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Lowell James R Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. LOGAN HOPE SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Howe Julia Ward Sch (rated 7.4/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, OLNEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 7.4/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Philadelphia, see our Philadelphia schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| SOPHIA ACADEMY Philadelphia | 0.1 mi | — |
| Eugenio Maria DE Hostos CS Philadelphia | 0.6 mi | 5.1 |
| ASPIRA Bilingual Cyber CS Philadelphia | 0.6 mi | 5.8 |
| Finletter Thomas K Sch Philadelphia | 0.6 mi | 4.3 |
| Morrison Andrew J Sch Philadelphia | 0.8 mi | 6.5 |
| Marshall Thurgood Philadelphia | 0.8 mi | 6.9 |
| Washington Grover Jr Sch Philadelphia | 0.7 mi | 5.0 |
| Olney El Sch Philadelphia | 0.8 mi | 5.8 |
| Olney HS Philadephia | 0.9 mi | — |
| Howe Julia Ward Sch Philadelphia | 0.7 mi | 7.4 |
| Lindley Academy CS at Birney Philadelphia | 0.9 mi | 5.6 |
| Ellwood Sch Philadelphia | 1.1 mi | 6.8 |
| Girls HS Philadelphia | 0.9 mi | 6.5 |
| Widener Memorial Sch Philadelphia | 1.0 mi | 7.7 |
| OLNEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Philadelphia | 1.2 mi | 7.4 |
| LOGAN HOPE SCHOOL Philadelphia | 1.2 mi | 7.8 |
| Central HS Philadelphia | 1.1 mi | 7.5 |
| Prince Hall Sch Philadelphia | 1.2 mi | 6.4 |
| Wagner Gen Louis MS Philadelphia | 1.2 mi | 5.6 |
| Pennell Joseph Sch Philadelphia | 1.2 mi | 7.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 19120 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$51,993
Median Home Value
$143,500
Median Rent
$1,186/mo
Population
68,078
College Educated
13.4%
Homeownership
68.8%
Avg Commute
37.3 min
Poverty Rate
25.3%
Median Age
35
Community Profile
The community surrounding Lowell James R Sch has a median household income of $51,993. It is a community where 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $143,500, with a median rent of $1,186/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute in the area is 37 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Baresville El Sch Hanover, PA | 5.3 |
| Fairview El Sch Waynesboro, PA | 5.3 |
| Francis McClure El Sch Mckeesport, PA | 5.3 |
| Greencastle-Antrim El Sch Greencastle, PA | 5.3 |
| Highland Park El Sch Upper Darby, PA | 5.3 |
| Latrobe El Sch Latrobe, PA | 5.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lowell James R Sch
What grades does Lowell James R Sch serve?
Lowell James R Sch serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend Lowell James R Sch?
Lowell James R Sch has an enrollment of approximately 522 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lowell James R Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Lowell James R Sch is 17.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Lowell James R Sch rank in PA?
Lowell James R Sch is ranked #2136 out of 2,842 schools in PA.
What is Lowell James R Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
Lowell James R Sch has a composite rating of 5.3 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 Lowell James R Sch?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lowell James R Sch has 11.8% math proficiency and 25.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Lowell James R Sch a charter school?
No, Lowell James R Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Lowell James R Sch a Title I school?
No, Lowell James R Sch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lowell James R Sch?
100.0% of students at Lowell James R 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.
Explore More Schools
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
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 522
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Philadelphia County
- Phone
- (215) 400-3740
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Philadelphia City SD- District Enrollment
- 117,907
- Schools in District
- 220
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,897
- District Rank
- #184 of 218
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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