The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on First Philadelphia Preparatory Cs
First Philadelphia Preparatory CS is a K-12 charter school located on Tacony Street in the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood. It serves a full enrollment across all grade levels, from kindergarten through twelfth grade, with a student body that is predominantly Black and Hispanic, along with multiracial students, with much smaller populations of white, Asian, and other students. Substantially all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating the school serves a low-income population.
The school's recent state assessment results in math and English language arts show proficiency rates well below typical achievement benchmarks. In grades 3 through 8, fewer than one in ten students scored at the proficient level in math, and roughly one in six reached proficiency in English language arts. These are notably low completion rates that a parent may want to explore further with the school when considering enrollment. The school is part of a single-school charter district rather than a larger district system, which affects how governance and decisions about the school's future unfold.
One major consideration looms over this school's immediate and long-term trajectory. The Philadelphia Board of Education voted in October 2022 and again in January 2023 to deny renewal of First Philadelphia Preparatory's charter. The board cited conflict-of-interest concerns about the school's legal representation and management practices. According to the district's evaluation, the school approached academic standards for elementary and middle grades but failed to meet them for high school grades. The school's charter is therefore subject to an extended appeals and legal process, and this uncertainty about the school's long-term viability is a lasting consideration for any family considering whether to enroll a child or move into the surrounding area. Charter schools are permitted to remain open while appeals are pending, but families should be aware of this ongoing institutional threat to the school's continuity.
The school is located in Philadelphia, a large walkable city with a diverse, neighborhood-centered character. The Northeast neighborhood where the school sits has traditional rowhouse residential fabric alongside commercial corridors. Philadelphia offers extensive public transit through SEPTA, a major park system, a network of libraries, and a large healthcare and education employment base, with particular concentration in University City (West Philadelphia). The housing market in the school's ZIP code shows modest home values and rental costs below the state and national median, reflecting the urban and working-class character of the area. Population growth in Philadelphia has been centered in Center City; growth patterns in the Northeast and outer neighborhoods have been more subdued.
Data on the school's graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, English learner population, or special education enrollment are not available from the sources provided. The school's course offerings, staffing ratios, discipline policies, and other operational details were also not documented in the available information. Parents seeking a more complete picture of the school's operations and services would benefit from direct outreach to the school and close attention to the charter renewal proceedings affecting its status.
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