The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Penn Treaty Sch
Penn Treaty School serves grades six through twelve in the Fishtown neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, a mixed-use rowhouse area that has undergone significant demographic change in recent years. The school enrolls a diverse student body where every student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the low-income composition of the neighborhood. The student population is substantially Black and Hispanic, with smaller shares of White, multiracial, and Asian students.
On state assessments administered in 2024-25, Penn Treaty's proficiency rates are substantially below state benchmarks. In English language arts, a modest share of students tested demonstrated proficiency at grade level. Math proficiency was even lower, with only a small fraction of students meeting the state standard. The school tested students in grades three through eight for state accountability purposes, capturing a snapshot of foundational skills in reading and mathematics across the middle grades. The specific numbers are available in the school's data, but the overall pattern is clear: Penn Treaty students face significant challenges in academic fundamentals, particularly in mathematics.
The school's enrollment has stabilized at a typical size for a Philadelphia middle-high school, with the population fairly evenly distributed across the grades. The age and condition of school facilities in Philadelphia varies widely, and Penn Treaty may be affected by the district's larger infrastructure picture. In April 2026, the School District of Philadelphia approved a facilities master plan that closes schools across the city beginning in 2026-27. According to publicly reported details, Bodine High School is set to relocate into the Penn Treaty building, meaning the school as currently constituted will be phased out. Parents considering Penn Treaty should verify the timeline and any transition arrangements with the district directly, as this represents a significant structural change.
Philadelphia itself is undergoing moderate growth concentrated mainly in Center City, with housing values reflecting both neighborhood variability and broader city trends. The area around Fishtown has seen rising property values in recent years, though rents and home prices in the school's ZIP code remain below the state median. The neighborhood offers strong walkability and access to SEPTA transit, and is part of a city known for rowhouse density and neighborhood identity.
The district rolled out new math and English curricula starting in 2023-24 and 2024-25 respectively, adopting Illustrative Mathematics and a science-of-reading approach across all schools. This change directly shapes how reading and math are taught in every classroom citywide. Penn Treaty students are part of this standardized instruction, though early results show mixed outcomes district-wide, with reading proficiency dipping after the first year of the new ELA program.
A parent evaluating Penn Treaty needs to weigh the timing of the facility closure, the current low academic proficiency rates, and the reality that the school is in the midst of a district-wide instructional overhaul. The low proficiency results suggest students will need significant support to catch up to grade-level standards. The school's location in a walkable urban neighborhood and its complete Title I enrollment base are straightforward characteristics; whether the school's current trajectory and impending closure align with a family's educational priorities is a question to explore directly with the school and district.
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