Needs Improvement
#2652 of 2,846 schools in PA
Penrose Sch
Elementary School · Philadelphia City SD
2515 S 78th St, Philadelphia, PA 19153
Enrollment
377
Student-Teacher
8.8:1
Score
3.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
377
Student-Teacher
8.8:1
Score
3.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Pennsylvania schools
#2,652 of 2,846
In Philadelphia
#237 of 300
public schools
In district
#177 of 218
Philadelphia City SD
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Penrose Sch
Elementary School in Philadelphia · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Colwyn EL Sch
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Philadelphia Montessori Cs
0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Penrose Sch
Penrose Sch is a public elementary school in Philadelphia, PA, part of Philadelphia City SD. Penrose Sch serves approximately 377 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 8.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Penrose Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,652 of 2,846 schools in PA.
Structured state assessment records for Penrose Sch show 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 3.5 · Needs Improvement
- District avg 4.7
- PA avg 6.4
What Parents Should Know
At 8.8:1 students to teachers, Penrose Sch sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
54% of students at Penrose Sch were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Penrose Sch — Students at Penrose Sch score 18% 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 42 test records from PA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 3.6/10.
How Penrose Sch Compares
See how Penrose Sch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
2515 S 78th St, Philadelphia, PA 19153
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Penrose Sch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST BARNABAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL IMS (rated 6.9/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is ST BARNABAS IMS SCHOOL (rated 6.6/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Park Lane El Sch (rated 6.1/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Darby), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Philadelphia, see our Philadelphia schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Colwyn El Sch Colwyn | 0.4 mi | 5.8 |
| Philadelphia Montessori CS Philadelphia | 0.6 mi | 5.1 |
| Walnut Street El Sch Darby | 0.7 mi | 4.7 |
| Southwest Leadership Academy CS Philadelphia | 0.8 mi | 3.2 |
| GREATER HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Philadelphia | 0.9 mi | 6.8 |
| Patterson John M Sch Philadelphia | 0.9 mi | 4.7 |
| Penn Wood MS Darby | 1.0 mi | 3.5 |
| Bell Avenue School Yeadon | 1.3 mi | 3.8 |
| Academy Park HS Sharon Hill | 1.0 mi | 4.7 |
| Sharon Hill Sch Sharon Hill | 1.1 mi | 4.0 |
| Bartram John - Main Philadelphia | 1.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Tilden William T MS Philadelphia | 1.3 mi | 5.9 |
| Catharine Joseph Sch Philadelphia | 1.5 mi | 3.0 |
| Park Lane El Sch Darby | 1.5 mi | 6.1 |
| ST BARNABAS IMS SCHOOL Philadelphia | 1.5 mi | 6.6 |
| ST BARNABAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL IMS Philadelphia | 1.5 mi | 6.9 |
| Morton Thomas G Sch Philadelphia | 1.6 mi | 4.9 |
| LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Philadelphia | 1.7 mi | — |
| W B Evans El Sch Yeadon | 2.0 mi | 5.9 |
| Penn Wood 9th Grade Academy Yeadon | 2.1 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 19153 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$53,434
Median Home Value
$198,700
Median Rent
$1,341/mo
Population
12,396
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
52.7%
Avg Commute
30.5 min
Poverty Rate
21.3%
Median Age
39
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Caln El Sch Thorndale, PA | 3.5 |
| Cramp William Sch Philadelphia, PA | 3.5 |
| Hayshire El Sch York, PA | 3.5 |
| Pittsburgh Arlington K-8 Pittsburgh, PA | 3.5 |
| Brown Joseph Sch Philadelphia, PA | 3.6 |
| Charles Sumner #18 Scranton, PA | 3.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Penrose Sch
What grades does Penrose Sch serve?
Penrose Sch serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Penrose Sch?
Penrose Sch has an enrollment of approximately 377 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Penrose Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Penrose Sch is 8.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Penrose Sch rank in PA?
Penrose Sch ranks #2,652 of 2,846 schools in PA.
What is Penrose Sch's MySchoolScout rating?
Penrose Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 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 Penrose Sch?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Penrose Sch has 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Penrose Sch a charter school?
No, Penrose Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Penrose Sch a Title I school?
No, Penrose Sch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Penrose Sch?
100.0% of students at Penrose 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.
Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 377
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 43
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Philadelphia County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 53.6%
- Phone
- (215) 400-8310
Resources & Links
District
Philadelphia City SD- District Enrollment
- 117,907
- Schools in District
- 220
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,897
- District Rank
- #177 of 218
Other Schools in This District
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