Independence Charter School

Independence Charter School is the sole elementary charter school serving grades K-8 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With a total enrollment of 781 students, the school stands out for its high percentage of students (99.87%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-need student population. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is below the state averages in math, science, and English language arts, sometimes by a significant margin. The school is ranked in the bottom third of Pennsylvania elementary schools, with a 2-star rating out of 5 from School Digger.

Key metrics for Independence Charter School include a student-teacher ratio of 13.2 and spending of $18,814 per student. The school's dropout rate is 1.6%. Proficiency rates on state assessments vary, with 38.9% in math, 61.6% in science, and 46.9% in English language arts, all below the Pennsylvania state averages.

While the high poverty levels at Independence Charter School present unique challenges, the inconsistent academic performance across grade levels and the school's overall low ranking suggest there is significant room for improvement. Identifying and addressing the root causes of the underperformance, as well as ensuring the school has the necessary resources to support its high-need student population, could be important areas of focus for the school and its district.