The U School: Innovative Lab

Summary:

The U School: Innovative Lab is a public high school located in Philadelphia, PA, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 229 students. It is part of the Philadelphia City School District, which is ranked 494 out of 610 districts in Pennsylvania and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The U School consistently ranks in the bottom 10-15% of Pennsylvania high schools, with very low proficiency rates on the Keystone Exams compared to the district and state averages. For example, in 2023-2024, only 1.9% of 11th graders were proficient in Algebra I, compared to 25.7% for the district and 41.6% for the state. The school also has an extremely high percentage of students (over 98%) qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a very low socioeconomic status student population. Additionally, the school has had higher-than-average dropout rates and lower-than-average graduation rates in recent years.

When compared to nearby schools like High School of Engineering & Science, Bodine William W High School, and Technical Freire Charter School, The U School performs significantly worse academically, with much higher proficiency rates, graduation rates, and overall rankings at these other institutions. Despite the poor academic outcomes, The U School spends a relatively high amount per student, ranging from $15,818 to $21,952 per year over the past 4 years, suggesting the school may be struggling to translate its resources into improved student achievement.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2000 N 7th St
Philadelphia, PA 19122

(215) 400-7450

District: Philadelphia City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
608^th of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $21,952

Student/teacher ratio: 11.2

Number of students: 203

Racial breakdown:

African American:

75.9%

Hispanic:

17.7%

Two or more races:

3.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details The U School: Innovative Lab ranks worse than 88.6% of high schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 28^th among 54 ranked high schools in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.02. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at The U School: Innovative Lab 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 Racial makeup is: African American (75.9%), Hispanic (17.7%), two or more races (3.4%). (See more...)

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

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at The U School: Innovative Lab is 11.2, which is the 12^th best among 54 high schools in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)

Compare The U School: Innovative Lab employs 18.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at The U School: Innovative Lab is $21,952, which is the 9^th highest among 54 high schools in the Philadelphia City School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

The U School: Innovative Lab:

SchoolDigger ranks The U School: Innovative Lab 608^th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See The U School: Innovative Lab in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic 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:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for The U School: Innovative Lab.

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Rank History for The U School: Innovative Lab

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Rank History for all students at The U School: Innovative Lab

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2019	0.66	689^th	693	0.6%
2021	1.44	528^th	537	1.7%
2022	2.24	629^th	634	0.8%
2023	7.17	618^th	674	8.3%
2024	9.02	608^th	686	11.4%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at The U School: Innovative Lab

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	11.42	586^th	652	10.1%
2024	12.05	589^th	664	11.3%

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

Rank History for Female students at The U School: Innovative Lab

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	5.85	614^th	665	7.7%

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

Rank History for Disabled students at The U School: Innovative Lab

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	44.86	239^th	513	53.4%

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

Rank History for Male students at The U School: Innovative Lab

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	14.57	567^th	662	14.4%

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

Rank History for African American students at The U School: Innovative Lab

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	21.33	212^th	260	18.5%
2024	28.75	205^th	284	27.8%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at The U School: Innovative Lab

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	12.92	253^rd	274	7.7%

See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic 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:

by a parent
Thursday, October 1, 2020

This school expects a lot from students, and the staff really cares about students. I have seen my son really grow there! Close Quote

Enrollment information for The U School: Innovative Lab

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2015	1	82	1	13	0	1	98
2016	4	142	1	15	0	2	164
2017	11	212	3	34	0	5	265
2018	8	210	2	51	1	9	281
2019	7	188	1	47	2	8	253
2020	9	169	0	51	2	10	241
2021	6	208	1	58	0	9	282
2022	7	223	1	56	0	6	293
2023	7	174	1	41	0	6	229
2024	4	154	2	36	0	7	203

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 The U School: Innovative Lab

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	98	3.0	32.6	72.4
2016	164	4.0	41.0	100
2017	265	15.5	17.0	94.7
2018	281	12.1	23.0	100
2019	253	11.1	22.6	100
2020	241	10.6	22.5	100
2021	282	9.2	30.5	98.9
2022	293	11.6	25.0	99
2023	229	20.2	11.3	100
2024	203	18.1	11.2	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 The U School: Innovative Lab

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	98	3.0	32.6	72.4
2016	164	4.0	41.0	100
2017	265	15.5	17.0	94.7
2018	281	12.1	23.0	100
2019	253	11.1	22.6	100
2020	241	10.6	22.5	100
2021	282	9.2	30.5	98.9
2022	293	11.6	25.0	99
2023	229	20.2	11.3	100
2024	203	18.1	11.2	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 The U School: Innovative Lab

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,544 (9.2%)	$15,160 (90.8%)	$16,703
2020	$3,682 (19.9%)	$14,788 (80.1%)	$18,470
2021	$2,856 (18.1%)	$12,962 (81.9%)	$15,818
2022	$11,334 (51.6%)	$10,618 (48.4%)	$21,952

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on The U School: Innovative Lab

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 689^th of 693 High schools	Ranks 618^th of 674 High schools	7.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (The U School: Innovative Lab)	0	0
11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)	63.3	34.1	29.2%
11th Grade Biology (The U School: Innovative Lab)	0	3.4	3.4%
11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)	63.2	50.7	12.5%
11th Grade Literature (The U School: Innovative Lab)	16	39.4	23.4%
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	253	229	9.5%
African American	188	174	7.4%
American Indian	2	0	100%
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	47	41	12.8%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	7	7
Two or More Races	8	6	25%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near The U School: Innovative Lab

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)	PSSA Math (2024)				PSSA Science (2024)		PSSA English Language Arts (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	PSSA Math 6th Grade	PSSA Math 7th Grade	PSSA Math 8th Grade	PSSA Math All Grades	PSSA Science 8th Grade	PSSA Science All Grades	PSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 7th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSSA English Language Arts All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
The U School: Innovative Lab	Public	9-12	2000 N 7th St	Philadelphia	19122	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7450	203	18	11.2	100.0%	4 (2.0%)	154 (75.9%)	36 (17.7%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.4%)	9	608^th of 686 public high schools	11.4%		7.2	618^th of 674 public high schools	8.3%	10	1.9	16.3	41.2											$21,952	$11,334	$10,618
Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson	Public, Magnet	9-12	2118-2160 N 13th Street	Philadelphia	19122	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(215) 400-7420	316	23	13.7	100.3%	9 (2.8%)	201 (63.6%)	90 (28.5%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.8%)	5.9	631^st of 686 public high schools	8.0%		5.9	630^th of 674 public high schools	6.5%	1	1.6	7.4	36.7											$17,363	$9,005	$8,357
Technical Freire Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	2221 North Broad Street	Philadelphia	19132	Philadelphia County	Technical Freire Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(267) 507-1111	489	41	11.9	99.4%	1 (0.2%)	441 (90.2%)	27 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.7%)	17.1	570^th of 686 public high schools	16.9%		12.1	587^th of 674 public high schools	12.9%	17	15.6	22.9	47.7											$20,101	$4,478	$15,623
Kensington Creative & Performing Arts High School	Public	9-12	1901 N. Front St	Philadelphia	19122	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7400	499	39	12.9	100.0%	27 (5.4%)	170 (34.1%)	274 (54.9%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.8%)	5.9	630^th of 686 public high schools	8.2%		6.4	619^th of 674 public high schools	8.2%	11	1.1	1.2	38.6											$18,712	$10,101	$8,611
High School of Engineering & Science	Public, Magnet	7-12	1600 W Norris St	Philadelphia	19121	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(215) 400-7380	843	53	15.8	100.0%	73 (8.7%)	497 (59.0%)	101 (12.0%)	121 (14.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (5.8%)	78.4	125^th of 686 public high schools	81.8%		78.5	123^rd of 674 public high schools	81.8%	2	47.5	66.3	82.4		81.8	32.7	46.8	74.5	74.5		95.5	74.5	80.5	$16,165	$8,238	$7,927
YouthBuild Phila Charter School	Public, Charter	12	1231 N Broad St 5th floor	Philadelphia	19122	Philadelphia County	Youth Build Phila Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(215) 627-8671	256	12	21.3	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	202 (78.9%)	6 (2.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (18.4%)								(n/a)														$61,010	$20,813	$40,198
Kensington Health Sciences	Public	9-12	2463 Emerald St	Philadelphia	19125	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-3609	449	39	11.5	100.0%	33 (7.3%)	77 (17.1%)	320 (71.3%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	14.8	580^th of 686 public high schools	15.5%		8.4	611^th of 674 public high schools	9.3%	31	6.3	17.2	50.5											$18,177	$10,429	$7,748
Bodine William W High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	1101 N 4th St	Philadelphia	19123	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(215) 400-7630	464	30	15.4	100.0%	57 (12.3%)	185 (39.9%)	113 (24.4%)	74 (15.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (7.3%)	82.5	95^th of 686 public high schools	86.2%		48.9	389^th of 674 public high schools	42.3%	294	52.9	63.3	91.6											$16,694	$8,688	$8,006
Kensington High School	Public	9-12	2501 Coral St	Philadelphia	19125	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7700	460	43	10.6	100.2%	39 (8.5%)	143 (31.1%)	244 (53.0%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	25 (5.4%)	5.9	632^nd of 686 public high schools	7.9%		8.1	613^th of 674 public high schools	9.1%	19	7.7	13.0	29.9											$22,321	$11,883	$10,438
Penn Treaty School	Public	6-12	600 E Thompson St	Philadelphia	19125	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-3800	426	45	9.4	100.0%	98 (23.0%)	158 (37.1%)	140 (32.9%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.6%)	3.6	658^th of 686 public high schools	4.1%		4.9	644^th of 674 public high schools	4.5%	14	6.5	7.5	16.7	6.9	0.0	3.3	3.1	9.7	9.7	32.3	25.0	18.7	25.5	$22,939	$11,693	$11,247

Frequently Asked Questions about The U School: Innovative Lab

What is the racial makeup of The U School: Innovative Lab?

Students at The U School: Innovative Lab are 76% African American, 18% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% White.

How many students attend The U School: Innovative Lab?

In the 2023-24 school year, 203 students attended The U School: Innovative Lab.

Is The U School: Innovative Lab a good school?

The U School: Innovative Lab ranks in the bottom 11.4% of Pennsylvania high schools.

What district is The U School: Innovative Lab in?

Philadelphia City School District

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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.