The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in Science. The lowest is 5% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Roosevelt Theodore Ms
Roosevelt Theodore Middle School serves kindergarten through eighth grade in Philadelphia's northeast section. The school draws a student body that is predominantly Black, with nearly all students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a school shaped by very high economic need and concentrated poverty; the community context reflects the housing and income patterns of its neighborhood in a city where property values in the school's ZIP code are below the state average and well below the national average.
The school's academic performance on state assessments is substantially below proficiency benchmarks. In the most recent full results available, mathematics proficiency hovered near five percent, while English language arts came in around fourteen percent. Science results, from an earlier year, measured around nineteen percent. These numbers reflect a student population working significantly behind grade-level standards across core subjects. Parents looking at this school should understand that the vast majority of students are not meeting state proficiency targets, and this pattern is consistent across the subjects tested.
The school enrolls a small-to-moderate population for its grade span, with larger cohorts in the middle grades (sixth through eighth) than in the elementary years. Kindergarten through fifth grade together account for a smaller share of enrollment than grades six through eight, a shape that is typical for schools where some families may transition to other options or move out of the catchment area as children progress.
Philadelphia City School District has recently adopted new instructional materials districtwide, including a revised mathematics curriculum starting in 2023-24 and a science-of-reading English language arts curriculum for 2024-25. These changes aim to standardize teaching methods across all district schools for the first time in years. Early reports indicate mixed reception from teachers, and reading proficiency dipped by one point after the first year of the new ELA program. Roosevelt Theodore, like all district schools, operates under this new instructional framework.
The broader district context includes substantial capital and funding shifts. The city increased the school district's share of property tax revenue in its fiscal 2025 budget and completed a property reassessment that will channel additional revenue to schools over the coming decade. At the same time, the district approved a significant facilities master plan in April 2026 that will reshape school catchments and close seventeen schools beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Parents should confirm whether Roosevelt Theodore is affected by these consolidations and stay informed about any changes to school assignments or programs.
Special population enrollment data—including rates for students with individualized education plans and English learners—was not available in the records reviewed. A parent may want to inquire directly with the school about the availability of special education services and English learner support if those are relevant to their child's needs.
The school's location in Philadelphia places it within a large, walkable city anchored by major employers in healthcare, higher education, financial services, and life sciences. The city has public transit, a large park system, and a library network; housing affordability in the school's ZIP code is modest relative to state and national benchmarks. This is the context in which families in the Roosevelt Theodore attendance zone are living and making school decisions.
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