operational schools · 2023–24
School district or education agency · NCES 4218990
Philadelphia City School District
Philadelphia, PA
Students117,907
Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.
students in linked records
federal comparable series
per student
Profile coverage
8 of 8 core data areas available
Each area is matched to this district’s NCES ID. Dates show the reporting year. Source links and coverage were last checked August 26, 2026.
✓Academic results2024Current release✓Attendance2022–23Current release✓Spending2022–23Current release✓Enrollment & staffing2023–24Current release✓Student support2021–22Older federal release✓Safety & civil rights2021–22Older federal release✓Community context2023Current release✓Programs & opportunities2021–22Older federal release
Five things to know
The district at a glance
Every answer links to the underlying measure. Reporting years stay attached to the data.
01Comparable nationwide
Explore outcomes by student group →Are students making academic progress?
3 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2024Explore →02Comparable nationwideAre students missing too much school?
37.2% chronically absent2022–23 · 113,173 students measuredExplore →03Comparable nationwideIs the district improving?
Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore →04Comparable nationwideHow much does the district spend?
$18,329current spending per studentExplore →05Comparable nationwideDoes the district have enough support staff?
288:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore →Student outcomes
How are students doing?
Four views answer different questions. State test percentages show grade-level expectations; the national research trend shows change over time; graduation and dropout measures describe high-school outcomes.
Are results improving over time?
21stlatest estimated national standing
201920222024
4 percentile points lower than 2019.
How many high-school students left during the year?
5.0%of students enrolled in grades 9–12
District5.0%
PA2.1%
U.S.2.6%
Lower is better. This annual rate is not the opposite of the graduation rate because the measures use different students and time periods.
State proficiency standards differ and should not be used for cross-state rankings. Graduation ranges and privacy protections are preserved exactly. The academic trend uses Stanford Education Data Archive estimates and is not a state proficiency percentage.
Graduation · 2022–23
How many students graduated within four years?
Loading the district's official graduation record…
What has changed?
The district’s recent direction
Each card uses its own clearly labeled period. Measures from different sources are never blended.
Lower than the first comparable year.
2019–2024 · Stanford research estimateHigher than the first year. More students were chronically absent.
2020–21–2022–23Student enrollment grew.
2021–22 to 2023–24 · NCESSpending per student increased before adjusting for inflation.
FY 2022 to FY 2023 · NCES F-33Enrollment 2023–24Finance 2022–23Attendance 2022–23State tests 2024–25 where published
Enrollment · 2023–24
Who attends this district?
Pre-K1,911 students
1.6%Kindergarten–grade 552,131 students
44.2%Grades 6–825,132 students
21.3%Grades 9–1238,733 students
32.9%See enrollment for every grade
Pre-Kindergarten1,911
Kindergarten8,128
Grade 18,747
Grade 29,083
Grade 38,513
Grade 48,883
Grade 58,777
Grade 68,360
Grade 78,309
Grade 88,463
Grade 99,918
Grade 1010,383
Grade 119,078
Grade 129,354
Students by race and ethnicity
Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.
Early learning · 2023–24
How much public pre-K is reported?
Pre-K students as a share of district enrollment
Final NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2023–24. Enrollment shows children attending district-run public pre-K. It does not show open seats, waitlists, private providers, program hours, eligibility or the cost to families.
Current staffing · 2023–24
How many staff members support students?
See detailed staffing
Elementary teachers4,596.7 FTE
Secondary teachers2,649.5 FTE
Ungraded teachers1,393.5 FTE
Instructional coordinators6 FTE
District administrators7 FTE
District administrative support1,024 FTE
School administrative support266 FTE
Library and media support16 FTE
Other support staff4,801 FTE
Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.
High-school outcomes · 2023–24
How many students completed school or dropped out?
Regular diplomas among completers
Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12
Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.
Teachers and staff
Teacher workforce
Loading the district’s workforce comparison…
Community context · 2024
How many school-age children live in poverty?
This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.
U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.
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.
Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School DistrictHouston, TX
- Students
- 118,470
- Community poverty
- 16.5%
- English learners
- 15.6%
- Special education
- 10.2%
- Students
- 110,057
- Community poverty
- 34.9%
- English learners
- 19.0%
- Special education
- 9.5%
- Students
- 111,041
- Community poverty
- 17.0%
- English learners
- 9.8%
- Special education
- 14.0%
- Students
- 110,275
- Community poverty
- 10.3%
- English learners
- 9.0%
- Special education
- 13.8%
- Students
- 127,971
- Community poverty
- 13.1%
- English learners
- 6.3%
- Special education
- 15.4%
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 standing2024Needs attention
21st percentile50th percentile44th percentileThis district is 29 percentile points lower than the state figure and 23 percentile points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students chronically absent2022–23Needs attention
37.2%23.3%27.8%This district is 13.9 percentage points higher than the state figure and 9.4 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Revenue per studentFY 2023Context only
$38,314$24,823$19,509This district is $13,491 per student higher than the state figure and $18,805 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Spending per studentFY 2023Context only
$18,329$18,240$15,859This district is $89 per student higher than the state figure and $2,470 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Capital outlay per studentFY 2023Context only
$2,451$1,977$1,964This district is $474 per student higher than the state figure and $487 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Equipment spending per studentFY 2023Context only
$137$513$336This district is $376 per student lower than the state figure and $199 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Special-education spending per studentFY 2023Context only
$363$3,520$1,793This district is $3,157 per student lower than the state figure and $1,430 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Salaries per studentFY 2023Context only
$8,499$8,815$8,742This district is $316 per student lower than the state figure and $243 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Benefits per studentFY 2023Context only
$5,770$5,632$3,769This district is $138 per student higher than the state figure and $2,001 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023Context only
$26,533$15,642$11,715This district is $10,891 per student higher than the state figure and $14,818 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Debt retired per studentFY 2023Context only
$1,771$1,342$869This district is $429 per student higher than the state figure and $902 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Students per teacher2023–24Mixed comparison
14:113:115:1This district is 1.0 students per teacher higher than the state figure and 1.0 students per teacher lower than the U.S. figure.
Students per counselor2023–24Stronger than benchmarks
288:1319:1376:1This district is 31 students per counselor lower than the state figure and 88 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.
District staff per 1,000 students2023–24Stronger than benchmarks
166.4151.6138.9This district is 14.8 staff per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 27.5 staff per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.
Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24Stronger than benchmarks
23.619.518.5This district is 4.1 aides per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 5.1 aides per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.
School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24Stronger than benchmarks
1.21.00.9This district is 0.2 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 0.3 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.
Regular diplomas among completers2023–24Stronger than benchmarks
100.0%100.0%99.0%This district is about the same as the state figure and 1.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24Needs attention
5.0%2.1%2.6%This district is 2.9 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.4 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Pre-K students as a share of enrollment2023–24Context only
1.6%0.6%2.9%This district is 1.0 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.3 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only
15.5%5.4%12.0%This district is 10.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 3.5 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only
16.0%18.2%14.0%This district is 2.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 2.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only
0.8%3.2%3.9%This district is 2.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schoolsContext only
91.6%97.8%95.8%This district is 6.2 percentage points lower than the state figure and 4.2 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24Context only
+4.0%+0.9%+0.5%This district is 3.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 3.5 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollmentNeeds attention
5.2%4.2%4.5%This district is 1.0 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.7 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollmentNeeds attention
11.2%8.8%9.0%This district is 2.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollmentNeeds attention
9.4%4.0%6.7%This district is 5.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.7 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students enrolled in district distance education2021–22 · matched enrollmentContext only
1.1%7.5%5.1%This district is 6.4 percentage points lower than the state figure and 4.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimateNeeds attention
28.4%14.3%14.4%This district is 14.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 14.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
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.
15.5%Students learning English17,318 students · 208 of 222 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
16.0%Students receiving IDEA special-education services18,412 students · 222 of 222 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
0.8%Students with Section 504 plans717 students · 156 of 222 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
1.6%English learners also receiving IDEA services1,802 students · 222 of 222 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
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?
Teacher certification comparison
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 makeup
What kinds of schools are in the district?
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.
Uses of funds
Where the money goes
Annual spending for each enrolled student.
Revenue by source: percentages and dollars
How operating money was used
People costs
Equipment, buildings and debt
Selected federal program revenue
What changed since FY 2022
FY 2022$17,892
→FY 2023$18,329+2.4% year over year
FY 2022$2,341
→FY 2023$2,451+4.7% year over year
FY 2022$27,941
→FY 2023$26,533-5.0% year over year
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?
33,588 of 119,451 students
45,101 of 112,409 students
42,097 of 113,173 students
Specialized support and security · 2021–22
What specialized roles were reported?
Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.
Learning opportunities
What do district schools offer?
Algebra I56 reporting schools
95%
Calculus56 reporting schools
38%
Biology56 reporting schools
100%
Chemistry56 reporting schools
95%
Physics56 reporting schools
75%
Computer science56 reporting schools
20%
Advanced Placement56 reporting schools
59%
Dual enrollment56 reporting schools
43%
Gifted programs218 reporting schools
44%
International Baccalaureate56 reporting schools
11%
Athletics55 reporting schools
82%
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?
7,287Out-of-school suspensions218 reporting schoolsSee schools →775In-school suspensions218 reporting schoolsSee schools →3,743Law-enforcement referrals218 reporting schoolsSee schools →184School-related arrests218 reporting schoolsSee schools →7Physical restraint3 reporting schoolsSee schools →15Mechanical restraint5 reporting schoolsSee schools →41Seclusion8 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?
Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.
Leadership, board & accountability
District priorities & progress
See what district leaders say they are trying to improve and where they publish progress.
District priorities 2023–2028
- Improve safety and student well-being
- Partner with families and communities
- Accelerate academic achievement
- Recruit and retain strong educators
- Deliver efficient, high-quality operations
Official measurable goals
What has the district promised to achieve?
Targets are quoted or closely paraphrased from district documents. “Progress reported” does not mean SchoolReality has judged the goal on track.
Reading in grades 3–8Official target
Starting point34.0% proficient in 2023
Target by 203065.0% proficient
Third-grade readingOfficial target
Starting point31.0% proficient in 2023
Target by 203062.0% proficient
Math in grades 3–8Official target
Starting point20.7% proficient in 2023
Target by 203052.0% proficient
High-school AlgebraOfficial target
Starting point14.1% proficient in 2023
Target by 203036.8% proficient
Career and technical credentialsOfficial target
Starting point49.1% of CTE students passed an industry assessment in 2023
Target by 203080.0% pass an industry assessment
SchoolReality only labels a goal on track or missed when an official numeric target and a comparable reported result are both available. A priority statement alone is not scored. Official pages last checked August 26, 2026.
8 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 →