The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Science. The lowest is 4% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kipp North Philadelphia Cs
KIPP North Philadelphia CS serves kindergarten through eighth grade in North Philadelphia and operates as a charter school under KIPP Philadelphia's network. With an enrollment of about 670 students, it is a small to mid-sized elementary and middle school in a densely urban setting.
The school's student body is predominantly Black, with nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of its North Philadelphia neighborhood. Enrollment is distributed fairly evenly across grades K–6, though the data shows no students currently in grades 7 and 8.
Academic performance presents significant challenges. On Pennsylvania's most recent state assessments, proficiency in math was very low. In English language arts, proficiency was modest and well below state benchmarks. Science results were somewhat stronger. The school is not comparable to other schools in Philadelphia County through standard proficiency indices due to data limitations, so direct comparison to peer schools is not readily available. A parent may want to ask the school directly about the factors behind these results and about support structures for students who are struggling with foundational skills.
The district context matters considerably here. In August 2025, the Philadelphia Board of Education approved a notice of nonrenewal for KIPP North Philadelphia, initiating a formal closure process. The school remains open, but families enrolling now face genuine uncertainty about the school's future. The nonrenewal decision was driven by sustained academic concerns: the district reported that math proficiency declined over two consecutive years even as peer schools improved, ELA scores remained flat after dropping previously, and overall academic performance was rated low under the district's evaluation framework.
Beyond academics, discipline has been a point of concern. The school's suspension rate is notably higher than district averages, with about a quarter of the full student population suspended in recent data. Among younger students and among those with disabilities, the disparity is even steeper. Parents considering KIPP North Philadelphia should understand this pattern and discuss with school leadership how it aligns with their own approach to school discipline and student support.
Philadelphia itself is a large, walkable city organized around strong neighborhoods and a robust downtown core. The city has a strong public transit system, extensive parks, and major healthcare and education institutions. Housing costs in the school's ZIP code are substantially below state and national medians, and rents have risen modestly over the past year. This is a neighborhood-embedded urban school in a city with substantial economic disparity.
For families drawn to the KIPP model or simply needing a neighborhood school option, KIPP North Philadelphia offers elementary and middle grades in a district where school choice is available. However, the combination of low test scores, high suspension rates, and institutional instability from the nonrenewal process creates real risk. A family enrolling should do so with eyes open to the academic gaps, ask detailed questions about the school's response to its performance challenges and whether it expects to remain open, and consider what alternatives exist if the school closes. The charter admissions process in Philadelphia now works through Apply Philly Charter's single-best-offer lottery, so families should understand how to submit and rank their preferences.
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