The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in Science. The lowest is 2% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Longstreth William C Sch
Longstreth William C is a public elementary and middle school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Philadelphia's Southwest neighborhood. The school is small, with an enrollment spread across all grade levels from pre-K through grade 8. It sits in an economically under-resourced area: nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly Black, reflecting the neighborhood's composition.
The school's academic performance is concerning, particularly in math and reading. On the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment in 2024-25, fewer than 2% of students scored proficient or above in math, and about 12% in English language arts. Science results, from 2022-23, were notably stronger at about 35% proficiency, though based on a smaller tested group. These math and reading results sit well below the level where a parent would want to see them and suggest significant gaps in foundational skill development. For context, the district itself adopted new "science of reading" ELA materials starting in 2024-25 after scores stalled, and Illustrative Mathematics K-12 a year earlier. That shift affects how instruction happens in this building, but the transition results have been mixed across the district.
No data was available on special education enrollment, English learner population, teacher staffing, chronic absenteeism, or school discipline. The school's website was not located, so detail on specific programs, class sizes, or parent engagement structures could not be verified. These gaps make it difficult to assess the school's approach to support beyond what testing reveals.
The neighborhood where Longstreth sits is part of a city in uneven growth. Philadelphia itself is gaining residents again after pandemic losses, though growth is concentrated in Center City and along the Schuylkill River corridor rather than in Southwest Philadelphia. Housing in the school's ZIP code is affordable relative to the city's average and well below state and national benchmarks, which reflects both economic opportunity for renters and the neighborhood's challenges. The area is part of the dense, walkable urban fabric Philadelphia is known for, with strong neighborhood identity, though amenities and economic investment vary considerably by block.
The district is in the midst of significant change. The Board of Education approved a facilities modernization plan in April 2026 that will close 17 schools district-wide beginning in 2026-27, with school boundaries being redrawn. A parent considering this school should check whether Longstreth is among the schools affected or involved in a co-location, since that would alter the building and program landscape. The district also increased property tax support for schools and is implementing standardized curricula for the first time in years, which creates both opportunity for consistency and risk during transition. A parent may want to look into this school's specific plans for supporting reading and math proficiency in response to recent district curricular changes.
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