Can I use Philadelphia County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Philadelphia County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Philadelphia County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Philadelphia County?

Start with the 304 listed public schools and 86 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Philadelphia County Schools & Education

Name: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

34/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

74.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

74.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,061

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,336

School Score

34/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 72/100

State Score Position

#67

of 67 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Philadelphia County

Measured School Summary

Philadelphia County faces educational challenges with a school score of 34/100 and a graduation rate of 74.8%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

Philadelphia County spends $8,061 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 53% below the Pennsylvania average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 15.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 22% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Philadelphia County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

304 public schools and 86 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

34/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #67 of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data.

Completion

74.8%

15.5 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,061

$2,275 below the state average

School coverage

304

86 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Philadelphia County has 304 public schools across 86 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Philadelphia County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Philadelphia City SD carries most of the listed public-school system, with 219 of 304 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#67

of 67 Pennsylvania counties with school score data. The county score is 38 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Philadelphia City SD

Elementary to high school visible

114,779 students

Elementary 148Middle 14High 55Other 2

219 listed schools in this county slice.

Philadelphia Performing Arts CS

Other grade structure

2,721 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

First Philadelphia Preparatory CS

Other grade structure

1,822 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

MaST Community CS II

Other grade structure

1,777 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Philadelphia City SD is the largest listed district slice, with 219 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Philadelphia County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Philadelphia County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

The Scale of Urban Public Education

Philadelphia County manages a massive infrastructure of 304 public schools serving over 180,000 students. The landscape includes 194 elementary, 18 middle, and 70 high schools, along with 22 specialized facilities. It is the most complex educational environment in the state, with 86 different district entities operating within its borders.

Diversity of Choice and Large Campuses

The Philadelphia City School District is the primary provider, educating 114,779 students across 219 schools. Charter schools play a massive role here, accounting for 85 schools or 28% of the total public offering. Massive institutions like Northeast High School serve as many as 3,352 students on a single campus.

100% Urban Learning Experience

Every school in the county is classified as a city locale, offering students an immersive urban experience. The average school size is 595 students, but the range is vast, from small specialized academies to the 2,364 students at Central High. Students here have access to a wider variety of magnet and charter options than anywhere else in the state.

School Overview

Total Schools

304

in Philadelphia County

Reported Enrollment

180,783

304 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

28% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary194

Middle18

High70

Other22

86 School Districts in Philadelphia County

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia Performing Arts CS

1 school

2,721 students

First Philadelphia Preparatory CS

1 school

1,822 students

MaST Community CS II

1 school

1,777 students

Esperanza Academy CS

1 school

1,628 students

Mariana Bracetti Academy CS

1 school

1,557 students

New Foundations CS

1 school

1,496 students

MAST Community CS

1 school

1,473 students

Franklin Towne CHS

1 school

1,282 students

Mastery CS-Thomas Campus

1 school

1,258 students

304 Public Schools in Philadelphia County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 39 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 304 matching schools

Public schools in Philadelphia County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Northeast HS	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19111City: Large	9–12	High	3,352
Philadelphia Performing Arts CS	Profile	Philadelphia Performing Arts CS	Philadelphia, 19145City: Large	KG–12	Charter	2,721
Central HS	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19141City: Large	9–12	High	2,364
Lincoln HS	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19136City: Large	9–12	High	2,207
First Philadelphia Preparatory CS	Profile	First Philadelphia Preparatory CS	Philadelphia, 19124City: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,822
MaST Community CS II	Profile	MaST Community CS II	Philadelphia, 19116City: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,777
Northeast Community Propel Academy	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19136City: Large	KG–8	Primary	1,731
Washington George HS	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19116City: Large	9–12	High	1,707
Mayfair Sch	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19149City: Large	KG–8	Primary	1,682
Esperanza Academy CS	Profile	Esperanza Academy CS	Philadelphia, 19140City: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,628
Mariana Bracetti Academy CS	Profile	Mariana Bracetti Academy CS	Philadelphia, 19124City: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,557
New Foundations CS	Profile	New Foundations CS	Philadelphia, 19136City: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,496
MAST Community CS	Profile	MAST Community CS	Philadelphia, 19116City: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,473
Baldi C C A MS	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19115City: Large	6–8	Middle	1,462
Frank Anne Sch	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19115City: Large	PK–5	Primary	1,347
Franklin Towne CHS	Profile	Franklin Towne CHS	Philadelphia, 19137City: Large	9–12	Charter	1,282
Spruance Gilbert Sch	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19149City: Large	PK–8	Primary	1,275
Castor Gardens MS	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19111City: Large	6–8	Middle	1,260
Mastery CS - Thomas Campus	Profile	Mastery CS-Thomas Campus	Philadelphia, 19144City: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,258
Solis-Cohen Solomon Sch	Profile	Philadelphia City SD	Philadelphia, 19149City: Large	KG–5	Primary	1,250

Northeast HS

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19111 / City: Large

Profile9–12High3,352 students

Philadelphia Performing Arts CS

Philadelphia, 19145 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter2,721 students

Central HS

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19141 / City: Large

Profile9–12High2,364 students

Lincoln HS

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19136 / City: Large

Profile9–12High2,207 students

First Philadelphia Preparatory CS

Philadelphia, 19124 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,822 students

MaST Community CS II

Philadelphia, 19116 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,777 students

Northeast Community Propel Academy

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19136 / City: Large

ProfileKG–8Primary1,731 students

Washington George HS

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19116 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,707 students

Mayfair Sch

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19149 / City: Large

ProfileKG–8Primary1,682 students

Esperanza Academy CS

Philadelphia, 19140 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,628 students

Mariana Bracetti Academy CS

Philadelphia, 19124 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,557 students

New Foundations CS

Philadelphia, 19136 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,496 students

MAST Community CS

Philadelphia, 19116 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,473 students

Baldi C C A MS

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19115 / City: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,462 students

Frank Anne Sch

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19115 / City: Large

ProfilePK–5Primary1,347 students

Franklin Towne CHS

Philadelphia, 19137 / City: Large

Profile9–12Charter1,282 students

Spruance Gilbert Sch

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19149 / City: Large

ProfilePK–8Primary1,275 students

Castor Gardens MS

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19111 / City: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,260 students

Mastery CS - Thomas Campus

Mastery CS-Thomas Campus

Philadelphia, 19144 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,258 students

Solis-Cohen Solomon Sch

Philadelphia City SD

Philadelphia, 19149 / City: Large

ProfileKG–5Primary1,250 students

Additional School Profiles

Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.

19 more profiles

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,061

State avg $10,336

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Philadelphia County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Pennsylvania counties have the highest graduation rates?

Montour County (97.0%), Wyoming County (97.0%), and Wayne County (95.8%) currently lead Pennsylvania among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Pennsylvania?

Across Pennsylvania counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $10,336. The highest current county values are Forest County ($14,731), Wayne County ($14,055), and Pike County ($13,711). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Philadelphia County?

Philadelphia County has a school score of 34/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Philadelphia County?

The high school graduation rate in Philadelphia County is 74.8%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Philadelphia County spend per student?

Philadelphia County spends $8,061 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania?

What are the major school districts in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania?

What is the school experience like in Philadelphia County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Dauphin County

Pennsylvania

+8 pts

41/100

School score

Beaver County

Pennsylvania

+9 pts

43/100

School score

Northumberland County

Pennsylvania

+17 pts

51/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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