The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in English language arts. The lowest is 83% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Meredith William M Sch
William M. Meredith School serves kindergarten through eighth grade in central Philadelphia, on South 5th Street in an area where the city transitions from the historic Society Hill and Bella Vista neighborhoods toward the waterfront. The school's enrollment is small for an urban middle-grade school, drawn from the dense rowhouse fabric and mixed-use commercial corridors of the surrounding area. The student body is diverse by race and ethnicity; a substantial majority identifies as white, with meaningful shares of Hispanic, multiracial, Asian, and Black students. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which is typical across Philadelphia public schools serving low-income neighborhoods.
The school's most recent state test results show strong performance across subjects. In English language arts, the proficiency rate among students in grades three through eight was in the high eighties. Mathematics proficiency for the same grades was also solidly above the midpoint, with a large share of students scoring at proficiency level. Science data is less recent, but when last reported showed high proficiency as well. These results reflect what appears to be consistent instructional execution in a school with a contained enrollment and a single grade configuration, and they position the school favorably in meeting Pennsylvania's assessment standards.
The school operates within the Philadelphia City School District, which is undergoing significant curriculum and facilities changes. The district adopted a new science-of-reading English curriculum (EL Education for elementary grades) and Illustrative Mathematics starting in the 2023-24 school year. This standardizes how all students, including those at Meredith, are taught to read and solve math problems. The curriculum shift has been rolled out unevenly; reading proficiency across the district dipped in the first year of the new program, though the causes remain mixed between curriculum adoption, implementation variability, and teacher adjustment. Meredith's own results suggest the school may be executing these frameworks effectively, but parents may want to ask the school directly how the new curriculum is landing in classrooms and whether additional support is available if their child struggles with the transition.
The district is also undertaking a substantial facilities modernization plan beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Meredith itself is not listed for closure, but families should be aware that the district is reshaping school assignments and catchment areas citywide as part of this overhaul, which could affect enrollment flow and the school's population over time.
The housing market around Meredith is relatively affordable by Philadelphia standards. Home values in the ZIP code are moderate for the city, and rental costs are below the citywide average, making the neighborhood accessible to working families and young professionals. The area's walkability is high; Philadelphia overall ranks among the most walkable cities in the United States, and neighborhoods near Center City including this section offer dense street retail, local businesses, and easy SEPTA transit access.
Missing from the available data are the school's special education referral rate, English learner enrollment, chronic absenteeism, staffing levels, and course offerings beyond core subjects. A parent considering the school should ask about these dimensions directly: whether the school offers visual and performing arts, whether dual-language or ESL services are available, what the classroom size and teacher retention rates are, and how the school approaches students who need additional academic or behavioral support.
See more original research from School Decision →