The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in Science. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Elkin Lewis Sch
Elkin Lewis serves kindergarten through fourth grade in the Frankford-Port Richmond area of northeast Philadelphia. The school has an enrollment of a few hundred students, nearly all of whom qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller shares of Black and White students and very small populations of Asian and multiracial students.
Because the school serves only grades kindergarten through four, Pennsylvania's standardized testing applies only to third and fourth grade students. The most recent math results show very low proficiency, with only a handful of students meeting the state standard. English language arts results, from the same year, show similarly low proficiency rates. Science results from an earlier year reported similarly modest performance. These are weak proficiency figures that reflect consistent academic struggle across the tested grade band. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, including asking about reading instruction (the district recently shifted to a new science-of-reading curriculum starting in 2024-25) and math support services.
Elkin Lewis sits in northeast Philadelphia in a neighborhood of working-class rowhouses, modest businesses, and strong community identity. Housing in the immediate area is relatively affordable compared to broader Philadelphia, though rental and homeownership costs have risen modestly over the past year. The neighborhood sits on the edge of walkable commercial corridors and has good access to SEPTA transit. Philadelphia as a whole has experienced modest population growth over the past two years after pandemic-era decline, though growth remains concentrated in Greater Center City. The broader city economy is anchored by healthcare, higher education, financial services, and life sciences, with major employers including the University of Pennsylvania, Comcast, and Independence Blue Cross.
The Philadelphia School District has undertaken several systemwide changes that touch every student. In 2023-24 it adopted Illustrative Mathematics for all grades K-12. The following year it rolled out a new English language arts curriculum based on the science of reading (EL Education for K-8, StudySync for 9-12). The district also raised its share of city property tax revenue in the FY2025 budget, increasing long-term school funding. At the same time, in April 2026 the Board of Education approved a major facilities master plan that will close schools, co-locate others, and modernize buildings over the coming decade, with direct effects on school catchments and building conditions citywide. A parent enrolling in any district school should understand that instructional materials and emphasis are shifting across reading and math instruction and that the district is in the midst of significant facility reorganization.
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