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Average

#730 of 872 private schools in PA

St Joseph's Preparatory School

High School

1733 W GIRARD AVE, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 297 schools in Philadelphia. Learn more

Enrollment

898

Student-Teacher

13.1:1

Score

5.2

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Philadelphia

#87 of 95

public schools

Pennsylvania high schools

#116 of 120

About St Joseph's Preparatory School

St. Joseph's Preparatory School is a public high school in Philadelphia serving grades 9 through 12. Located at 1733 W Girard Avenue in the city's West Philadelphia neighborhood, the school enrolls 898 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1 and maintains a staff of 68 full-time equivalent teachers.

The school is currently working to strengthen its academic performance and is ranked 628th among Pennsylvania's 872 schools. With a MySchoolScout Rating of 2.8 out of 10, St. Joseph's Prep has room for academic growth as it continues to support its student body.

The school serves as part of Philadelphia's public education landscape, providing high school education in an urban setting where families have access to the resources and opportunities typical of a large city environment.

What Parents Should Know

As a private school, St Joseph's Preparatory School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Joseph's Preparatory School compares to 91 public schools serving similar grades in Philadelphia, PA

Student-Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
This School
vs
14.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
898
This School
vs
791
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
5.2
This School
vs
5.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 70.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 15% vs 0%
Black 4.8% vs 0%
Asian 3.8% vs 0%
St Joseph's Preparatory School Philadelphia Public Avg

Nearby High Schools

School Rating
St Joseph's Preparatory School (this school) 5.2
YouthBuild Phila CS 5.6
Franklin LC 7.3
Vaux HS: A Big Picture School 6.4
Science Leadership Academy 7.9
Franklin Benjamin HS 4.7
Masterman Julia R Sec Sch 6.5
Parkway Center City Middle College 5.9
HS of Engineering & Science 6.7
Math Civics and Sciences CS 2.6
The SD of Philadelphia Virtual Academy 4.9
Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson 4.2
TECH Freire CS 7.5
Philadelphia Electrical & Technology CHS 3.3
The U School: Innovative Lab 7.1
Bodine William W HS 8.4
Freire CS 4.4
Dobbins Area Vocational-Technical High School 6.1
Strawberry Mansion HS 6.3
National Constitution Center HS 7.3
Kensington Creative & Performing Arts HS 6.8

Showing 20 of 91 schools. View all schools in Philadelphia

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in PA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B- 4.7 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 13.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C- 2.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,023
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 47%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 5.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 898
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in PA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 70.3%
Hispanic 15.0%
Two or More 5.0%
Black 4.8%
Asian 3.8%
Native American 0.6%
Pacific Islander 0.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1733 W GIRARD AVE, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Joseph's Preparatory School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Science Leadership Academy (rated 7.9/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Franklin LC (rated 7.3/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, HS of Engineering & Science (rated 6.7/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Philadelphia, see our Philadelphia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.8 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOSEPH'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL Philadelphia 0.0 mi 5.1
GESU SCHOOL Philadelphia 0.1 mi 5.8
Meade Gen George C Sch Philadelphia 0.4 mi 6.0
GIRARD COLLEGE Philadelphia 0.3 mi 8.1
YouthBuild Phila CS Philadelphia 0.3 mi 5.6
People for People CS Philadelphia 0.4 mi 3.8
Alliance for Progress CS Philadelphia 0.4 mi 2.1
Franklin LC Philadelphia 0.5 mi 7.3
Waring Laura W Sch Philadelphia 0.6 mi 6.2
Science Leadership Academy Philadelphia 0.6 mi 7.9
Bache-Martin Sch Philadelphia 0.5 mi 8.6
Masterman Julia R Sec Sch Philadelphia 0.6 mi 6.5
Franklin Benjamin HS Philadelphia 0.6 mi 4.7
OUR HOUSE MONTESSORI Philadelphia 0.7 mi
Vaux HS: A Big Picture School Philadelphia 0.6 mi 6.4
HS of Engineering & Science Philadelphia 0.8 mi 6.7
Parkway Center City Middle College Philadelphia 0.7 mi 5.9
Spring Garden Sch Philadelphia 0.7 mi 4.7
CITY SCHOOL AT FAIRMOUNT Philadelphia 0.6 mi 7.1
The SD of Philadelphia Virtual Academy Philadelphia 0.8 mi 4.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19130 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$110,436

Median Home Value

$483,500

Median Rent

$1,836/mo

Population

30,424

College Educated

78.5%

Homeownership

38.7%

Avg Commute

30.1 min

Poverty Rate

9.2%

Median Age

33.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding St Joseph's Preparatory School has a median household income of $110,436. It is a well-educated community where 79% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $483,500, with a median rent of $1,836/month. The local poverty rate of 9.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 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
Big Spring HS Newville, PA 5.2
Chartiers Valley HS Bridgeville, PA 5.2
Chichester SHS Boothwyn, PA 5.2
Clearfield Area JSHS Clearfield, PA 5.2
Dover Area HS Dover, PA 5.2
Lampeter-Strasburg SHS Lampeter, PA 5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Joseph's Preparatory School

What grades does St Joseph's Preparatory School serve?

St Joseph's Preparatory School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend St Joseph's Preparatory School?

St Joseph's Preparatory School has an enrollment of approximately 898 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Joseph's Preparatory School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Joseph's Preparatory School is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Joseph's Preparatory School rank in PA?

St Joseph's Preparatory School is ranked #730 out of 872 private schools in PA.

What is St Joseph's Preparatory School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Joseph's Preparatory School has a composite rating of 5.2 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.

Is St Joseph's Preparatory School a private school?

Yes, St Joseph's Preparatory School is a private all-boys school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St Joseph's Preparatory School a religious school?

St Joseph's Preparatory School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

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 PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
898
Gender Split
100% M / 0% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
68
Type
private
Coed Status
all-boys
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
6.2 hours
Days Per Year
165 days
Setting
Large City
County
PHILADELPHIA
Data Year
2022–2023

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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