The top reported proficiency rate is 89% in Science. The lowest is 71% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Jenks Abram Sch
Jenks Abram serves an elementary cohort spanning kindergarten through fifth grade in South Philadelphia, a dense residential neighborhood built on the rowhouse pattern that defines much of the city. The school's enrollment is small and stable at around a few hundred students, with an even distribution across grades. All students in the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the neighborhood's economic profile.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. Close to one-third of students are Asian, roughly a third are white, and the remainder are Black, Hispanic, or multiracial. The data do not report counts or rates for English learners or students with an Individualized Education Program, so a parent may want to reach out to the school directly to understand how those services are staffed and delivered.
On Pennsylvania's standardized assessments, Jenks Abram's most recent results show math and English language arts proficiency both at a level consistent with about seven in ten students meeting grade-level standards in grades 3 through 5. Science proficiency, measured most recently in 2022-23, was stronger, with nearly nine in ten students proficient. These results are not unusual for Philadelphia schools serving low-income neighborhoods. Reading proficiency across the district has been a focus area; the district adopted a new science-of-reading curriculum in 2024-25, its first year, and saw a one-point decline in reading scores after implementation. Whether that pattern holds at Jenks or reverses in subsequent years is not yet clear. The school building's conditions and staffing levels are not documented in available data.
The neighborhood surrounding the school is walkable and dense with rowhouses, local retail corridors, and parks including access to the broader Fairmount Park system. South Philadelphia itself is a historic, predominantly residential area with strong neighborhood identity and well-established local institutions. Housing in the broader South Philadelphia zip code is less expensive than Center City Philadelphia but valued in the mid-range for the city. Rent and mortgage costs reflect affordability at roughly one-fifth to one-quarter of household income for many residents.
Philadelphia itself is growing after years of decline, with most new development concentrated in Center City and University City. The city's anchor employers span healthcare, higher education, and life sciences, and the school district is the second-largest employer in the region. Civic life is anchored by public parks, a dense SEPTA transit network, and the Free Library system with dozens of neighborhood branches.
The school is part of the Philadelphia City School District. The district is in the midst of significant change. Curriculum adoption of Illustrative Mathematics and a science-of-reading ELA approach has standardized instruction across all schools beginning in 2023-24, though early results show reading proficiency dipped after the first year of ELA transition. The district also received increased city funding in FY2025 and will see further revenue growth from the city's 2024 property reassessment. At the same time, the Board of Education approved a major facilities master plan in April 2026 that will close seventeen schools beginning in 2026-27 and modernize others; the district recommends checking whether Jenks is affected by catchment changes or school closures planned near it.
Jenks Abram is a neighborhood school serving an economically disadvantaged, racially mixed population with modest recent performance in reading and math, solid science results, and a small, stable enrollment. For a family seeking a small, walkable, neighborhood-based elementary experience in South Philadelphia, it fits that context. A parent considering the school should inquire directly about English learner and special education services, building conditions, and any planned changes from the district's facilities master plan.
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