The Philadelphia School vs. William Penn Charter School
Should you attend The Philadelphia School or William Penn Charter School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
Top Rankings
The Philadelphia School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for:
Category
Attribute
Student Body
William Penn Charter School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for:
Category
Attribute
Acceptance Rate
Student Body
Sports offered
School History
Overview
The Philadelphia School educates children for a future that is impossible to know but not impossible to shape.
Learn here. Go anywhere. The Philadelphia School`s progressive approach to learning and teaching has deep thinking, innovation, and agency as its guiding values.
We encourage children to explore and push the boundaries of possibility to fulfill their intellectual, social, and civic potential.
We approach learning through inquiry, projects, and community. Core values and new research inform the school`s program and pedagogical practices.
Our interdisciplinary, theme-based approach prepares students to build a stronger and more inclusive school, community, and society for today and tomorrow. As an urban, preschool8th grade school, we address specifically how young students develop intellectually, creatively, emotionally, socially, and physically.
Through our commitment to diversity, we seek to nurture each student`s moral compass, sense of personal integrity, and respect for individuality.
Learning in the city, country, and classroom affirms our founders` goal of educating children to become responsible and active stewards of the urban and natural environments.
William Penn Charter School, established in 1689 by William Penn, is the oldest Quaker School in the world.
Penn Charter has combined a rich heritage of Quaker values with academic rigor and excellence.
A college-preparatory day school educating boys and girls from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, the school is located on a 44-acre campus in the East Falls section of Philadelphia.
Penn Charter's philosophy is centered on the Quaker belief that there is "that of God in every person." Respect for others and appreciation for the unique values of each individual are woven into the very fabric of the institution.
We strive to be a richly diverse school community racially, religiously, economically, ethnically and socially.
To that end, the school offers a need-based financial aid program.
Beyond the fundamental goal of promoting academic achievement and intellectual distinction, Penn Charter offers abundant opportunities to discover and develop artistic and athletic abilities.
Grades Offered
PK-8
PK-12
Blue Ribbon School
No
No
Offers Post-Graduate Year
No
No
Learning Difference Programs
n/a
No
Year Founded
1972
1689
Students Body
Total Students
430 students
947 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
% Students of Color
26%
9%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Pre-K Students
36
31
Kindergarten Students
50
43
Grade 1 Students
54
55
Grade 2 Students
48
43
Grade 3 Students
50
44
Grade 4 Students
35
40
Grade 5 Students
44
41
Grade 6 Students
37
56
Grade 7 Students
24
70
Grade 8 Students
52
85
Grade 9 Students
-
121
Grade 10 Students
-
116
Grade 11 Students
-
92
Grade 12 Students
-
110
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
51 teachers
108 teachers
% Faculty with Advance Degree
72%
75%
Average Class Size
10
15
Number of AP Classes
n/a
14
Teacher : Student Ratio
1:8
1:9
Classroom Dress Code
n/a
Casual
(jeans or khaki pants, polo shirt)
(jeans or khaki pants, polo shirt)
Finances and Admission
Admission Deadline
Dec. 1
Dec. 14 / rolling
Tuition Notes
n/a
The tuition ranges from $23,500 for PreK to $38,650 for upper school.
% on Financial Aid
n/a
40%
Acceptance Rate
n/a
31%
Admissions Director
Alison Fritz, Director of Admissions Early Childhood
Karen Hallowell
Admissions Associate
Brian Johnson, Dir 1st - 7th
Jennifer Cubbin
Sports
Total Sports Offered
n/a
18
Sports
n/a