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Below Average

#2406 of 2,846 schools in PA

West Philadelphia HS

High School · Philadelphia City Sd · Philadelphia, PA

A Philadelphia City Sd high school where students score 20 points below what's typical for similar communities.

4901 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19139

  • Math 2% vs PA 42% (2024)
  • Reading 24% vs PA 64% (2024)
  • 67.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.08 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics2.3Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency2% (2024 PSSA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency24.2% (2024 PSSA)
Math vs. State Avg-40 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-39.8 pts
Overall Proficiency13% (2024 PSSA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 PSSA)
vs. Expected-20.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile6th
College Readiness2.5Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate67%
AP Participation6.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.1:1
District spending per student$18,897
Chronic Absenteeism63.1%

Students at West Philadelphia HS score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 PSSA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. PA average.

Math Proficiency2%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
42%(2024 PSSA)
ELA Proficiency24%(2024 PSSA)
School
State
64%(2024 PSSA)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency has held near 13% across the 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
3%
ELA
17%
2010
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2011
Math
10%
ELA
17%
2012
Math
12%
ELA
27%
2013
Math
17%
ELA
27%
2014
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
17%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2017
Math
17%
ELA
17%
2018
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2019
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2020*
Math
5%
2021*
Math
5%
2024
Math
2%
ELA
24%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 12% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 24% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 26 test records from PA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

100%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where West Philadelphia HS sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Philadelphia map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 80Very Walkable
  • Transit 76Excellent Transit
  • Bike 96Biker’s Paradise
  • City Safety: High5,504/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Philadelphia), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$38,701

Median home value

$118,700

Median rent

$1,110/mo

College educated

21.9%

Homeownership

39.4%

Poverty rate

28.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 19139; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs1AP course offered
6.9% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics12sports offered
6 boys'·6 girls'·18 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses4of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
The Workshop SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.09–120.2 mi189Compare →
West Catholic Preparatory H.s.Private · tuition7.6private9–120.4 mi414Compare →
Parkway WestEnrollment path unverified4.69–120.5 mi167Compare →
Robeson HS for Human ServicesEnrollment path unverified6.49–120.7 mi289Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Philadelphia City Sd

Schools in district
220
Rank in district
#130 of 218
District spending per student
$18,897NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
28.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

West Philadelphia HS is listed in Philadelphia City SD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About West Philadelphia HS

West Philadelphia HS is a public high school in Philadelphia, PA, part of Philadelphia City Sd, serving approximately 593 students in grades 9th-12th with a 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,406 of 2,846 schools in PA. State assessment records show 12% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about West Philadelphia HS

What grades does West Philadelphia HS serve?

West Philadelphia HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend West Philadelphia HS?

West Philadelphia HS has an enrollment of approximately 593 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at West Philadelphia HS?

The student-teacher ratio at West Philadelphia HS is 12.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does West Philadelphia HS rank in PA?

West Philadelphia HS ranks #2,406 of 2,846 schools in PA.

What is West Philadelphia HS's MySchoolScout rating?

West Philadelphia HS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 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 West Philadelphia HS?

Based on loaded state assessment records, West Philadelphia HS has 12% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is West Philadelphia HS a charter school?

No, West Philadelphia HS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is West Philadelphia HS a Title I school?

No, West Philadelphia HS is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Philadelphia HS?

100.0% of students at West Philadelphia HS qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
593
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
49
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Philadelphia County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
63.1%
4-Year Graduation
67.0%
Area population (ZIP 19139)
44,619
Area average commute
33.1 min
Area median age
33
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 PSSA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 PSSA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 19139; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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