The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Locke Alain Sch
Locke Alain is a small elementary and middle school serving kindergarten through grade eight in West Philadelphia, with a total enrollment spread roughly evenly across its nine grade bands. All students in the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students, along with very few white students. The school sits in a neighborhood where housing values are modest and rents are similarly low compared to the broader Philadelphia market.
The school's academic performance, measured by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, shows proficiency rates well below state norms. In English language arts, about one in six students scored at proficient or above; in mathematics, about one in ten. Science data from an earlier year showed a proficiency rate near one in five. These results reflect sustained challenges in foundational academic skills, and a parent may want to look directly into what instructional supports the school offers and how staff are working to close these gaps.
The Philadelphia School District, which operates Locke Alain, has undertaken a significant curriculum overhaul in recent years. Starting in 2023-24, the district adopted a new mathematics curriculum system district-wide. In 2024-25, it rolled out a new English language arts program built on the science of reading approach. These changes affect every classroom in the school and represent the district's effort to standardize and strengthen instruction. Early results from the first year of the ELA rollout showed a slight decline in reading proficiency before stabilizing, and the district reports that about two-thirds of students remain not proficient in reading. The new math curriculum was also adopted during this window, so the full effects of both programs are still being assessed.
Beyond curriculum, the district has secured increased funding for schools through a reallocation of property tax revenues, which will grow the school's operational budget. At the same time, the district announced a major facilities restructuring plan that will reshape school catchments and consolidate or modernize many buildings over the coming decade. Parents should confirm whether Locke Alain is affected by any of these boundary or program changes, as they would directly alter a child's school assignment or commute.
For students at Locke Alain, the immediate academic reality is that proficiency in core subjects is significantly below state benchmarks. The school is also part of a district-wide effort to strengthen reading and mathematics instruction through new curriculum materials. Families considering this school should understand both the current academic performance profile and the ongoing instructional improvements underway, and may want to ask staff directly about how the school is supporting students who enter with gaps in foundational skills.
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