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Very Good

#1004 of 2,842 schools in PA

Top 35% in state

Sayre William L MS

High School · Philadelphia City SD

5800 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19139

Enrollment

424

Student-Teacher

11.8:1

Score

7.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Philadelphia

#71 of 300

public schools

Pennsylvania high schools

#145 of 641

In district

#67 of 218

Philadelphia City SD

Academic growth

8.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Sayre William L MS

Sayre William L MS is a high school located in the heart of Philadelphia, offering education to students from ninth through twelfth grade. With an enrollment of 424 students and a student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1, Sayre provides a relatively small classroom setting compared to other schools in the city. The school has 36 full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to supporting its diverse student body.

Academically, Sayre William L MS currently holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks at #2182 among Pennsylvania's 2852 schools, placing it in the 24th percentile statewide. The school’s academic score is 1.6/10, with only 22% of students proficient or above in ELA/Reading and just 6% proficient or above in Math. While these scores suggest areas for improvement, Sayre William L MS is focused on student development and growth.

Sayre William L MS is situated within a bustling city environment, providing its students with the unique opportunity to engage with urban life and resources available in Philadelphia.

What Parents Should Know

While current test scores at Sayre William L MS 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 Progress8.8Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.17 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics2.5Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency2.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency25%
Math vs. State Avg-39.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-39 pts
Overall Proficiency14%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected-19.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile8th
College Readiness8.0Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,638

Sayre William L MS — Students at Sayre William L MS 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 6.5%
School
State
42.0%
ELA Proficiency 22.5%
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
12%
ELA
17%
2021*
Math
2.5%
ELA
25%
2024
Math
5%
ELA
25.5%

* 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 Sayre William L MS Compares

See how Sayre William L MS performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.0/10
65th percentile in PA
Academic
2.5/10
2.5/10
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
12:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers

Location

5800 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19139

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sayre William L MS may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Motivation HS (rated 7.7/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is The Workshop School (rated 6.7/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, West Philadelphia HS (rated 5.6/10, 1.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Philadelphia, see our Philadelphia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.1 mi
School Distance Rating
63RD ST MULTICULTURAL ACAD OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Philadelphia 0.2 mi 7.0
Hamilton Andrew Sch Philadelphia 0.2 mi 6.1
KIDS WORLD CHRISTIAN EDU CENTER Philadelphia 0.3 mi
Barry Comm John Sch Philadelphia 0.5 mi 6.2
Bryant William C Sch Philadelphia 0.4 mi 7.0
Boys' Latin of Philadelphia CS Philadelphia 0.5 mi 4.0
Mastery CS-Harrity Campus Philadelphia 0.6 mi 6.5
PEE WEE PREP Philadelphia 0.6 mi
FAITH CONNECTION CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Philadelphia 0.7 mi 5.6
Global Leadership Academy CS Southwest at Huey Philadelphia 0.7 mi 5.4
Anderson Add B Sch Philadelphia 0.8 mi 6.3
Harrington Avery D Sch Philadelphia 0.8 mi 6.8
Motivation HS Philadelphia 0.9 mi 7.7
BEULAH BAPTIST CHRISTIAN DAY SCHOOL Philadelphia 0.9 mi 6.7
Longstreth William C Sch Philadelphia 1.2 mi 5.2
West Philadelphia HS Philadelphia 1.0 mi 5.6
West Phila. Achievement CES Philadelphia 1.2 mi 5.4
Mastery CS-Hardy Williams Philadelphia 1.3 mi 4.7
SHEPHERD'S CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Philadelphia 1.2 mi 5.5
The Workshop School Philadelphia 1.1 mi 6.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19139 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$38,701

Median Home Value

$118,700

Median Rent

$1,110/mo

Population

44,619

College Educated

21.9%

Homeownership

39.4%

Avg Commute

33.1 min

Poverty Rate

28.9%

Median Age

33

Community Profile

The community surrounding Sayre William L MS has a median household income of $38,701. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $118,700, with a median rent of $1,110/month. The area has a poverty rate of 28.9%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 33 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
Camp Hill SHS Camp Hill, PA 7.0
City CHS Pittsburgh, PA 7.0
Kensington HS Philadelphia, PA 7.0
Keystone Oaks HS Pittsburgh, PA 7.0
Bellwood-Antis HS Bellwood, PA 6.9
GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Greensburg, PA 6.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sayre William L MS

What grades does Sayre William L MS serve?

Sayre William L MS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Sayre William L MS?

Sayre William L MS has an enrollment of approximately 424 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sayre William L MS?

The student-teacher ratio at Sayre William L MS is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sayre William L MS rank in PA?

Sayre William L MS is ranked #1004 out of 2,842 schools in PA.

What is Sayre William L MS's MySchoolScout rating?

Sayre William L MS has a composite rating of 7.0 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 Sayre William L MS?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Sayre William L MS has 6.5% math proficiency and 22.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Sayre William L MS a charter school?

No, Sayre William L MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Sayre William L MS a Title I school?

No, Sayre William L MS is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sayre William L MS?

100.0% of students at Sayre William L MS 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
72 Very Walkable
Transit Score
71 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
90 Biker’s Paradise
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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
424
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
36
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
#67 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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