Education in Philadelphia facts for kids

Education in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a long and interesting history. It all started when Benjamin Franklin helped create the University of Pennsylvania, which was America's very first university! Today, Philadelphia is a huge learning hub. Nearly 300,000 college students study here, and there are many private and religious schools. The city also has the 8th largest school district in the entire country.

Public Schools: School District of Philadelphia

Philadelphia's public schools are run by the School District of Philadelphia. This district manages 242 public schools across the city. These include 163 elementary schools, 23 middle schools, and 56 high schools.

A group called the Board of Education guides the school district. This board has nine members who are chosen by the Mayor of Philadelphia. The current Board of Education took over in 2018, replacing an earlier group called the School Reform Commission.

Besides the schools run directly by the district, Philadelphia also has 84 independently operated charter schools. These schools are also part of the public school system. Charter schools are approved by the School District of Philadelphia and must follow its rules.

Religious Schools

Philadelphia is home to the largest Catholic education system in the United States. There are hundreds of elementary schools connected to local churches. The city also has twelve Catholic high schools. These range from schools run by the Archdiocese to private Catholic high schools. All of these Catholic schools are connected to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Private Schools

Private schools in Philadelphia offer different types of education. Many of them have a long history in the city.

• Frankford Friends School is a Quaker school for students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
• French International School of Philadelphia is a French international school. It serves the Philadelphia area but is located nearby in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
• Friends Select School is another Quaker school, teaching students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Germantown Friends School is a Quaker school for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Girard College is a unique school for primary and secondary education. It was started in 1848 by Stephen Girard to help young people who were disadvantaged.
• Greene Street Friends School is a Quaker school for students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
• Holmesburg Christian Academy is a Christian school in Northeast Philadelphia. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade and opened in 1975.
• Philadelphia Free School is a Sudbury school for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
• Philadelphia Mennonite High School is a Mennonite high school located in the Fairmount neighborhood.
• Springside Chestnut Hill Academy teaches students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It is located in the Chestnut Hill part of the city.
• William Penn Charter School was founded by William Penn in 1689. It is the oldest Quaker school in the nation.

Friends Schools Athletic League

The Friends' Schools League (FSL) is a sports league for student athletes. It includes several private high schools in the Philadelphia area and in New Jersey. As the name suggests, most schools in the league are Quaker schools. However, some other schools have joined the league in recent years.

Member Schools

The schools that are part of the Friends Schools League include:

• Abington Friends School
• Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools
• Friends Central School
• Friends Select School
• George School
• Germantown Friends School
• Moorestown Friends School
• The Shipley School
• Westtown School
• Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy

Weekend Learning Programs

The Japanese Language School of Philadelphia (JLSP) offers extra classes on weekends. These classes are for Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans. The school holds its classes at the Friends Central School (FCS) in nearby Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

Colleges and Universities

Philadelphia is known as one of the biggest "college towns" in the U.S. More than 120,000 college and university students study within the city limits. If you include the surrounding metropolitan area, that number jumps to nearly 300,000 students!