The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in Science. The lowest is 4% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mckinley William Sch
McKinley William School is a small public elementary and middle school in Philadelphia serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school enrolls a student body that is substantially Hispanic and Black, with the vast majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This demographic profile places McKinley in a high-poverty urban school setting where nearly all families have household income below the federal lunch subsidy threshold.
The school's academic results are deeply concerning. In the most recent math testing, the proficiency rate was in the low single digits, with only a small handful of students scoring at proficient levels across all tested grades. English language arts results were similarly low, leaving the school well below proficiency benchmarks. Science results from the prior testing window were also low, though marginally higher than math and reading. These numbers indicate that the overwhelming majority of students are not meeting grade-level standards in core subjects. A parent should look into this further with the school to understand how instruction is being delivered, what interventions exist for struggling readers and mathematicians, and what supports the school offers for students who are significantly below grade level.
McKinley is part of the Philadelphia City School District, which is currently undergoing substantial curriculum changes. The district has adopted new K-12 math materials (Illustrative Mathematics) and a new science-of-reading English curriculum starting in 2024-25. These are standardized across all district schools for the first time in years. After the first year of the new reading curriculum, district-level results showed a slight dip, with most students still not reading at grade level. It is too early to say whether McKinley will benefit from these materials, but the rollout signals that classroom instruction should be shifting toward more rigorous and evidence-based approaches.
The district has also approved a major facilities modernization plan that will close schools and reshape school boundaries beginning in 2026-27. Parents should confirm McKinley's status in this plan, as it could affect enrollment, staffing, and the physical condition of the building.
The immediate neighborhood is part of Philadelphia's dense urban fabric, with predominantly residential rowhouse areas. Housing costs in the zip code are below the state and national benchmarks. The city overall is walkable and has strong public transit through SEPTA, which is relevant for families navigating school access and commutes. The broader city economy is anchored by healthcare, higher education, financial services, and life sciences, though these sectors are geographically concentrated in Center City and University City.
McKinley is a school where most students are learning in conditions of economic hardship and where proficiency gaps are severe. The new district curriculum may help, and parents would benefit from direct conversation with the school about literacy and numeracy supports, student progress tracking, and what happens for students who are significantly behind grade level.
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