The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hill Freedman World Academy
Hill Freedman World Academy serves grades six through twelve in Northeast Philadelphia, drawing from a student population that is nearly entirely low-income and predominantly Black. The school sits at the intersection of major district-level curriculum shifts and facilities planning that will shape the experience of students here over the coming years.
In English language arts, the school's proficiency rate on state assessments reflects moderate performance relative to the tested grades and subjects, with roughly three in five students scoring at proficient or advanced levels. Mathematics proficiency is considerably lower, with about one in four students meeting the state standard. These results arrived under the district's newly adopted science-of-reading and Illustrative Mathematics curricula, implemented in 2024-25, which standardized instruction across all district schools for the first time in years. The transition has shown mixed early reception from teachers and a documented one-point decline in reading proficiency district-wide after the first year, so parents may want to look into how the school has been implementing the new materials and what additional supports are in place for students working below grade level, particularly in mathematics.
The school's enrollment is small for its grade span, with roughly equal numbers across grades six through eight and grades nine through eleven, and a somewhat larger cohort in grade twelve. All students in the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, marking the school as serving a community with very high economic need. Students of color make up the vast majority of enrollment, with Black students comprising the largest share. No data was available on rates of students receiving special education services or English learner support, so parents interested in those programs should reach out directly to the school.
Philadelphia itself is a dense, highly walkable city with deep neighborhood character, an extensive park and library system, and one of the nation's most comprehensive public transit networks. The city is in a period of moderate growth concentrated mainly in downtown, with Greater Center City accounting for a substantial share of recent housing development, while other neighborhoods including Northeast Philadelphia where Hill Freedman sits have grown more modestly. Housing costs in the school's ZIP code are below the state median and have risen modestly year-over-year. The city's major employers span healthcare, higher education, financial services, and life sciences, anchored by institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, major hospital systems, and companies like Comcast and AmerisourceBergen.
The district is currently implementing a significant multi-year facilities overhaul that will reshape school catchments and close a number of buildings beginning in the next school year. Parents should confirm with the school what implications this plan holds for Hill Freedman's building, programs, and catchment area, as the district has mapped substantial changes to how students are assigned and where they attend school.
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