The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Sankofa Freedom Academy Cs
Sankofa Freedom Academy is a K-12 charter school in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood, organized as a single-school district and built on an African-Centered, culturally responsive college-preparatory model. The school serves students from kindergarten through grade 12 on a single campus, with an enrollment of roughly mid-sized volume across the full span of grades.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a small share of Hispanic and multiracial students and a handful of American Indian students. All enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the families the school serves. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available.
Academic results on the 2024-25 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment show proficiency on the weaker side in both tested subjects and grades. In English language arts across grades three through eight, just under one-third of tested students achieved proficiency. In mathematics for the same grade range, the proficiency rate fell notably lower, at around one in six students. The school has not yet reported four-year graduation data, making it unclear whether the college-preparatory mission has translated to strong completion rates at the high school level. A parent may want to look into this further with the school. The school tested students at high participation rates in both subjects; average scale scores were not available in the public record.
The school's charter was renewed by the Philadelphia School District Charter Schools Office following a 2021 evaluation, securing its continuation under its current educational approach. The school identifies itself publicly as a freedom school emphasizing African-Centered methodology and cultural responsiveness. Program specifics, course catalog, and staffing details were not available in the data accessed.
The Kensington location is on the northeast side of Philadelphia, a dense rowhouse neighborhood with street-level commercial activity and strong transit access via SEPTA. Housing values in the 19124 zip code are below the Pennsylvania state median, and rental rates show modest year-over-year stability. Philadelphia as a whole is experiencing uneven growth, with the strongest development concentrated in Center City and University City; neighborhood-level growth or change in Kensington was not available. The city's major employers include healthcare systems, universities, Comcast, and city government; the Free Library operates neighborhood branches throughout the city, and Fairmount Park and the broader park system provide green space and recreational anchor points.
For families attracted to the school's explicit African-Centered and culturally responsive educational identity, and for whom college preparation framed through that lens is a draw, the school offers a distinctive pathway. For parents focused primarily on standardized proficiency outcomes, the current assessment results suggest the need for conversation with school leadership about progress, support systems, and the school's own accountability measures.
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