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Very Good

#940 of 2,842 schools in PA

Top 33% in state

Penrose Sch

Elementary School · Philadelphia City SD

2515 S 78th St, Philadelphia, PA 19153

Enrollment

377

Student-Teacher

8.8:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Philadelphia

#60 of 300

public schools

Pennsylvania elementary schools

#644 of 1,625

In district

#57 of 218

Philadelphia City SD

Academic growth

8.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Penrose Sch

Penrose Sch is a regular public school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. With an enrollment of 377 students and a student-teacher ratio of 8.8:1, the school provides personalized attention to each child. The dedicated teaching staff includes 43 full-time equivalent teachers who work hard to support their students' educational needs.

Academically, Penrose Sch ranks in the lower tier among Pennsylvania schools, with a MySchoolScout Rating of 4.2 out of 10 and an Academic Score of 1.9 out of 10. In reading and ELA, 26% of students are proficient or above, while only 9% meet proficiency standards in math. These scores indicate areas where the school is focusing on student development to improve academic performance.

Penrose Sch is situated in a large city setting within Philadelphia County, though specific neighborhood details are not available. The community around the school adds a vibrant urban energy and diverse cultural experiences for students.

What Parents Should Know

While current test scores at Penrose 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.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.8:1, Penrose Sch offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.15 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics3.1Fair30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency8.8%
Reading/ELA Proficiency28.2%
Math vs. State Avg-42.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-27.6 pts
Overall Proficiency19%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected-14.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile13th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,638

Penrose Sch — Students at Penrose Sch score 18% 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 8.9%
School
State
40.7%
ELA Proficiency 26.2%
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
10%
ELA
28%
2021*
Math
2.5%
ELA
12%
2024
Math
9.7%
ELA
28%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Penrose Sch Compares

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

Overall Score
7.1/10
67th percentile in PA
Academic
3.1/10
3.1/10
Growth
8.8/10
Above average
Environment
8.8/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers

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. Park Lane El Sch (rated 7.7/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Darby), which scores slightly higher. Another option is W B Evans El Sch (rated 7.6/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Yeadon), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Catharine Joseph Sch (rated 7.2/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. 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 6.8
Philadelphia Montessori CS Philadelphia 0.6 mi 3.9
Walnut Street El Sch Darby 0.7 mi 5.8
Southwest Leadership Academy CS Philadelphia 0.8 mi 4.2
GREATER HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Philadelphia 0.9 mi 6.8
Patterson John M Sch Philadelphia 0.9 mi 5.1
Penn Wood MS Darby 1.0 mi 6.8
Bell Avenue School Yeadon 1.3 mi 5.6
Academy Park HS Sharon Hill 1.0 mi 4.8
Sharon Hill Sch Sharon Hill 1.1 mi 7.0
Bartram John - Main Philadelphia 1.3 mi 6.5
Tilden William T MS Philadelphia 1.3 mi 5.8
Catharine Joseph Sch Philadelphia 1.5 mi 7.2
Park Lane El Sch Darby 1.5 mi 7.7
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 6.9
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Philadelphia 1.7 mi
W B Evans El Sch Yeadon 2.0 mi 7.6
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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Penrose Sch has a median household income of $53,434. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $198,700, with a median rent of $1,341/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. 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
Bethlehem-Center El Sch Fredericktown, PA 7.1
Charles Sumner #18 Scranton, PA 7.1
Childs George W Sch Philadelphia, PA 7.1
Claysville El Sch Claysville, PA 7.1
Clearview El Sch Bethlehem, PA 7.1
Corry Area Primary Sch Corry, PA 7.1

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 is ranked #940 out of 2,842 schools in PA.

What is Penrose Sch's MySchoolScout rating?

Penrose Sch has a composite rating of 7.1 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 Penrose Sch?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Penrose Sch has 8.9% math proficiency and 26.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
2 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
56 Good Transit
Bike Score
51 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
377
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
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
#57 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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