The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Inquiry Cs
Inquiry CS is a charter school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in West Philadelphia, located on Belmont Avenue in the Belmont area. It is a small school, with an enrollment distributed across all early grades, and operates as part of the Inquiry Charter School network.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly Black, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic makeup of the neighborhood and city. Data on special education enrollment and English learner populations were not available.
On the most recent state assessments available, Inquiry's results in math and English language arts proficiency fall well below the state performance norm. In math, the school's proficiency rate is notably low, and in English language arts, proficiency is similarly modest. Science performance is stronger; on the most recent assessment data reported, science proficiency was substantially higher and closer to the midpoint of performance statewide. The school tested a smaller cohort in science than in other subjects, which is typical for elementary schools in this grade band.
Because Inquiry serves only early grades, the school has no graduation rate or high school program offerings to report. The school's academic profile reflects the early elementary mission: it measures success primarily through early literacy and numeracy. The gap between math and ELA proficiency on one hand and science performance on the other may reflect either variation in instructional focus or in the composition of students tested in each subject.
Philadelphia itself is a large, densely walkable city with a long-established neighborhood character. It has experienced moderate population growth in recent years, with that growth concentrated in Center City and Greater Center City. The broader economy is anchored by healthcare, higher education, and life sciences, with major employers including the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Comcast. The city maintains an extensive public transit system, a large park system, and a broad network of free public libraries. Housing costs in the school's zip code are below the state median and show modest year-over-year movement.
For families considering Inquiry, the school represents an early-childhood and elementary pathway within Philadelphia's charter sector. The low proficiency rates in foundational subjects are a genuine concern and a parent may want to look into the school's instructional approach, any recent changes in curriculum or staffing, and the school's own growth trajectory before enrolling. The stronger science results suggest the school may have particular strengths or resource allocation in that domain. A parent should ask the school directly about their literacy and math interventions, their assessment practices, and their plans to improve performance in those areas. No recent district-level changes or updates to the school's operations were found in available sources.
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