The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in Science. The lowest is 15% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Howe Julia Ward Sch
Howe Julia Ward School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Olney section of North Philadelphia. The school enrolls a small population of students, all of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting the economic reality of the neighborhood. The student body is predominantly Black, with smaller numbers of Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, and multiracial students.
State assessment results show very low proficiency in English language arts and math. In the most recent testing year, fewer than one in six students in grades 3 through 5 met proficiency in math, and proficiency in reading was even lower. Science results from an earlier year were also well below state levels, though the testing population was much smaller. These numbers signal that academic instruction in core subjects is not currently reaching most students at grade level. A parent would want to explore further with the school what supports are in place for students who test below proficiency, what professional development teachers have received around the new literacy curriculum that the district adopted, and whether there are plans to address the breadth of the gap.
The school is part of the Philadelphia City School District, which underwent significant curriculum changes starting in 2023-24. The district adopted Illustrative Mathematics for kindergarten through 12 and shifted to a science-of-reading approach for English language arts, beginning with EL Education for grades K-8 in 2024-25. These changes directly shape how reading and math are taught in Howe Julia Ward classrooms. Publicly reported data noted that reading proficiency dropped in the first year after the shift, and two-thirds of the district's students still read below grade level overall. The school operates within a district facing major structural change: the Board of Education approved a facilities master plan in April 2026 that will close schools across the city, though Howe Julia Ward was not listed among those affected.
The surrounding neighborhood reflects the broader context of North Philadelphia. Home values in the 19141 ZIP code are modest relative to many other parts of the city, and rental costs are lower than the city average, though still represent a substantial share of household income. Philadelphia itself is experiencing moderate growth concentrated in Center City, with the wider city anchored by healthcare, higher education, and life sciences employment. The public transit system, parks, and cultural institutions provide neighborhood anchors, though the immediate area around Olney is primarily residential.
For a family considering Howe Julia Ward, the core question is the school's ability to move these proficiency numbers. The building-level response to the district's new curriculum, the availability of reading intervention and math support, and the school's specific plan to help students catch up would be essential areas to discuss with school leadership.
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