The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Potter-thomas Sch
Potter-Thomas serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade in a densely populated North Philadelphia neighborhood. It is a regular public school operated by the Philadelphia City School District, located on North Sixth Street.
The school serves a small student body, with roughly equal enrollment spread across the nine grades. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black enrollment and a very small number of white and multiracial students. All students enrolled qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects the economic circumstances of the community the school serves.
State testing results available for the school show proficiency rates that are well below typical benchmarks. In the most recent math assessment, a small proportion of students tested demonstrated proficiency. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was similarly low. Science testing from an earlier year showed proficiency in the low range as well. The school tested between roughly one hundred and over two hundred students depending on the subject. These results indicate that the vast majority of Potter-Thomas students are not yet meeting grade-level standards in core academic subjects. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, understanding what supports are in place and what the school's improvement strategy is.
The school operates within the Philadelphia City School District, which has undertaken several major changes over the past few years. The district adopted a new mathematics curriculum (Illustrative Mathematics K-12) beginning in 2023-24 and a science-of-reading English language arts curriculum starting in 2024-25. These changes reshape classroom instruction across all district schools. The district also experienced a recent dip in reading proficiency scores as the new ELA curriculum took hold, though the district has committed significant resources to the curriculum overhaul. Additionally, the Board of Education approved a major facilities modernization plan in April 2026 that includes school closures and mergers beginning in 2026-27, though Potter-Thomas was not listed among the schools facing closure.
The neighborhood surrounding Potter-Thomas reflects Philadelphia's character as a dense urban city of neighborhoods. The broader city is walkable and anchored by Center City as a downtown hub, with the Free Library of Philadelphia, extensive SEPTA transit, and Fairmount Park as civic anchors. The housing market in the school's ZIP code is modest compared to the state and national averages, with home values and rents both below state benchmarks. Philadelphia is in a period of moderate growth, concentrated mainly in Center City, while other neighborhoods remain more stable. The district's property tax base received a boost in recent budget decisions, increasing school funding, though this has also raised property tax obligations for homeowners in the city.
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