Skip to main content

Very Good

#140 of 873 private schools in PA

Top 16% of private schools

The City School

School

315 S 17TH ST, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Private

Enrollment

418

Student-Teacher

9.5:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Pennsylvania private schools

#140 of 873

In Philadelphia

#12 of 95

public schools

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around The City School?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

The City School

7.7/10

School in Philadelphia · grades Pre-K – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Independence Cs

6.0/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Universal Institute Cs

3.0/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About The City School

The City School is a private school in Philadelphia, PA. The City School serves approximately 418 students, and covers grades Pre-K-12th, and has a 9.5:1 student-teacher ratio. The City School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #140 of 873 private schools in PA.

How it compares1.4 pts above PA schools
  • This school 7.7 · Very Good
  • PA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 9.5:1 students to teachers, The City School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

The City School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How The City School compares to 300 public schools serving similar grades in Philadelphia, PA

Student-Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
This School
vs
13.8:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
418
This School
vs
589
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.7
This School
vs
4.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

Black 84.2% vs 0%
White 4.3% vs 0%
Asian 4.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 2.2% vs 0%
The City School Philadelphia Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
The City School (this school) 7.7
Independence CS 6.0
Universal Institute CS 3.0
Stanton Edwin M Sch 4.6
Freire CS 3.8
Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy 8.7
Creative and Performing Arts 7.5
Greenfield Albert M Sch 9.1
Russell Byers CS 2.1
Academy at Palumbo 8.3
Philadelphia Electrical & Technology CHS 3.7
McCall Gen George A Sch 8.9
Christopher Columbus CS 7.2
Fanny Jackson Coppin Sch 7.9
National Constitution Center HS 7.3
The SD of Philadelphia Virtual Academy 4.2
Math Civics and Sciences CS 3.8
Childs George W Sch 3.6
Nebinger George W Sch 7.8
Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures CS 7.8
Meredith William M Sch 8.9

Showing 20 of 300 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

Preliminary

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+ 7.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 9.5:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.3 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,314
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 28%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 418
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)

Black 84.2%
Two or More 5.0%
White 4.3%
Asian 4.3%
Hispanic 2.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

315 S 17TH ST, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering The City School may also want to explore other schools in the area. The SD of Philadelphia Virtual Academy (rated 4.2/10, 1.0 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is Math Civics and Sciences CS (rated 3.8/10, 1.1 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Universal Institute CS (rated 3.0/10, 0.4 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Philadelphia, see our Philadelphia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Independence CS Philadelphia 0.1 mi 6.0
Universal Institute CS Philadelphia 0.4 mi 3.0
Stanton Edwin M Sch Philadelphia 0.5 mi 4.6
Freire CS Philadelphia 0.5 mi 3.8
Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy Philadelphia 0.5 mi 8.7
Creative and Performing Arts Philadelphia 0.6 mi 7.5
Russell Byers CS Philadelphia 0.6 mi 2.1
PHILLY AGILE LEARNING COMMUNITY SCHOOL Philadelphia 0.5 mi
Greenfield Albert M Sch Philadelphia 0.6 mi 9.1
Philadelphia Electrical & Technology CHS Philadelphia 0.7 mi 3.7
CLEMENTINE MONTESSORI Philadelphia 0.7 mi
Academy at Palumbo Philadelphia 0.6 mi 8.3
GREENE TOWNE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Philadelphia 0.7 mi
THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL Philadelphia 0.7 mi 7.5
Christopher Columbus CS Philadelphia 0.9 mi 7.2
Fanny Jackson Coppin Sch Philadelphia 0.9 mi 7.9
The SD of Philadelphia Virtual Academy Philadelphia 1.0 mi 4.2
Childs George W Sch Philadelphia 1.1 mi 3.6
Math Civics and Sciences CS Philadelphia 1.1 mi 3.8
OUR HOUSE MONTESSORI Philadelphia 1.2 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 19103 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$97,940

Median Home Value

$551,700

Median Rent

$1,955/mo

Population

25,602

College Educated

81.1%

Homeownership

33.4%

Avg Commute

25.2 min

Poverty Rate

9.2%

Median Age

35.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
DAVIDSON SCHOOL Elwyn, PA 7.8
HARRISBURG CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Harrisburg, PA 7.8
PHIL-MONT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Erdenheim, PA 7.6
COVENTRY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, INC. Pottstown, PA 7.5
LANCASTER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lancaster, PA 7.5
THE AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL Bryn Mawr, PA 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about The City School

What grades does The City School serve?

The City School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend The City School?

The City School has an enrollment of approximately 418 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at The City School?

The student-teacher ratio at The City School is 9.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does The City School rank in PA?

The City School ranks #140 of 873 private schools in PA.

What is The City School's MySchoolScout rating?

The City School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is The City School a private school?

Yes, The City School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is The City School a religious school?

The City School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
99 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
100 Rider’s Paradise
Bike Score
89 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
418
Gender Split
50% M / 50% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
7.3 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Large City
County
Philadelphia County

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.