The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Science. The lowest is 31% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Rhawnhurst Sch
Rhawnhurst is an elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of that name. The school enrolls roughly 640 students, serving a diverse student body: Asian students make up a substantial share of enrollment, followed by close to equal portions of Hispanic and white students, with a smaller percentage of Black students. All students in the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high economic need across the enrollment.
On state assessments, Rhawnhurst's performance sits below proficiency benchmarks in both tested subjects. In English language arts, about a third of students tested scored at proficiency level. In mathematics, performance stands somewhat higher, at roughly the mid-level for grades 3-8. The school's most recent science data, from a prior year, showed about three-fifths of students meeting proficiency. State testing data does not extend below third grade, so results do not cover the school's pre-K and kindergarten programs.
The school operates within the Philadelphia City School District, which in the past two years has undertaken two major shifts that shape Rhawnhurst's instructional environment. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the district rolled out a new science-of-reading English language arts curriculum across K-8, moving to Expeditionary Learning materials. Simultaneously, the district adopted Illustrative Mathematics for all grade levels. These are the first standardized, district-wide curricula of their kind in several years. The reading curriculum shift came alongside a one-point drop in reading proficiency scores district-wide in its first year of use, suggesting a transition period. Second, beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the district will close seventeen schools and modernize many others as part of a facilities restructuring. Rhawnhurst's status under this plan is not indicated in available data, though a parent may want to contact the school directly to understand any changes to the building or programs.
The neighborhood itself is a largely residential area in Northeast Philadelphia, with housing values and rents at the lower to middle range compared to the state average. The broader city context includes moderate recent growth concentrated in Center City, but Northeast Philadelphia has not been a focal point of new investment, and the school serves a neighborhood with substantial economic need reflected in universal free and reduced lunch eligibility.
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