The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Fell D Newlin Sch
Fell D. Newlin School serves kindergarten through eighth grade in the Kensington area of Philadelphia, near Port Richmond. The school enrolls a student population that is economically disadvantaged, with all students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The racial and ethnic makeup is diverse: about a third of students are Asian, a third Hispanic, and a fifth white, with smaller populations of Black students and students identifying as two or more races.
In the 2024-25 school year, the school tested students in grades three through eight on Pennsylvania's statewide assessment. In English language arts, about half of students scored at or above the proficient level. Math proficiency was lower, at around a third of tested students. Science data from 2022-23 showed about half of students proficient, though this represents an older assessment year. These results place the school below the midpoint of performance one would expect for a Philadelphia elementary and middle school serving a fully economically disadvantaged population, and a parent may want to look into the school's current supports and intervention strategies with administrators directly.
The district as a whole is undertaking major curriculum changes that affect every school. Beginning in 2024-25, Philadelphia adopted a science-of-reading approach to English language arts instruction, with a curriculum called EL Education for grades K-8. The previous year introduced a new math curriculum district-wide (Illustrative Mathematics). These changes reshape how reading and mathematics are taught day-to-day in classrooms. Early results showed that reading scores declined slightly after the new ELA curriculum's first year, suggesting that implementation and teacher familiarity may still be unfolding. The district's broader context is also shifting: in April 2026, the board approved a facilities modernization and closure plan that will reshape school catchments and building conditions across the city over the coming decade. For Newlin specifically, this plan's local impact on the school's future would be worth clarifying directly with the district.
The broader Philadelphia housing market in the 19148 ZIP code remains affordable relative to the state and national benchmarks. Home values are modest, and rents are similarly modest, making this a neighborhood where families on modest incomes can still afford to live and own property. The neighborhood itself is a dense urban area with strong row-house character and neighborhood identity.
A parent considering Fell D. Newlin should expect a neighborhood school serving a fully economically disadvantaged, diverse student body, with recent proficiency results that are below district and state benchmarks in both reading and math. The school's current implementation of new curricula and the broader district reorganization mean this is a time of transition. Direct conversation with school leadership about reading supports, math intervention, and how the school is using the new curriculum materials would help clarify what the school's everyday instruction looks like and what it offers students who are currently not meeting grade-level proficiency.
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