Is Swenson Arts and Technology High School a good school?

Swenson Arts and Technology High School ranks in the bottom 19.5% of Pennsylvania high schools.

How many students attend Swenson Arts and Technology High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 771 students attended Swenson Arts and Technology High School.

What is the racial makeup of Swenson Arts and Technology High School?

Students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School are 33% White, 29% Hispanic, 23% African American, 8% Asian, 7% Two or more races.

Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Summary:

Swenson Arts and Technology High School is a public high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serving 771 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Philadelphia City School District, which is ranked 494 out of 610 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Swenson Arts and Technology High School consistently underperforms compared to state and district averages on Keystone Exams, with only 23% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in Algebra I, 24.4% proficient in Biology, and 49.7% proficient in Literature. The school's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated between 68.6% and 96.0% in recent years, with the most recent rate being 87.5% in 2022-2023, which is on par with the district average but still below the state average. The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Asian and African American students tending to perform better than Hispanic and White students.

Compared to nearby high schools, such as Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush and Northeast High School, Swenson Arts and Technology High School's performance is generally lower in terms of academic achievement, graduation rates, and overall school quality. The school's focus on arts and technology could be a unique selling point, but the data suggests that the school has not yet fully capitalized on these specialized programs to drive student success.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2750 Red Lion Road
Philadelphia, PA 19114-1014

(215) 400-3140

District: Philadelphia City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
552^nd of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,168

Student/teacher ratio: 14.4

Number of students: 771

Racial breakdown:

White:

33.1%

Hispanic:

28.8%

African American:

23.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Compare Swenson Arts and Technology High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Swenson Arts and Technology High School ranks worse than 80.5% of high schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 19^th among 54 ranked high schools in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.81. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Swenson Arts and Technology High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (33.1%), Hispanic (28.8%), African American (23%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Swenson Arts and Technology High School is 14.4, which is the 27^th best among 54 high schools in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)

Compare Swenson Arts and Technology High School employs 53.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Swenson Arts and Technology High School is $8,168. 53 high schools in the Philadelphia City School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Swenson Arts and Technology High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Swenson Arts and Technology High School 552^nd of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Swenson Arts and Technology High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Asian students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Philadelphia City School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Philadelphia City School District 494^th of 610 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Swenson Arts and Technology High School

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Rank History for all students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2003	1.20	561^st	583	3.8%
2004	2.18	561^st	590	4.9%
2005	0.79	583^rd	593	1.7%
2006	10.01	558^th	604	7.6%
2007	5.17	583^rd	615	5.2%
2008	7.68	576^th	621	7.2%
2009	8.79	586^th	632	7.3%
2010	11.61	593^rd	649	8.6%
2011	10.21	604^th	660	8.5%
2012	14.53	591^st	664	11.0%
2013	11.60	530^th	591	10.3%
2014	6.34	536^th	580	7.6%
2015	9.19	600^th	680	11.8%
2016	7.85	601^st	677	11.2%
2017	4.38	605^th	663	8.7%
2018	12.10	583^rd	673	13.4%
2019	14.23	586^th	693	15.4%
2022	18.10	536^th	634	15.5%
2023	24.97	534^th	674	20.8%
2024	21.81	552^nd	686	19.5%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	33.65	86^th	129	33.3%
2024	18.47	126^th	150	16.0%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	68.81	12^th	85	85.9%
2024	62.68	16^th	84	81.0%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	34.89	451^st	652	30.8%
2024	32.93	478^th	664	28.0%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	16.80	551^st	665	17.1%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	34.35	303^rd	502	39.6%
2024	18.19	458^th	513	10.7%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	25.93	512^th	662	22.7%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	19.84	92^nd	112	17.9%
2024	3.41	117^th	121	3.3%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	42.70	136^th	260	47.7%
2024	29.95	201^st	284	29.2%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	29.72	180^th	252	28.6%
2024	28.47	194^th	274	29.2%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	16.04	519^th	577	10.1%
2024	27.93	466^th	595	21.7%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Swenson Arts and Technology High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2002	337	264	13	71	3	n/a	n/a	0	688
2003	337	264	13	71	3	n/a	n/a	0	688
2004	340	293	23	90	3	n/a	n/a	0	749
2005	363	289	29	118	3	n/a	n/a	0	802
2006	348	225	30	111	3	n/a	n/a	0	717
2007	324	224	30	123	1	n/a	n/a	0	702
2008	362	232	30	134	1	n/a	n/a	3	762
2009	343	234	30	133	0	n/a	n/a	3	743
2010	339	255	39	155	0	n/a	n/a	3	791
2011	345	228	41	173	0	0	8	0	795
2012	305	213	44	163	0	0	13	0	738
2013	255	216	47	162	0	0	13	0	693
2014	228	222	45	168	0	0	16	0	679
2015	207	210	40	142	0	0	16	0	615
2016	225	201	41	157	1	0	11	0	636
2017	242	191	38	172	2	0	20	0	665
2018	243	177	32	162	4	0	22	0	640
2019	227	168	29	193	3	0	28	0	648
2020	197	171	31	197	3	0	28	0	627
2021	246	195	40	243	4	0	41	0	769
2022	254	170	51	236	2	1	44	0	758
2023	255	177	62	222	2	1	52	0	771

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	688	46.0	15.0	22.2
2003	688	46.0	15.0	22.2
2004	749	45.0	16.6	23.5
2005	802	50.1	16.0	19.1
2006	717	49.1	14.6	36.8
2007	702	51.2	13.7	43.4
2008	762	50.3	15.1	48.6
2009	743	43.9	16.9	49.9
2010	791	53.7	14.7	51
2011	795	56.2	14.1	49.7
2012	738	40.3	18.2	45.4
2013	693	37.4	18.5	63.3
2014	679	37.3	18.1	67.9
2015	615	40.0	15.3	66.7
2016	636	36.0	17.6	100
2017	665	42.3	15.7	100
2018	640	37.9	16.8	99.8
2019	648	37.7	17.1	100
2020	627	36.3	17.2	99.8
2021	769	43.1	17.8	99.6
2022	758	36.0	21.0	99.6
2023	771	53.4	14.4	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Swenson Arts and Technology High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	688	46.0	15.0	22.2
2003	688	46.0	15.0	22.2
2004	749	45.0	16.6	23.5
2005	802	50.1	16.0	19.1
2006	717	49.1	14.6	36.8
2007	702	51.2	13.7	43.4
2008	762	50.3	15.1	48.6
2009	743	43.9	16.9	49.9
2010	791	53.7	14.7	51
2011	795	56.2	14.1	49.7
2012	738	40.3	18.2	45.4
2013	693	37.4	18.5	63.3
2014	679	37.3	18.1	67.9
2015	615	40.0	15.3	66.7
2016	636	36.0	17.6	100
2017	665	42.3	15.7	100
2018	640	37.9	16.8	99.8
2019	648	37.7	17.1	100
2020	627	36.3	17.2	99.8
2021	769	43.1	17.8	99.6
2022	758	36.0	21.0	99.6
2023	771	53.4	14.4	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,580 (36.8%)	$2,719 (63.3%)	$4,298
2020	$1,558 (24.9%)	$4,708 (75.1%)	$6,266
2021	$2,271 (34.7%)	$4,269 (65.3%)	$6,539
2022	$4,075 (49.9%)	$4,093 (50.1%)	$8,168

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Swenson Arts and Technology High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 586^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 534^th of 674 High schools	5.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Swenson Arts and Technology High School)	43.2	14.1	29.1%
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Swenson Arts and Technology High School)	19.9	23.9	4%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Swenson Arts and Technology High School)	42.1	56.7	14.6%
11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)	71.5	65.3	6.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	648	771	19%
African American	168	177	5.4%
American Indian	3	2	33.3%
Asian	29	62	113.8%
Hispanic	193	222	15%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	227	255	12.3%
Two or More Races	28	52	85.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2024)	Keystone Exams Biology (2024)	Keystone Exams Literature (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Swenson Arts and Technology High School	Public	9-12	2750 Red Lion Road	Philadelphia	19114	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-3140	771	53	14.4	100.0%	255 (33.1%)	177 (23.0%)	222 (28.8%)	62 (8.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	52 (6.7%)	21.8	552^nd of 686 public high schools	19.5%		25	534^th of 674 public high schools	20.8%	18	23.0	24.4	49.7	$8,168	$4,075	$4,093
Washington George High School	Public	9-12	10175 Bustleon Avenue	Philadelphia	19116	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-3100	1,707	111	15.3	100.0%	485 (28.4%)	505 (29.6%)	310 (18.2%)	286 (16.8%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	115 (6.7%)	16.8	571^st of 686 public high schools	16.8%		15.7	574^th of 674 public high schools	14.8%	3	20.4	20.5	45.2	$16,919	$8,468	$8,451
Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush	Public	9-12	11081 Knights Rd	Philadelphia	19154	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-3030	616	36	17.3	100.0%	289 (46.9%)	128 (20.8%)	119 (19.3%)	46 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	31 (5.0%)	76.1	152^nd of 686 public high schools	77.8%		70.7	198^th of 674 public high schools	70.6%	46	49.6	60.6	80.2	$16,696	$8,118	$8,578
Lower Moreland High School	Public	9-12	545 Red Lion Rd	Huntingdon Valley	19006	Montgomery County	Lower Moreland Township School District	No	No	No	No	(215) 938-0220	854	65	13.2	18.4%	616 (72.1%)	12 (1.4%)	25 (2.9%)	184 (21.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	13 (1.5%)	81.3	103^rd of 686 public high schools	85.0%		89	47^th of 674 public high schools	93.0%	56	65.7	76.6	66.5	$20,996	$210	$20,786
Lincoln High School	Public	9-12	3201 Ryan Ave	Philadelphia	19136	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-3309	2,207	146	15.1	99.9%	411 (18.6%)	697 (31.6%)	821 (37.2%)	171 (7.7%)	6 (0.3%)	5 (0.2%)	96 (4.3%)	10.2	599^th of 686 public high schools	12.7%		9.6	605^th of 674 public high schools	10.2%	6	14.4	18.7	35.1	$16,760	$8,895	$7,864
Northeast High School	Public	9-12	1601 Cottman Ave	Philadelphia	19111	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-3200	3,352	183	18.2	100.0%	467 (13.9%)	863 (25.7%)	1,020 (30.4%)	808 (24.1%)	9 (0.3%)	5 (0.1%)	180 (5.4%)	32.5	500^th of 686 public high schools	27.1%		39.7	458^th of 674 public high schools	32.0%	42	25.6	36.7	55.7	$16,006	$8,328	$7,678
Bensalem Township High School	Public	9-12	4319 Hulmeville Rd	Bensalem	19020	Bucks County	Bensalem Township School District	No	No	No	No	(215) 750-2800	2,120	130	16.3	55.7%	1,018 (48.0%)	292 (13.8%)	408 (19.2%)	339 (16.0%)	7 (0.3%)	3 (0.1%)	53 (2.5%)	43.9	440^th of 686 public high schools	35.9%		46.1	411^th of 674 public high schools	39.0%	29	34.3	46.8	55.6	$20,622	$1,335	$19,287
Fels Samuel High School	Public	9-12	5500 Langdon Street	Philadelphia	19111	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7100	1,053	72	14.7	100.0%	44 (4.2%)	474 (45.0%)	418 (39.7%)	71 (6.7%)	2 (0.2%)	6 (0.6%)	38 (3.6%)	3.8	654^th of 686 public high schools	4.7%		5.2	638^th of 674 public high schools	5.3%	16	6.3	6.7	23.0	$17,250	$9,036	$8,214
Neshaminy High School	Public	9-12	2001 Old Lincoln Hwy	Langhorne	19047	Bucks County	Neshaminy School District	No	No	No	No	(215) 809-6100	2,933	158	18.5	37.6%	2,214 (75.5%)	151 (5.1%)	255 (8.7%)	160 (5.5%)	4 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	148 (5.0%)	57.1	324^th of 686 public high schools	52.8%		61.6	277^th of 674 public high schools	58.9%	47	30.6	58.8	66.2	$17,074	$251	$16,823
Frankford High School	Public	9-12	5000 Oxford Ave	Philadelphia	19124	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7200	923	71	12.9	99.9%	46 (5.0%)	402 (43.6%)	428 (46.4%)	5 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	38 (4.1%)	2.7	667^th of 686 public high schools	2.8%		4.2	650^th of 674 public high schools	3.6%	17	3.0	6.0	15.0	$19,046	$9,567	$9,479

Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Swenson Arts and Technology High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Philadelphia City School District:

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Rank History for Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for all students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for Female students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for Disabled students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for Male students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for Asian students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for African American students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rank History for White students at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Swenson Arts and Technology High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Swenson Arts and Technology High School

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