The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Science. The lowest is 44% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Independence Cs
Independence Charter School is a kindergarten through eighth-grade charter school located in Center City Philadelphia on Lombard Street, between the dense urban core and the river. It serves a student body that is economically very low-income—virtually all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch—and is racially diverse, with the enrollment distributed across Black, white, Hispanic, and Asian students.
The school's academic performance is mixed. In English language arts, proficiency runs at just under one-half of students meeting grade-level benchmarks on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Math proficiency is lower, at roughly two-fifths of students tested. Science results are stronger, with proficiency at just above three-fifths. These data come from the most recent school year available (2024-25 for ELA and math; 2023-24 for science), and state testing covers only grades 3 through 8. The school does not report data on participation rates, so it is not possible to determine whether the proficiency figures reflect the full tested population or a subset.
The school's enrollment is stable at around seven hundred ninety students across nine grades, with reasonably balanced cohorts from kindergarten through eighth grade. No state graduation rate or dropout data apply, since the school does not serve high school. Information on the percentage of students receiving special education or English-learner services is not available in the data provided.
A recent capital project substantially expanded the physical plant. The school completed a renovation and addition to its Lombard Street building that added a gymnasium, auditorium, larger cafeteria, rooftop play space, four classrooms, and upgraded mechanical systems. This permanent increase in facility capacity and program breadth is the kind of infrastructure change that affects the day-to-day school experience. Before the expansion, the school lacked a dedicated gym and auditorium.
The school faces a material conditional status with the Philadelphia Board of Education. In June 2025, the board approved a five-year charter renewal but flagged the school as "approaching" rather than fully meeting academic success standards. This renewal secures the school's operation through roughly 2030 but signals that the school must demonstrate improvement in student achievement to remain in good standing. Parents considering enrollment should understand that while the school has a contractual future through 2030, it is operating under a performance condition. A parent may want to look into this further with the school—specifically, what the school's improvement trajectory has been and what efforts are underway to raise proficiency rates.
The school's Center City location is a substantive asset. It sits in one of Philadelphia's most walkable and economically dynamic neighborhoods, with strong transit access and proximity to commercial corridors and civic amenities. For families living or working in Center City or relying on public transit, the location is practical. The neighborhood has seen substantial residential growth and investment in recent years.
Housing in the surrounding ZIP code is moderately priced relative to Pennsylvania statewide, though rents have been rising modestly. The neighborhood is a mix of rowhouses, new residential conversions, small local businesses, and street-level retail. The school's catchment area includes residents across a wide economic range, though the school's enrollment is overwhelmingly low-income.
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