The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Disston Hamilton Sch
Disston Hamilton is a neighborhood elementary and middle school in Northeast Philadelphia serving kindergarten through eighth grade. It enrolls a mid-sized student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black population, and smaller shares of white and Asian students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the families the school serves.
The school's state assessment results show low proficiency across the tested subjects. In English language arts, roughly one in eight students scored at proficient levels on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. In mathematics, the rate was lower still, with about one in ten meeting proficiency. Science data from an earlier year showed a somewhat higher proficiency rate of roughly one in five. These numbers place the school well below where parents would want to see achievement, and a parent may want to look into with the school directly what specific supports exist for students who are not yet proficient, what the school's instructional approach is, and what progress monitoring looks like.
The district itself has embarked on significant curriculum changes. Beginning in 2024-25, all district schools adopted a new English language arts curriculum grounded in the science of reading, using EL Education for elementary and middle grades. The district also rolled out a standard K-12 mathematics curriculum the prior year. These changes aim to bring consistency to instruction citywide, though early reading scores saw a dip after the first year of implementation. How these initiatives take hold at Disston Hamilton will partly shape the school experience going forward.
At the broader district level, there is movement on funding and facilities. Philadelphia increased the share of city property tax revenue going to schools, and a major facilities master plan approved in 2026 will reshape school catchments and building conditions across the district over the coming decade. The school itself does not appear on the closure or modernization list, though parents should stay informed about how catchment changes from nearby school closures or mergers might affect enrollment or community makeup.
The Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood where Disston Hamilton sits is part of a city experiencing modest population growth concentrated mainly in Center City and greater Center City. Housing in the 19135 ZIP code reflects the lower-income profile of the area, with median home values below the state benchmark and rents correspondingly more affordable than city averages. Philadelphia is a walkable, highly transit-served city with extensive public amenities and major anchors in healthcare, higher education, and life sciences employment, though these opportunities are not evenly distributed across all neighborhoods.
For a family considering Disston Hamilton, the school offers the convenience of a neighborhood school with a long-established presence in the community. The current testing data and low proficiency rates signal academic challenges that would merit direct conversation with school leadership about curriculum implementation, intervention supports, and how the school measures and responds to student progress. The new district curriculum provides a standardized foundation; how well it lands at this particular school is worth exploring.
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