The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Science. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Finletter Thomas K Sch
Finletter Thomas K is a public elementary and middle school serving grades kindergarten through eight in North Philadelphia. Enrollment is small, just over six hundred students, with roughly consistent cohort sizes across the grades. The student body is predominantly Black, with substantial representation of Hispanic students, and a smaller share of Asian students; fewer than three students identify as white or Alaska Native. All students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that shapes both school operations and the community the school serves.
The school sits at a measurable distance from proficiency benchmarks on state assessments. In math, about one in six students tested in grades three through eight scored at the proficient level or above. Reading performance was better but still modest: roughly one in four students met proficiency in English language arts. Science results, from an earlier year, showed proficiency for about one in three students. These numbers sit below what would represent strong academic performance, and a parent considering this school should ask directly about the school's instructional approach to reading and math, especially given the district's recent adoption of new curricula in both areas starting in 2024.
The district itself is undertaking significant change. It rolled out a new science-of-reading English curriculum and a new math program (Illustrative Mathematics) in the last two school years. Reading scores dipped in the first year after implementation. The math adoption is newer, so early data on its effects in individual schools is still limited. A parent should understand that teachers and students at Finletter are working with relatively new materials and instructional frameworks, and that stability and quality of implementation can vary.
The broader Philadelphia housing market around the school's North Front Street location is affordable relative to state and national medians. Homes in the relevant ZIP code carry a modest market value and rent is manageable as a share of household income. The neighborhood is part of a city that has grown modestly in recent years, concentrated mainly in Center City, though North Philadelphia neighborhoods have their own character and institutions.
The district faces structural challenges, including a facilities master plan approved in 2026 that closes seventeen schools district-wide and co-locates others, beginning in the 2026-27 school year. While Finletter is not listed among the schools slated to close, parents should verify its status and understand the district's broader context of building consolidation.
Data on staff, special education and English learner enrollment rates, discipline, and chronic absenteeism were not available for this school. A parent would benefit from contacting Finletter directly to understand student support services, classroom composition, and school environment in those dimensions.
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