Penn Alexander School

Summary:

Penn Alexander School is a highly-rated public elementary school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that serves 579 students from kindergarten through 8th grade. This school stands out for its exceptional academic performance, diverse student population, and ability to serve a predominantly low-income student body.

Penn Alexander School consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Pennsylvania, with 85.3% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, 77.1% in math, and 89.1% in science - far exceeding the district and state averages. The school's diverse student population is 45.42% White, 13.13% African American, 4.66% Hispanic, 26.77% Asian, and 9.84% two or more races, which is more racially diverse than the surrounding schools. Notably, 100% of Penn Alexander students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school is still able to achieve exceptional academic results, demonstrating its ability to effectively serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

When compared to nearby schools in the Philadelphia City School District, Penn Alexander stands out. For example, in 2022-2023, Penn Alexander's math proficiency rate was 77.1%, compared to just 8.4% at Locke Alain School, 51.1% at Powel Samuel School, and 5% or less at other nearby schools. Penn Alexander's diverse student population and ability to overcome socioeconomic barriers to deliver exceptional educational outcomes make it a model for other schools in the district and beyond.


Detail:

Public K-8

 4209 Spruce St
       Philadelphia, PA  19104-4022


(215) 400-7760

District: Philadelphia City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
57th of 1,534 Pennsylvania Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,543 Help


Students who attend Penn Alexander School usually attend:

High:    West Philadelphia High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.8 Help
Number of students:  579

Racial breakdown:

White:
45.4%
Asian:
26.8%
African American:
13.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Penn Alexander School ranks better than 96.3% of elementary schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 3rd among 147 ranked elementary schools in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.17. (See more...)
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Compare Details Penn Alexander School ranks better than 98.7% of middle schools in Pennsylvania. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.25. (See more...)
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Penn Alexander School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (45.4%), Asian (26.8%), African American (13.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Penn Alexander School is 15.8. 128 elementary schools in the Philadelphia City School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Penn Alexander School employs 36.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Penn Alexander School is $16,543. 141 elementary schools in the Philadelphia City School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Penn Alexander School:

SchoolDigger ranks Penn Alexander School 57th of 1534 Pennsylvania public elementary schools. (See Penn Alexander School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Asian students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Penn Alexander School 12th of 893 Pennsylvania public middle schools. (See Penn Alexander School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Asian students:
African American students:
White students:


Philadelphia City School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Philadelphia City School District 494th of 606 Pennsylvania school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Penn Alexander School.

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Rank History for Penn Alexander School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 19.42 1093rd 1302 16.1%
2004 37.28 934th 1308 28.6%
2005 46.62 856th 1299 34.1%
2006 59.02 735th 1545 52.4%
2007 66.81 567th 1555 63.5%
2008 76.59 299th 1551 80.7%
2009 74.65 352nd 1549 77.3%
2010 74.40 368th 1579 76.7%
2011 75.14 335th 1597 79.0%
2012 79.59 222nd 1599 86.1%
2013 78.41 280th 1519 81.6%
2014 78.27 269th 1467 81.7%
2015 85.35 152nd 1474 89.7%
2016 89.07 71st 1554 95.4%
2017 89.65 57th 1547 96.3%
2018 88.62 84th 1530 94.5%
2019 85.60 151st 1544 90.2%
2021 88.54 107th 1433 92.5%
2022 89.48 106th 1534 93.1%
2023 92.17 57th 1534 96.3%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 88.64 70th 1414 95.0%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Asian students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 60.24 79th 160 50.6%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 94.21 15th 1236 98.8%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for Penn Alexander School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 66.34 261st 687 62.0%
2006 63.82 294th 736 60.1%
2007 73.60 174th 749 76.8%
2008 68.32 254th 753 66.3%
2009 68.75 242nd 770 68.6%
2010 72.34 215th 805 73.3%
2011 73.63 205th 825 75.2%
2012 87.45 26th 834 96.9%
2013 87.04 25th 758 96.7%
2014 81.09 92nd 728 87.4%
2015 94.99 15th 835 98.2%
2016 94.70 16th 870 98.2%
2017 95.35 10th 877 98.9%
2018 95.12 9th 861 99.0%
2019 95.48 10th 891 98.9%
2021 92.02 35th 797 95.6%
2022 97.17 9th 883 99.0%
2023 97.25 12th 893 98.7%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 96.01 14th 874 98.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Asian students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 73.91 37th 144 74.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 94.53 13th 421 96.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Penn Alexander School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 98.80 4th 681 99.4%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania Dept 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.

Penn Alexander School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 









Data source: Pennsylvania Dept of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, February 2, 2020

Open Quote EXCELLENT school! From the staff to the kids. I have 2 children here & it’s beyond anything I could ask for in a school. The staff is so attentive to the students. And they have a VERY low tolerance for violence & bad behavior. They nip it in the bud right away. And they encourage all the kids to do well & support them in that too. I’m very happy with this school & I honestly wouldn’t want my kids in any other elementary school in Philadelphia. I’d rather move out of town before I put my kids somewhere else! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Penn Alexander School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2002 43 129 38 13 0 n/a n/a 0 223
2003 43 129 38 13 0 n/a n/a 0 223
2004 76 253 43 19 1 n/a n/a 0 392
2005 105 284 65 29 1 n/a n/a 0 484
2006 115 310 65 33 1 n/a n/a 0 524
2007 142 288 70 31 0 n/a n/a 0 531
2008 155 264 76 25 1 n/a n/a 32 553
2009 162 258 74 29 3 n/a n/a 34 560
2010 173 238 81 33 7 n/a n/a 45 577
2011 188 237 101 48 6 0 46 0 626
2012 199 191 89 39 7 0 53 0 578
2013 216 167 88 48 6 0 56 0 581
2014 218 139 95 40 4 0 53 0 549
2015 221 136 103 38 3 2 61 0 564
2016 221 127 101 36 3 2 66 0 556
2017 224 120 116 36 3 2 65 0 566
2018 230 120 125 32 1 2 66 0 576
2019 248 115 119 26 0 2 66 0 576
2020 246 106 125 27 0 3 64 0 571
2021 244 97 141 25 0 3 66 0 576
2022 257 79 146 24 0 2 64 0 572
2023 263 76 155 27 0 1 57 0 579

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 Penn Alexander School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 223 15.0 14.9 91.9
2003 223 15.0 14.9 91.9
2004 392 23.5 16.7 0
2005 484 30.5 15.9 42.4
2006 524 35.5 14.8 0
2007 531 32.7 16.2 85.3
2008 553 36.0 15.4 30.5
2009 560 34.7 16.1 32.7
2010 577 34.7 16.6 101.5
2011 626 39.7 15.7 24.3
2012 578 36.4 15.8 95
2013 581 36.6 15.8 25
2014 549 33.0 16.6 27.3
2015 564 35.0 16.1 27.8
2016 556 35.0 15.8 100
2017 566 33.9 16.6 100
2018 576 32.3 17.8 100
2019 576 38.3 15.0 100
2020 571 38.3 14.9 100
2021 576 40.8 14.0 99.5
2022 572 39.3 14.5 99.5
2023 579 36.5 15.8 100

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 Penn Alexander School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 223 15.0 14.9 91.9
2003 223 15.0 14.9 91.9
2004 392 23.5 16.7 0
2005 484 30.5 15.9 42.4
2006 524 35.5 14.8 0
2007 531 32.7 16.2 85.3
2008 553 36.0 15.4 30.5
2009 560 34.7 16.1 32.7
2010 577 34.7 16.6 101.5
2011 626 39.7 15.7 24.3
2012 578 36.4 15.8 95
2013 581 36.6 15.8 25
2014 549 33.0 16.6 27.3
2015 564 35.0 16.1 27.8
2016 556 35.0 15.8 100
2017 566 33.9 16.6 100
2018 576 32.3 17.8 100
2019 576 38.3 15.0 100
2020 571 38.3 14.9 100
2021 576 40.8 14.0 99.5
2022 572 39.3 14.5 99.5
2023 579 36.5 15.8 100

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 Penn Alexander School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,764 (13.4%) $11,377 (86.6%) $13,141
2020 $1,659 (11.9%) $12,314 (88.1%) $13,973
2021 $3,514 (24.6%) $10,768 (75.4%) $14,282
2022 $7,544 (45.6%) $8,999 (54.4%) $16,542

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Penn Alexander 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 151st of 1544 Elementary schoolsRanks 57th of 1534 Elementary schools
 6.1%
Ranks 10th of 891 Middle schoolsRanks 12th of 893 Middle schools
 0.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (Penn Alexander School)77.382
 4.7%
   3rd Grade Math (Pennsylvania)5651.7
 4.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Penn Alexander School)84.683.3
 1.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)61.954
 7.9%
4th Grade Math (Penn Alexander School)57.180
 22.9%
   4th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)46.246.5
 0.3%
4th Grade Science (Penn Alexander School)9095.7
 5.7%
   4th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)77.874.1
 3.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Penn Alexander School)87.185.5
 1.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)63.651.8
 11.8%
5th Grade Math (Penn Alexander School)78.566.1
 12.4%
   5th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)4342.7
 0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Penn Alexander School)90.278
 12.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)58.553.6
 4.9%
6th Grade Math (Penn Alexander School)9290.5
 1.5%
   6th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)3936.4
 2.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Penn Alexander School)8892.6
 4.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)6355.6
 7.4%
7th Grade Math (Penn Alexander School)91.172.8
 18.3%
   7th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)38.233.2
 5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Penn Alexander School)82.293.2
 11%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.554.5
 6%
8th Grade Math (Penn Alexander School)71.868.6
 3.2%
   8th Grade Math (Pennsylvania)32.226
 6.2%
8th Grade Science (Penn Alexander School)89.880
 9.8%
   8th Grade Science (Pennsylvania)58.257
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Penn Alexander School)82.182.3
 0.2%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)57.952.8
 5.1%
All Grades Math (Penn Alexander School)76.777.1
 0.4%
   All Grades Math (Pennsylvania)42.439.3
 3.1%
All Grades Science (Penn Alexander School)89.989.1
 0.8%
   All Grades Science (Pennsylvania)6865.6
 2.4%
All Grades English Language Arts (Penn Alexander School)85.985.3
 0.6%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Pennsylvania)60.953.8
 7.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students576579
 0.5%
African American11576
 33.9%
American Indian00
Asian119155
 30.3%
Hispanic2627
 3.8%
Pacific Islander21
 50%
White248263
 6%
Two or More Races6657
 13.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near Penn Alexander School









Frequently Asked Questions about Penn Alexander School

In the 2022-23 school year, 579 students attended Penn Alexander School.

Students who attend Penn Alexander School usually go on to attend:

High : West Philadelphia High School

Students at Penn Alexander School are 45% White, 27% Asian, 13% African American, 10% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.

Yes! Penn Alexander School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 57th of 1534 Pennsylvania elementary schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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