The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Science. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Towne Charter Elementary School
Franklin Towne Charter Elementary School serves kindergarten through eighth grade in Philadelphia, with about a thousand students spread evenly across its nine grades. The school is located in Northeast Philadelphia on Richmond Street, in a neighborhood of rowhouses and mixed residential character typical of that part of the city.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and Asian students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a lower-income enrollment profile. Special-population enrollment data (students with individualized education plans and English learners) was not available, so a parent interested in those programs may want to reach out to the school directly for specifics.
On state testing in math, grades three through eight showed proficiency just under a third of students. English-language arts was noticeably stronger, with just under half meeting proficiency standards. Science results from the prior school year showed roughly two-thirds of students proficient. In raw terms, the math result is a soft spot; the ELA finding shows the school is above that level but still below what many schools achieve. Science performance is a genuine strength. The school does not report graduation outcomes, since it does not serve high school students.
Franklin Towne operates as a charter school independent of the School District of Philadelphia's traditional district governance. In 2023, the school switched from an in-house lottery process to a third-party platform called Lotterease to oversee its admissions lottery, a change the school's leadership cited as a safeguard for integrity. The elementary school's charter was renewed by the Philadelphia Board of Education in 2021 and continues under annual evaluation; this is a separate entity from the affiliated Franklin Towne Charter High School, which faced separate revocation proceedings. For families considering enrollment, the elementary school's renewal status provides continuity, and the new admissions platform represents a structural change in how seats are allocated and tracked.
The Philadelphia housing market shows modest home values in the 19137 ZIP code where the school sits, with prices somewhat below the state average. Rents in the broader city are rising, reflecting pressure across the region. The neighborhood itself is part of Northeast Philadelphia, characterized by density of rowhouse blocks and established street life, with access to SEPTA transit. This part of the city has grown more slowly than Center City over recent years, though the broader city saw modest population growth in 2024 and 2025 after pandemic losses.
The school's size and grade span make it a full elementary-through-middle offering, which means families do not have to transition to a different school building between kindergarten and eighth grade. For parents evaluating charter options in Philadelphia, Franklin Towne offers that continuity within the public charter sector at a school serving a economically diverse enrollment.
See more original research from School Decision →