The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Marshall Thurgood
Marshall Thurgood is a public elementary and middle school in North Philadelphia serving prekindergarten through eighth grade. The school sits in the 19120 ZIP code near North Sixth Street, in a neighborhood that is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with a substantial Asian population as well. Enrollment is approximately 600 students, nearly all of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the surrounding community.
The school's most recent state assessment results, from 2024-25, show proficiency rates well below the state standard. In English language arts, about one in five students tested scored at proficient level or above on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. In mathematics, the proficiency rate was notably lower, with fewer than one in ten students meeting the proficient threshold. A science assessment from 2022-23 showed a similar pattern, with fewer than one in five students proficient. These results indicate a school facing significant academic challenges across core subjects.
The district context matters here. The Philadelphia School District has recently implemented major curriculum changes, including a new science-of-reading approach for English language arts that began in 2024-25. In the first year of that transition, reading scores citywide dropped slightly. Marshall Thurgood, like all district schools, is using the new EL Education curriculum for grades K-8 and the Illustrative Mathematics program. The district has also approved a substantial facilities modernization plan beginning in 2026-27 that will reshape school catchments and building conditions across the city over the next decade. Parents should confirm whether Marshall Thurgood is affected by those pending changes.
The housing market in the 19120 ZIP code reflects an affordable segment of Philadelphia, with median home values and rents considerably below both state and national benchmarks. The neighborhood remains stable but economically constrained, with unemployment rates in line with national figures and median household income below national averages.
A parent considering Marshall Thurgood should look closely at the school's current academic performance and approach to addressing the low proficiency rates, especially as the new district curriculum takes root. The school serves a predominantly low-income, Black and Hispanic student population in a walkable urban neighborhood with strong community anchors including the Free Library, Fairmount Park system, and SEPTA transit access. State testing data for special education and English learner populations were not available, so parents may want to ask the school directly about the size and support of those programs.
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