The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in Science. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hamilton Andrew Sch
Hamilton Andrew School is a neighborhood elementary and middle school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Philadelphia. The school enrolls a small population across its grade span, with each grade level containing between roughly twenty and fifty-five students. The school is located in West Philadelphia, in a neighborhood shaped by Philadelphia's urban fabric of historic rowhouses and established residential blocks.
The school's student body is nearly entirely eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic context of its catchment area. The enrollment is predominantly Black, with very small populations of other racial and ethnic groups. Data on the share of students with disabilities or English learners was not available.
On state assessments administered to grades three through eight, Hamilton Andrew's proficiency results are below what most families would want to see. In English language arts, about one-fifth of tested students achieved proficiency in the most recent school year. In mathematics, the proportion was even lower, around one-eighth. Science proficiency data is from an earlier year and shows roughly one-third of students tested meeting the standard, though the tested population in science was smaller. These results represent serious academic concern; a parent considering this school should ask directly about the school's instructional strategies, any recent changes in leadership or curriculum, and what academic supports are available to students who are not yet proficient.
The school is part of the Philadelphia City School District, which has undergone major curriculum changes starting in school year 2023-24. The district adopted Illustrative Mathematics K-12 beginning that year and introduced a new science-of-reading English language arts curriculum (EL Education for K-8 grades) in 2024-25. These changes standardize how every district student is taught to read and do math. According to publicly reported accounts, the transition has had mixed reception among teachers, and reading proficiency dipped slightly in the first year of implementation. Parents at Hamilton Andrew may want to inquire how these curriculum shifts are being implemented at the school level and whether additional support is being provided to students working below grade level.
The district has also committed significant funding to improve school facilities. In April 2026, the Board of Education approved a major facilities master plan that will reshape school catchments, modernize buildings, and close seventeen schools beginning in 2026-27. This reshaping will affect where students attend school and commute patterns across the city over the coming decade. Hamilton Andrew's own status in this plan was not available in the data provided.
The immediate neighborhood around the school is part of Philadelphia's broader context as a large, walkable, dense city organized around historic neighborhoods. Housing in the school's ZIP code is more affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, though rental costs have risen modestly. The surrounding area has established community infrastructure including parks, the Free Library of Philadelphia system, and SEPTA transit access.
For a family considering Hamilton Andrew, the central question is how the school intends to move student proficiency significantly upward. The data shows substantial academic gaps, and prospective parents should seek concrete answers about reading and math instruction, how teachers are supported in implementing the new district curriculum, and what interventions exist for students currently below grade level.
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