The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Science. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mccloskey John F Sch
John F. McCloskey School serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade in the Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia, with a student body that is predominantly African American. The school's enrollment is small, concentrated in the upper elementary and middle grades, where class sizes range from mid-twenties to low-forties. Every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating the neighborhood's economic profile.
On Pennsylvania's System of School Assessment, the school's performance is below what most families would want to see. In English language arts, the share of students reading at grade level is modest. In mathematics, the proficiency rate is notably low. The most recent science data available, from 2022-23, showed stronger relative performance in that subject, though still with room for growth. A parent should look into further detail with the school about what academic support structures exist for students who are not yet proficient, since the testing picture suggests many students are working below grade level in core subjects.
The school is a regular public school in the Philadelphia City School District, which in the past two years has committed to significant curriculum changes districtwide. The district adopted Illustrative Mathematics for all grades beginning in 2023-24 and rolled out a new science-of-reading English language arts curriculum (EL Education for grades K-8) starting in 2024-25. These changes determine how reading and math are taught in every classroom. The district reported that reading scores dipped slightly after the first year of the new ELA materials, with the majority of students still not reading at grade level.
The district also faces major structural change. In April 2026, the Board of Education approved a substantial facilities master plan that will close schools across the city, merge programs, and modernize buildings over the coming decade. Parents should check directly with the school about whether McCloskey is affected by these closures or co-location plans, as the reshaping of school catchments could reshape which school a student attends.
The broader context for homeownership in the school's area: housing values in the 19150 ZIP code are moderate relative to Philadelphia as a whole. The city raised its property tax allocation to schools and adjusted the homestead exemption upward in recent years, affecting homeowner costs. Philadelphia itself is growing unevenly, with rapid development concentrated in Center City and along major corridors, while older neighborhoods like Olney experience slower change.
A parent evaluating this school would want to understand its specific approach to supporting students who enter below grade level, the school's relationship to the district's new curricula, and what the facilities plan means for this particular building and attendance boundaries.
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