The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Science. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on People for People Cs
People for People Charter School is a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school in North Philadelphia with a student body that is almost entirely Black and serving a population of students experiencing severe economic hardship. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure that exceeds enrollment, likely reflecting the school's role in serving a deeply under-resourced community on North Broad Street.
The school's academic performance is the most pressing issue for any family considering enrollment. In the most recent testing (2024-25), about one in ten students in grades 3-8 scored at proficiency in math, and about one in six in English language arts. Science data from 2022-23 showed roughly one in four students proficient. These figures fall well below typical district and state performance, and the Pennsylvania Board of Education's non-renewal action in June 2025—the first formal step toward possible closure—was explicitly tied to test scores far below the district average with little visible improvement. A court injunction in 2026 has prevented immediate closure, but the school's operational future remains uncertain. This is not a background issue; it is a major structural concern that any parent should discuss directly with the school's leadership and monitor closely.
There is also a significant enrollment shift underway. The school previously served grades 9-12 but eliminated them. More recently, as part of a renewal plan, it announced it would stop accepting new students in grades 6-8 and operate as a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school instead. Families should verify the current enrollment status, as the K-8 listed in the directory may not reflect this planned transition. A student currently in sixth or seventh grade at the school may face displacement if the grade-level reduction moves forward.
The school's student composition is very stable and highly concentrated: the enrollment is very large for a single-grade cohort in a small school, with nearly all students identifying as Black. The school serves a densely poor neighborhood and appears to function as an important community institution for families in that area. The rowhome-dense North Broad corridor has pedestrian access and neighborhood-embedded services, though families may wish to assess how well the school's current resources align with student needs given the test-score picture.
Special education data and English learner enrollment counts were not available in the data provided, and the school did not report a graduation rate because it does not serve high school grades (though that may change if the K-5 transition completes). No attendance, discipline, staffing, or course-access information was on hand.
For a family weighing this school, the central question is not academic strength—test results are low—but rather whether the school's mission, stability, and available supports fit the family's immediate and medium-term needs. The non-renewal action and grade-elimination plan suggest a school in significant transition, and parents may want to look into the school's current renewal status, the timeline for any grade-band changes, and the school's specific intervention plans with school leadership before enrolling.
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