Young Scholars Charter School

Young Scholars Charter School is the sole public charter middle school serving grades 5-8 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a total enrollment of 267 students. The school's student population is predominantly African American (81.27%), with a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students, as evidenced by the fact that 99.25% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, Young Scholars Charter School is significantly underperforming, with PSSA test scores well below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For instance, in 8th grade math, only 7.6% of students scored proficient or better, compared to the state average of 26%. Despite the low academic performance, the school's per-student spending of $21,977 is significantly higher than the state average, raising questions about the effective allocation of resources to improve student outcomes.

Consistently ranking in the bottom quartile of Pennsylvania middle schools, with a ranking of 747 out of 893 schools in the 2022-2023 school year, Young Scholars Charter School faces significant challenges in providing a high-quality education to its predominantly economically disadvantaged student population. The school's low academic performance, high spending, and consistent low ranking suggest the need for a comprehensive review and implementation of effective strategies to drive academic improvement.