The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Science. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cramp William Sch
Cramp William School is a public elementary school in North Philadelphia serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school's population is small, around 378 students, with an enrollment that skews older within the primary grades, peaking in third grade. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with Black students forming a secondary share and only a handful of White and Asian students. All students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a neighborhood of very high economic need.
The school's most recent state assessment results show weak academic proficiency. In math (2024-25), fewer than one in ten students scored at proficient or advanced levels, and in English language arts, about one in six students met that benchmark. Science proficiency, measured in 2022-23, was higher at just over one-quarter of students, though the data is now several years old. These scores sit well below typical district and state performance, and a parent should understand clearly that this is a school where the majority of students are not meeting grade-level standards in core subjects.
The Philadelphia City School District has recently rolled out a new science-of-reading ELA curriculum and reformed math instruction districtwide, which affects how Cramp William teaches both subjects. These curriculum shifts are intended to improve instruction, though early district-level results show minimal change. The district is also in the middle of a major facilities overhaul and school consolidation process that could reshape school assignments citywide beginning in 2026-27, though Cramp William is not listed among the schools facing closure in those plans.
The broader neighborhood sits in North Philadelphia, a historically dense residential area of rowhouses and corner commercial corridors. Housing in the 19140 ZIP code is substantially more affordable than the city's median, with home values well below the broader Philadelphia standard. Rents are also significantly lower than citywide norms, making this a part of the city accessible to lower-income households. The neighborhood has strong transit access via SEPTA and is within the walkable urban fabric Philadelphia is known for, though the surrounding area faces economic hardship common to many North Philadelphia districts.
No data on special education enrollment, English learner enrollment, discipline, attendance, or staffing was available. For a parent considering this school, that information would be worth requesting directly from the school office. The school's academic performance numbers are the clearest signal: this is a setting where students arrive with considerable academic need and the school's test results suggest it is struggling to move proficiency numbers upward. A family would want to discuss with school staff what targeted reading and math support is available, how the new curriculum implementation is unfolding in practice, and whether there are other schools in the district that might better match their child's academic starting point or learning needs.
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