Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

Summary:

Vaux HS: A Big Picture School is a public high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serving 270 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Philadelphia City School District, which is ranked 494 out of 606 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Vaux HS stands out for its significantly higher percentage of African American students (over 90%) compared to nearby schools, which have more diverse racial compositions. Academically, the school consistently ranks among the lowest-performing high schools in Pennsylvania, with proficiency rates well below state and district averages on Keystone Exams. Vaux HS also has a relatively low four-year graduation rate (around 80%) and a high dropout rate (up to 10%), which is concerning. Additionally, the school has an extremely high percentage of students (over 98%) eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

In contrast to Vaux HS, some nearby schools like Masterman Julia R Sec School and Science Leadership Academy consistently rank among the top high schools in Pennsylvania and have significantly higher proficiency rates on state assessments. While schools like Carver High School and Franklin LC also serve predominantly minority and economically disadvantaged populations, they tend to perform better academically and have higher graduation rates than Vaux HS. Addressing the unique challenges faced by Vaux HS will require targeted interventions and support systems to improve the academic and personal success of its students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2300 W Master St
Philadelphia, PA 19121

(267) 687-1172

District: Philadelphia City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
667^th of 674 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $22,407

Feeder schools for Vaux HS: A Big Picture School:

Elementary:	Blaine James G School
	Kelley William D School
	Meade Gen George C School
	Morris Robert School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.1

Number of students: 270

Racial breakdown:

African American:

91.9%

Hispanic:

4.1%

Two or more races:

3.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 98.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Vaux HS: A Big Picture School ranks worse than 99% of high schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 51^st among 54 ranked high schools in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 3.07. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Vaux HS: A Big Picture School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

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 (91.9%), Hispanic (4.1%), two or more races (3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 98.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Vaux HS: A Big Picture School is 13.1, which is the 20^th best among 54 high schools in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)

Compare Vaux HS: A Big Picture School employs 20.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Vaux HS: A Big Picture School is $22,407, which is the 6^th highest among 54 high schools in the Philadelphia City School District.

Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Vaux HS: A Big Picture School:

SchoolDigger ranks Vaux HS: A Big Picture School 667^th of 674 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Vaux HS: A Big Picture School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Disabled students:

African American students:

Philadelphia City School District:

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

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Rank History for Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

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Rank History for all students at Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile
2021	0.76	537^th	537	0.0%
2022	2.49	627^th	634	1.1%
2023	3.07	667^th	674	1.0%

See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Disabled students at Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	13.11	494^th	502	1.6%

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

Rank History for African American students at Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	PA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	9.29	257^th	260	1.2%

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

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Enrollment information for Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2019	3	196	0	6	0	5	210
2020	0	294	1	7	0	8	310
2021	0	340	0	6	0	7	353
2022	0	306	1	10	2	10	329
2023	1	248	0	11	2	8	270

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 Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	210	5.5	38.1	100
2020	310	9.0	34.3	100
2021	353	12.8	27.5	99.2
2022	329	14.3	22.8	99.1
2023	270	20.6	13.1	98.9

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 Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	210	5.5	38.1	100
2020	310	9.0	34.3	100
2021	353	12.8	27.5	99.2
2022	329	14.3	22.8	99.1
2023	270	20.6	13.1	98.9

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 Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,942 (16.1%)	$10,099 (83.9%)	$12,041
2020	$1,853 (15.2%)	$10,325 (84.8%)	$12,178
2021	$2,612 (13.8%)	$16,319 (86.2%)	$18,931
2022	$9,177 (41.0%)	$13,229 (59.0%)	$22,407

Data source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Vaux HS: A Big Picture 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.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	210	270	28.6%
African American	196	248	26.5%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	6	11	83.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	3	1	66.7%
Two or More Races	5	8	60%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	98.9%	1.1%

Schools Near Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				Keystone Exams Algebra I (2023)	Keystone Exams Biology (2023)	Keystone Exams Literature (2023)	PSSA Math (2023)					PSSA Science (2023)		PSSA English Language Arts (2023)					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 (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Keystone Exams Algebra I 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Biology 11th Grade	Keystone Exams Literature 11th Grade	PSSA Math 5th 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 5th Grade	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
Vaux HS: A Big Picture School	Public	9-12	2300 W Master St	Philadelphia	19121	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(267) 687-1172	270	21	13.1	98.9%	1 (0.4%)	248 (91.9%)	11 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.0%)	3.1	667^th of 674 public high schools	1.0%		2.5	627^th of 634 public high schools	1.1%	40	1.9	0.0	12.7													$22,407	$9,177	$13,229
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	897	52	17.3	100.0%	77 (8.6%)	521 (58.1%)	102 (11.4%)	138 (15.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	58 (6.5%)	78.5	123^rd of 674 public high schools	81.8%		80.1	108^th of 634 public high schools	83.0%	15	61.7	45.3	93.3			44.0	48.9	46.3	86.7	86.7			86.0	95.5	90.5	$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	219	11	19.9	100.0%	2 (0.9%)	196 (89.5%)	14 (6.4%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.3%)								(n/a)																$61,010	$20,813	$40,198
Franklin LC	Public, Magnet	9-12	616 N 15th St	Philadelphia	19130	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(215) 400-7570	881	53	16.5	99.7%	56 (6.4%)	436 (49.5%)	254 (28.8%)	97 (11.0%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	32 (3.6%)	53.6	351^st of 674 public high schools	47.9%		58.8	308^th of 634 public high schools	51.4%	43	30.6	40.4	73.3													$16,434	$8,650	$7,784
Masterman Julia R Sec School	Public, Magnet	5-12	1699 Spring Garden St	Philadelphia	19130	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	Yes	No	No	(215) 400-7580	1,186	54	22.0	100.0%	485 (40.9%)	213 (18.0%)	91 (7.7%)	293 (24.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	102 (8.6%)	98.7	2^nd of 674 public high schools	99.7%		95.2	3^rd of 634 public high schools	99.5%	1	100.0	98.3	100.0	76.2	71.9	91.9	87.0	81.9	98.9	98.9	82.5	92.4	99.4	100.0	94.0	$15,137	$7,658	$7,480
Science Leadership Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	1482 Green St	Philadelphia	19130	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(215) 979-5620	497	27	18.2	100.0%	186 (37.4%)	146 (29.4%)	80 (16.1%)	54 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (6.0%)	93.1	22^nd of 674 public high schools	96.7%		79.9	112^th of 634 public high schools	82.3%	90	69.4	69.4	96.7													$16,357	$8,617	$7,740
Franklin Benjamin High School	Public	9-12	550 N Broad St	Philadelphia	19130	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7600	466	43	10.9	100.0%	10 (2.1%)	328 (70.4%)	93 (20.0%)	16 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.1%)	4.3	648^th of 674 public high schools	3.9%		2.9	621^st of 634 public high schools	2.1%	27	3.9	9.2	12.2													$20,117	$10,634	$9,483
Strawberry Mansion High School	Public	9-12	3133 Ridge Ave	Philadelphia	19132	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(215) 400-7500	203	20	10.0	100.0%	1 (0.5%)	190 (93.6%)	8 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	3.3	663^rd of 674 public high schools	1.6%		3.4	614^th of 634 public high schools	3.2%	49	0.0	5.3	19.0													$26,365	$12,983	$13,382
Parkway Center City Middle College	Public, Magnet	9-12	540 N 13th Street	Philadelphia	19123	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia City School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(215) 400-7620	436	19	22.5	100.0%	10 (2.3%)	305 (70.0%)	66 (15.1%)	31 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (5.3%)	65.4	253^rd of 674 public high schools	62.5%		80.7	106^th of 634 public high schools	83.3%	147	44.0	34.9	90.6													$21,009	$8,697	$12,312
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	461	41	11.2		2 (0.4%)	410 (88.9%)	28 (6.1%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.5%)	12.1	587^th of 674 public high schools	12.9%		8.9	574^th of 634 public high schools	9.5%	13	7.2	14.1	44.0													$20,101	$4,478	$15,623

Frequently Asked Questions about Vaux HS: A Big Picture School

How many students attend Vaux HS: A Big Picture School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 270 students attended Vaux HS: A Big Picture School.

What schools feed into Vaux HS: A Big Picture School?

Vaux HS: A Big Picture School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Blaine James G School
Elementary : Kelley William D School
Elementary : Meade Gen George C School
Elementary : Morris Robert School

What is the racial makeup of Vaux HS: A Big Picture School?

Students at Vaux HS: A Big Picture School are 92% African American, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Vaux HS: A Big Picture School in?

Philadelphia City School District

Is Vaux HS: A Big Picture School a good school?

Vaux HS: A Big Picture School ranks in the bottom 1.0% of Pennsylvania high schools.

Rate Vaux HS: A Big Picture School!

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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.