by Lisa Haver
In recent months, promoters of school choice lobbied Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to expand the state’s voucher program to include the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program (PASS) which would divert an additional $100 million from public school districts to private schools. Already established voucher programs in the state include the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit and the Education Improvement Tax Credit.
Shapiro, after intense pressure from public school advocates, reversed his position and signed the state’s $45.5 billion budget without the voucher provision.
School choice proponents claim that public school students are “trapped” in failing schools, trying in vain to find an alternative. A recent Sunday Inquirer editorial, written by wealthy suburban backers of more privatization of the city’s schools, painted public schools as “cages” from which children could not escape. The only solution, they claim, is to take funding for public schools and give it to individuals to use as tuition to attend private schools. Their version of school choice does not acknowledge that the choice is not the families’ but the schools’–who can reject any applicant without explanation and can discriminate against students on the basis of sexual identity. Most voucher money would go to students already attending religious and exclusive private schools. Education policy expert Josh Cowen writes that a decade of research indicates that vouchers actually lower academic achievement.
What those lobbying for more voucher programs can’t explain is why more families don’t leave the district schools, which they paint with a broad brush as “failing”, and attend any of the district’s 83 charter schools. They refer to the elusive “charter waiting list” of 25, 000 students (inexplicably down from their previous list of 40,000) without producing the list or offering proof of any kind of its existence. The truth is that there is no charter waiting list for the simple reason that most of the city’s charter schools are under-enrolled.
Current data shows that 58 of the district’s 83 charter schools–67%–are under their authorized enrollment. Fifteen charter schools are between 20% and 40% under-enrolled. Two schools are below 50% of their authorized enrollment. Families living in any part of the city could choose from among the 65 charters with citywide admission. Renaissance schools are nominally neighborhood schools, but many have a large percentage from outside their official catchment areas.
Obviously, Philadelphia’s schoolchildren are not trapped in district schools. Parents have fought to stop the hostile takeover of their schools by charter companies, and many continue to choose district public schools over charters. In addition, the low percentage of in-catchment enrollment at Renaissance charters shows that parents will travel farther rather than attend a charter they find to be substandard.
Philadelphia’s schools need more funding, not less. Diverting money to private and religious schools means fewer educational opportunities for Philadelphia’s children.
Note: All data cited in this report can be found on the School District of Philadelphia website. Current enrollment figures are from the 2022-23 school year (except where noted). Schools with enrollment lower than authorized are designated “under”; percentages are given for those more than 5% under-enrolled.
Ad Prima
2 separate K-8 schools operating as one school: k-8 at 1922 N. 63rd St. 19151, Overbrook;
K-8 at 8030 Thouron Ave., 19150, Cedarbrook
Enrollment: 605, Authorized 700
School is 14% under authorized enrollment
Alliance for Progress
1722 Cecil B Moore Avenue, 19121, North Philadelphia
Middle School, grades 6-8
Enrollment: Current 567, Authorized 571
School is under authorized enrollment
Antonio Pantoja
4101 N. American St., 19140, Hunting Park
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 699, Authorized 700
School is under authorized enrollment
Belmont Charter
3 locations: Grade K, 907 N. 41st St., 19104, Powelton;
Grades 1-8, 4030 Brown St., 19104, Powelton;
High School, 1301 Belmont Ave., 19104, Powelton
Enrollment: Current 948, Authorized 1280
School is 36% under authorized enrollment
Bluford (Renaissance charter, former Universal Bluford)
5720 Media St., 19131, Wynnewood
Grades K-6
Enrollment: Current (2021-21 SY) 477, Authorized 571
School is 17% under authorized enrollment
25% of students live outside of catchment area
Boys’ Latin
Grades 6-8, 344 N. Felton St., 19139, West Philadelphia;
Grades 9-12, 5501 Cedar Ave., 19143, Kingsessing
Enrollment: Current 777, Authorized 800
School is under authorized enrollment
Christopher Columbus
916 Christian St., 19147, South Philadelphia
Grades K-4
Enrollment: Current 883, Authorized 900
School is under authorized enrollment
Community Academy of Philadelphia
1100 E. Erie Avenue, 19124, Juniata Park
Grades K-12
Enrollment: Current 1235, Authorized 1320
School is 7% under authorized enrollment
Deep Roots
Grades K-5
3556 Frankford Ave., 19134, Port Richmond
Enrollment: Current 285, Authorized 540
School is 53% under authorized enrollment
Esperanza
3 locations: Grades 1-4, 3150 N. Mascher St., 19140, Hunting Park;
Grades 6-8, 4261 N. 5th St., 19140; grades 9-12, 301 W. Hunting Park Ave., 19140
Enrollment: Current 1631, Authorized 2235
School is 17% under authorized enrollment
Eugenio Maria de Hostos
6301 N. 2nd Street, 19120, Olney
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 510, Authorized 440
School is over authorized enrollment
First Philadelphia Preparatory
4300 Tacony St., 19134, Tacony
Grades K-12
Enrollment: Current 1863, Authorized 1880
School is under authorized enrollment
Folk Arts Cultural Treasures (FACTS)
1023 Callowhill St., 19123, Chinatown
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 487, Authorized 847
School is 43% under authorized enrollment
Franklin Towne Elementary
4529 Richmond St., 19137, Bridesburg
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 959, Authorized 955
School is over authorized enrollment
Franklin Towne High School
5301 Tacony St., 19137, Tacony
Enrollment: Current 1295, Authorized 1300
School is over authorized enrollment
Frederick Douglass (Mastery Renaissance charter)
2118 W. Norris St., 19121, No. Philadelphia
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 584, Authorized 775
School is 25% under authorized enrollment
53% of students live outside of catchment area
Friere
2 locations: Grades 5-18, 1026 Market Street, 19107, Center City;
High School, 2027 Chestnut St., 19103, Rittenhouse Square
Enrollment: Current 947, Authorized 1000
School is under authorized enrollment
General David Birney (Renaissance charter)
900 W. Lindley Ave., 19141, Logan
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 947, Authorized 1000
School is 5% under authorized enrollment
55% of students live outside of catchment area
Global Leadership Academy
4601 Girard Ave., 19131, West Philadelphia
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 641, Authorized 675
School is 5% under authorized enrollment
Huey (GLA Renaissance charter)
5200 Pine Street, 19143, Cobbs Creek
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 581, Authorized 600
School is under authorized enrollment
57% of students live outside of catchment area
Green Woods
468 Domino Lane, 19128, Roxborough
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 665, Authorized 675
School is under authorized enrollment
Harambee
640 N. 66th Street, 19151, Overbrook Park
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 594, Authorized 525
School is over authorized enrollment
Hardy Williams (Mastery)
5400 Warrington Street, 19143, Kingsessing
Grades K-12
Enrollment: Current 1194, Authorized 1170
School is over authorized enrollment
H R Edmunds (Performing Arts Renaissance charter)
1197 Haworth Street, 19124, Northwood
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 996, Authorized 1015
School is under authorized enrollment
26% of students live outside of catchment area
Imhotep
6201 N. 21st Street, 19138, Ogontz
High School
Enrollment: Current 595, Authorized 575
School is over authorized enrollment
Independence
1600 Lombard St., 19146, Rittenhouse Square
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 784, Authorized 825
School is 5% under authorized enrollment
Independence West
5600 Chester Ave., 19143, Kingsessing
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 838, Authorized 900
School is 7% under authorized enrollment
Inquiry
1301 Belmont Ave., 19104, Powelton
Grades K-5
Enrollment: Current 268, Authorized 303
School is 12% under authorized enrollment
Jacquelyn Y. Kelley Discovery
4700 Parkside Avenue, 19131
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 631, Authorized 620
School is over authorized enrollment
Keystone Academy
4521 Longshore Avenue, 19135, Tacony
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 688, Authorized 891
School is 30% under authorized enrollment
KIPP DuBois
5070 Parkside Ave., 19131, Parkside
High school
Enrollment: Current 501, Authorized 520
School is under authorized enrollment
KIPP North Philadelphia
2539 N. 16th Street, 19132, North Philadelphia
Grades K-4
Enrollment: Current 599, Authorized 860
School is 30% under authorized enrollment
KIPP Philadelphia
2409 W. Westmoreland St., 19129, Allegheny
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 827, Authorized 860
School is under authorized enrollment
KIPP West Philadelphia
5070 Parkside Avenue, 19131, Parkside
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 797, Authorized 860
School is 7% under authorized enrollment
Laboratory
2 locations: Grades K-5, 926 Sedgley St., 19140, Hunting Park;
Grades 6-8, 3300 Henry Avenue, 19129, East Falls
Enrollment: (2021-22 SY) Current 686, Authorized 1075
School is 36% under authorized enrollment
Mariana Bracetti
1840 Torresdale Ave., 19124, East Frankford
Grades K-12
Enrollment: Current 1559, Authorized 1500
School is over authorized enrollment
Maritime
2 locations: Grades K-8, 2275 Bridge Street, 19137, Bridesburg;
Grades 9-12, 2700 E. Huntingdon Street, 19125, Port Richmond
Enrollment: Current 837, Authorized 820
School is over authorized enrollment
MaST I
1800 Byberry Road, 19116 Somerton
Grades K-12
Enrollment: Current 1477, Authorized 1400
School is over authorized enrollment
MaST II
2 locations: Grades K-2, 6238 Rising Sun Ave., 19111, Lawncrest;
Grades 3-12, 6501 State Road, 19135, Tacony
Enrollment: Current 1780, Authorized 1800
School is under authorized enrollment
MaST III
1 Crown Way, 19154, Somerton
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 1220, Authorized 1200
School is over authorized enrollment
Mastery Prep
1801 W. Pike St., 19140, Tioga
Grades K-5
Enrollment: Current 544, Authorized 588
School is 7% under authorized enrollment
Cleveland (Mastery Renaissance charter)
3701 N. 19th Street, 19140, Tioga
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 705, Authorized 745
School is under authorized enrollment
43% of students live outside of catchment area
Clymer (Mastery Renaissance charter)
1201 W. Rush Street, 19133, North Philadelphia
Grades K-6
Enrollment: Current 451, Authorized 609
School is 26% under authorized enrollment
58% of students live outside of catchment area
Harrity (Mastery Renaissance charter)
5601 Christian Street, 19143, Cobbs Creek
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 812, Authorized 850
School is 9% under authorized enrollment
40% of students live outside of catchment
Lenfest (Mastery)
35 S. 4th Street, 19106, Center City
Grades 7-12
Enrollment: Current 608, Authorized 600
School is over authorized enrollment
Mann (Mastery Renaissance charter)
5376 Berks St., 19131, Wynnefield
Grades K-6
Enrollment: Current 534, Authorized 555
School is under authorized enrollment
26% of students live outside of catchment area
Pastorius (Mastery Renaissance charter)
5650 Sprague Street, 19144, East Germantown
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 658, Authorized 650
School is over authorized enrollment
29% of students live outside of catchment area
Pickett (Mastery)
5700 Wayne Avenue, 19144, Germantown
Grades 6-12
Enrollment: Current 930, Authorized 890
School is over authorized enrollment
Simon Gratz (Mastery Renaissance charter)
1798 W. Hunting Park Avenue, Tioga
Grades 7-12
Enrollment: Current 1162, Authorized 1766
School is 34% under authorized enrollment
77% of students live outside of catchment area
Shoemaker (Mastery)
5301 Media Avenue, 19131, Wynnefield
Grades 7-12
Enrollment: Current 776, Authorized 760
School is over authorized enrollment
Smedley (Mastery Renaissance charter)
1790 Bridge Street, 19124, Frankford
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 768, Authorized 755
School is over authorized enrollment
38% of students live outside of catchment area
Thomas (Mastery charter)
2 locations: Grades K-6, 814 Bigler St., 19148;
Grades 7-12, 927 Johnston St., 19148, South Philadelphia
Enrollment: Current 1264, Authorized 1300
School is under authorized enrollment
Wister (Mastery Renaissance charter)
67 E. Bringhurst St., 19144, Germantown
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 515, Authorized 516
School is at authorized enrollment
40% of students live outside of catchment area
Mathematics, Science, Civics
447 N. Broad Street, 19123, Spring Garden
Grades 1-12
Enrollment: Current 908, Authorized 1160
School is 22% under authorized enrollment
Memphis Street/J P Jones (Renaissance charter)
2950 Memphis St., 19134, Kensington
Grades K-5
Enrollment: (2021) Current 563, Authorized 880
School is 36% under authorized enrollment
4% of students live outside of catchment area
Multicultural Academy
3821 N. Broad Street, 19140, Tioga
High school
Enrollment: Current 255, Authorized 275
School is 7% under authorized enrollment
Pan American
2830 N. American St., 19133, Fairhill
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 749, Authorized 750
School is at authorized enrollment
People for People
800 N. Broad St., 19130, Francisville
Grades K-8, 12 (phasing out high school)
Enrollment: Current 538, Authorized 540
School is at authorized enrollment
Philadelphia Academy
2 locations: K-8 at 11000 Roosevelt Boulevard, 19116;
9-12 at 1700 Tomlinson Road, 19116, Somerton
Enrollment: Current 1100, Authorized 1124
School is under authorized enrollment
Philadelphia Electrical and Technology
1709 B F Parkway, 19103, Center City
High school
Enrollment: Current 617, Authorized 600
School is over authorized enrollment
Philadelphia Hebrew
3300 Henry Avenue, 19129, East Falls
Grades K-4
Enrollment: Current 419, Authorized 468
School is 10% under authorized enrollment
Philadelphia Montessori
2227 Island Avenue., 19142, Southwest Philadelphia
Grades K-4
Enrollment: Current 239, Authorized 250
School is under authorized enrollment
Philadelphia Performing Arts
3 locations: Grades K-1, 2407 S. Broad St., 19148 South Philadelphia;
Grades 2-5, 2600 S.Broad St., 19145, South Philadelphia; Grades 6-12, 1600 Vine St., 19102, Center City
Enrollment: Current 2753, Authorized 2525
School is over authorized enrollment
Preparatory Charter of Mathematics, Science, Technology
1928 Point Breeze Avenue, 19145, Point Breeze
High School
Enrollment: Current 574, Authorized 600
School is 5% under authorized enrollment
Richard Allen
2601 S. 58th St., 19143, SW Philadelphia
Grades 5-8
Enrollment: Current 399, Authorized 500
School is 20% under authorized enrollment
Russell Byers
1911 Arch Street, 19103, Center City
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 715, Authorized 725
School is under authorized enrollment
Sankofa Freedom Academy
2501 Kensington Avenue, 19125, Kensington
Grades K-12
Enrollment: Current 663, Authorized 650
School is over authorized enrollment
Southwest Leadership Academy
2 locations: Grades K-2, 6901 Woodland Avenue, 19142;
Grades 3-8, 7101 Paschall Avenue, 19142, SW Philadelphia
Enrollment: Current 621, Authorized 1032
School is 40% under authorized enrollment
Tacony Academy
2 locations: Grades K-8, 1330 Rhawn Street, 19111, Fox Chase;
Grades 9-12, 6201 Keystone Street, 19135, Wissinoming
Enrollment: Current 1093, Authorized 1075
School is over authorized enrollment
TECH Friere
2221 N. Broad St., 19132, North Philadelphia
High School
Enrollment: Current 464, Authorized 580
School is 8% under authorized enrollment
Universal Institute
2 locations: K-4, 801 South 15th Street, 19146; 1415 Catherine St., 19146 (5-8), South Philadelphia
Enrollment: Current 631, Authorized 705
School is 10% under authorized enrollment
Alcorn (Universal Renaissance charter)
3200 Dickinson Street, 19146, Point Breeze
Grades K-8
Enrollment: Current 466, Authorized 620
School is 25% under authorized enrollment
*46 % of students live outside of catchment area
Audenried (Universal Renaissance charter)
3301 Dickinson Street, 19145, Grays Ferry
High School
Enrollment: Current 547, Authorized 705
School is 22% under authorized enrollment
76% of students live outside of catchment area
Creighton (Universal Renaissance charter)
5401 Tabor Road, 19120, Lawncrest
K-8
Enrollment: Current 718, Authorized 835
School is 16% under authorized enrollment
23% of students live outside of catchment area
Vare (Universal Renaissance charter)
2100S. 54th Street, 19145, South Philadelphia
Enrollment: Current 173, Authorized 425
School is 60% under authorized enrollment
39% of students live outside of catchment area
Young Scholars
900 N. Marshall St., 19123, Northern Liberties
Grades 6-8
Enrollment: Current 266, Authorized 300
School is 11% under authorized enrollment
Youth Build
1231 N. Broad Street, 19122, Yorktown
Grade 12
Enrollment: Current 218, Authorized 400
School is 46% under authorized enrollment
Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools 