The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rhoads James Sch
Rhoads James School serves kindergarten through eighth grade in Philadelphia's West Philadelphia neighborhood. It is a regular public school within the Philadelphia City School District, located on Parrish Street.
The school enrolls a small population for its grade band, with a fairly even spread across grades. Essentially all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly African American, with a very small presence of Asian, Hispanic, and white students. Special education and English learner enrollment data were not available.
On Pennsylvania's System of School Assessment, the most recent results show proficiency well below the state standard in core subjects. In math, tested students in grades three through eight achieved proficiency at a low rate. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was somewhat higher but still low. Science results from the prior school year showed proficiency higher than math or reading, though still below what most schools achieve. These numbers reflect a school where the majority of tested students are not meeting grade-level standards.
The school has not provided information about advanced coursework, extracurricular programs, or staffing levels. Graduation rate and other secondary-outcome data do not apply, as the school serves only through eighth grade. Details on attendance, discipline practices, or special services beyond basic enrollment data were not available in school or district sources.
Philadelphia itself is a dense, walkable city anchored by Center City as its downtown and University City as an education-and-healthcare hub. The neighborhood surrounding Rhoads James, in West Philadelphia, sits alongside Penn's campus and a network of hospitals, anchoring the broader region's life-sciences economy. Housing in the 19139 ZIP code (West Philadelphia) is notably more affordable than both state and national medians, though rents have been climbing. The city has seen moderate population growth in the past two years, with the densest development in Greater Center City; growth in outlying neighborhoods like this one has been steadier but less visible.
The School District of Philadelphia has undertaken significant curriculum changes in recent years. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, a new science-of-reading English curriculum was rolled out across all district K-12 schools, building on the math curriculum redesign from the previous year. These systemwide changes directly shape classroom instruction. The district also faces a major facilities reorganization; an approved master plan will close schools, modernize buildings, and reshape enrollment boundaries across the city over the next decade, affecting which schools families can access.
A parent may want to look into this school further with the district to understand its specific support services, how it approaches instruction in reading and math given the recent curriculum changes, and what role it plays in the broader district facilities plan.
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