The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in Science. The lowest is 15% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Charles Kelly El Sch
Charles Kelly Elementary School serves first through fifth grade in Drexel Hill, a dense inner-ring suburb about five to eight miles southwest of Philadelphia within Upper Darby Township. The school sits within a walkable, leafy residential community where sidewalks anchor neighborhood life, shops and restaurants cluster along corridors like Burmont Road, and SEPTA trolleys connect residents to Center City. Housing in the area centers on early twentieth-century homes and postwar twins and rowhouses; current home values sit below the Pennsylvania and national benchmarks, with rents rising modestly year over year. The community has seen stable population and is now entering a phase of mixed-use redevelopment, with new townhome and apartment proposals in planning stages and the Upper Darby School District poised to redevelop the former hospital site for district use.
The school itself enrolls a modest number of students across five grades, with a student body that is majority students of color: a substantial share identify as Black, followed by meaningful shares identifying as Hispanic and Asian, with a small number of white and multiracial students and a handful identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high economic need. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status are not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and any specialized services offered.
State testing results from the most recent school year show proficiency that is notably below the middle range among Delaware County district schools. In English language arts, about one in seven students tested met proficiency, and in mathematics, roughly one in five did so. Science results from a prior year showed somewhat stronger performance, with about one in three students reaching proficiency. The most recent year's proficiency index places Charles Kelly in the bottom quartile of county schools, which is a fact parents should understand clearly and pursue further conversation about with the district. Graduation rate and chronic absenteeism data do not apply to an elementary school.
The Upper Darby School District, which operates Charles Kelly, has set a common academic direction across its schools. Core mathematics instruction uses enVisions as the standard resource in kindergarten through eighth grade, and social studies at the middle school level now uses National Geographic's curriculum with online components delivered through Chromebooks. The district approved its comprehensive plan in 2024 and committed to a standards-aligned approach that aims to create consistency for families across schools. Meanwhile, the district is navigating real facility challenges: a new middle school in Clifton Heights broke ground in mid-2024 and will open with modern STEM labs and athletic facilities, relieving longstanding middle school overcrowding. However, a planned new elementary school in the 69th Street area was suspended after FEMA designated the site as a flood hazard, so elementary capacity pressures remain. The district's proposed 2025-26 budget projects a tax increase to address spending gaps, and homeowners should expect continued upward property tax pressure. The district was named in 2024 as one of seven in the county receiving state tax-equity supplements, though those funds are directed toward tax mitigation rather than new spending.
For a family considering Charles Kelly, the school offers an elementary anchor in a walkable, community-oriented neighborhood with transit access and nearby parks. The student body is economically challenged and racially diverse. Academic performance is currently well below county average, a reality that warrants direct conversation with the school about instructional support, recent trends, and what families can expect. The district's commitment to curriculum standardization and ongoing facility investment signal intentional work, though the delayed elementary expansion means class sizes may remain a consideration.
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