The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Harrington Avery D Sch
Harrington Avery D is a small elementary and middle school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in West Philadelphia, with an enrollment of about 289 students. The school is part of the Philadelphia City School District and sits in the 19143 ZIP code, a neighborhood with housing values well below the state average and rents that constitute a substantial share of household income.
The school's student body is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, and white students. All students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating the neighborhood's economic profile. Data on special education enrollment and English learner rates were not available.
On state assessments given to grades 3 through 8, Harrington Avery D's results are low across tested subjects. In English language arts, about one in five students scored proficient on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment; in math, fewer than one in ten did. Science proficiency, last reported for 2022-23, was similarly low. These figures place significant academic pressure on the school and suggest that students are arriving with substantial academic gaps and that classroom instruction is not yet closing them at scale.
The school carries no particular program designation and offers the standard district curriculum. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Philadelphia adopted a new "science of reading" English language arts curriculum (EL Education for K-8 grades) and also transitioned to Illustrative Mathematics for K-12 math instruction. Both changes affect how reading and math are taught in this school as in all others citywide. Early district reports indicate mixed results from the shift and a dip in reading scores after the first year, though the curriculum rollout was only recently completed.
Philadelphia itself is a walkable, historically layered city anchored by higher education and healthcare employment. The neighborhoods span densely occupied rowhouse blocks mixed with commercial corridors. The city has been in modest growth mode over the past two years after pandemic losses, with most new construction concentrated in Center City rather than in residential neighborhoods like this one. The broader region hosts major employers in life sciences, education, health care, and financial services.
The district is currently implementing significant change: a facilities master plan approved in April 2026 will close schools, co-locate others, and modernize buildings over the next decade, reshaping school catchments across the city. Property tax increases tied to a citywide reassessment will add revenue to schools but will also raise homeownership costs for residents. A parent considering Harrington Avery D should expect a small, neighborhood school serving a high-poverty community with low academic results and should discuss with the school directly how it is responding to both the curriculum transition and the academic performance data.
See more original research from School Decision →