School district or education agency · NCES 4200855

Universal Vare CS

Philadelphia, PA

District overview See comparisons

Students150

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools1

operational schools · 2023–24

Students150

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$24,687

per student

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictPAUnited States

Academic standing2019

17th percentile53rd percentile49th percentile

This district is 36 percentile points lower than the state figure and 32 percentile points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23

22.7%23.3%27.8%

This district is 0.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 5.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023

$26,107$24,823$19,509

This district is $1,284 per student higher than the state figure and $6,598 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023

$24,687$18,240$15,859

This district is $6,447 per student higher than the state figure and $8,828 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023

$0$1,977$1,964

This district is $1,977 per student lower than the state figure and $1,964 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023

$0$513$336

This district is $513 per student lower than the state figure and $336 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023

$1,760$3,520$1,793

This district is $1,760 per student lower than the state figure and $33 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023

$13,713$8,815$8,742

This district is $4,898 per student higher than the state figure and $4,971 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023

$6,113$5,632$3,769

This district is $481 per student higher than the state figure and $2,344 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023

$3,520$15,642$11,715

This district is $12,122 per student lower than the state figure and $8,195 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023

$1,107$1,342$869

This district is $235 per student lower than the state figure and $238 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24

25:113:115:1

This district is 12.0 students per teacher higher than the state figure and 10.0 students per teacher higher than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24

100.0151.6138.9

This district is 51.6 staff per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 38.9 staff per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24

0.019.518.5

This district is 19.5 aides per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 18.5 aides per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24

0.01.00.9

This district is 1.0 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 0.9 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools

5.5%5.4%12.0%

This district is 0.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 6.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools

6.0%18.2%14.0%

This district is 12.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 8.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools

66.7%97.8%95.8%

This district is 31.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 29.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24

-31.2%+0.9%+0.5%

This district is 32.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 31.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records

98.6%47.9%50.6%

This district is 50.7 percentage points higher than the state figure and 48.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment

0.0%8.8%9.0%

This district is 8.8 percentage points lower than the state figure and 9.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Kindergarten–grade 527 students

18.0%

Grades 6–8123 students

82.0%

See enrollment for every grade

Grade 527

Grade 624

Grade 757

Grade 842

Students by race and ethnicity

Black or African American101 (67.3%)

Asian24 (16.0%)

Hispanic/Latino17 (11.3%)

Two or more races7 (4.7%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander1 (0.7%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

15All district staff, full-time equivalent

6Teachers, full-time equivalent

1School administrators, full-time equivalent

See detailed staffing

Elementary teachers1 FTE

Secondary teachers4 FTE

Ungraded teachers1 FTE

District administrators1 FTE

School administrative support2 FTE

Other support staff5 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

5.5%Students learning English12 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District5.5%

PA5.4%

U.S.12.0%

6.0%Students receiving IDEA special-education services13 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District6.0%

PA18.2%

U.S.14.0%

5.5%English learners also receiving IDEA services12 students · 1 of 1 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District5.5%

PA0.7%

U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

66.7%Teachers reported as certified

Teacher certification comparison

District66.7%

PA97.8%

United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

District geography · 2024–25

What area does this district cover?

NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.

Loading the official district boundary…

Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.

Comparable districts

Districts serving a similar student population

These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in PA receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.

Austin Area SDAustin, PA154 studentsSimilar enrollment, English-learner enrollment, special-education enrollment · View profile →HOPE for Hyndman CSHyndman, PA138 studentsSimilar enrollment, special-education enrollment · View profile →Premier Arts and Science CSHarrisburg, PA163 studentsSimilar enrollment, English-learner enrollment, special-education enrollment · View profile →Capital Area School for the Arts CSHarrisburg, PA168 studentsSimilar enrollment, special-education enrollment · View profile →New Day CSHuntingdon, PA158 studentsSimilar enrollment, special-education enrollment · View profile →

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

1Middle schools

1City setting

1Charter schools

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

40.8%Federal

1%State

58.2%Local

Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$24,687Total current spending per student

$13,340Instruction per student

$11,347Support services per student

Revenue by source: percentages and dollars

$1.6MFederal revenue40.8% of total revenue

$39KState revenue1% of total revenue

$2.3MLocal revenue58.2% of total revenue

How operating money was used

$13,340Instructionper student

$11,347Student and instructional supportper student

$1,760Special educationper student

$3,013Building operations and maintenanceper student

$80Student transportationper student

$0Food servicesper student

$860Technologyper student

People costs

$2.1MSalaries$13,713 per student

$917KEmployee benefits$6,113 per student

Equipment, buildings and debt

$0EquipmentFY 2023

$0Capital outlay$0 per student

$0Constructionincluded in capital outlay

$528KDebt outstanding at year end$3,520 per student

$0New debt issuedFY 2023

$166KDebt principal retiredFY 2023

$20KInterest paid on debtFY 2023

Selected federal program revenue

$260KTitle I$1,733 per student

$123KChild nutrition$820 per student

What changed since FY 2022

Operating spending per student

FY 2022$21,835

FY 2023$24,687

Capital spending per student

FY 2022$670

FY 2023$0

Debt outstanding per student

FY 2022$0

FY 2023$3,520

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–2132%

65 of 203 students

2021–2237.6%

82 of 218 students

2022–2322.7%

34 of 150 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

0Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE1 reporting schools

0Security staff FTE1 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Gifted programs1 reporting schools

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

0Out-of-school suspensions1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0In-school suspensions1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Law-enforcement referrals1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0School-related arrests1 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

100%Schools reporting Wi-Fi1 reporting schools

100%Schools reporting fiber1 reporting schools

1Student devices reported1 reporting schools

0Weapon-possession reports1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Threats involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Threats without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Attacks involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Attacks without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Firearm incidents1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies without a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies involving a weapon1 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Homicide incidents1 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Six questions parents ask

What the available data says

Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.

Are students making academic progress?1 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2019Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?22.7% chronically absent2022–23 · 150 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?No comparable trendCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?No comparable group resultSuppressed or unavailableExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$24,687current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?No counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →

Data status

7 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →