Best Schools in Philadelphia | Philadelphia Moving Guide

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Have kids? One of the initial questions that come to mind when you think about moving to a different city is: what are the schools like? In a city that’s as large as Philadelphia, we understand that finding a top-rated school in a good community might feel a little overwhelming. Fortunately, Bellhop is glad to help you out!

If you’re considering relocating, we have a comprehensive guide that covers all you need to know to narrow down the best schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That means both public and private schools!

How do you find the best schools in Philadelphia?

Philly has a whopping 1,659 schools, with 1,342 private schools. With that many options to choose from, how do you shorten your list of potential schools for your kids?

One of the first things to do is decide between public or private school. For public schools, your kids could be limited on where they can go to school based on the area you live in. Private schools can give you more options, but there’s also tuition to consider.

Here are some more things to think about before committing to a school:

What’s the graduation rate?
Is the school highly rated in terms of academics?
What percentage of students are math and reading proficient?

To find out more about the best schools in Philadelphia, read on! We’ve got you covered.

How are public schools in Philadelphia?

All in all, Philadelphia schools are above average. In 2018, Philadelphia’s high-school graduation rate was 83.9%. That number went down to 75% for the 2021-2021 school year across the city and turned to 80% for the District schools. For alternative high schools in the area, the rate went down by about 10% between the 2029-2020 and 2020-2021 school years.

Pennsylvania’s last reported graduation rate was 88.7%, putting Philadelphia below the state average. As for the math and reading proficiency levels, they look different for every school. However, it’s always nice to have an average to go by, so we’ll share some numbers.

The Philadelphia City School District, in specific, is in the lower half of Pennsylvania public schools when it comes to test scores, but at the same time, sources show that it “has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in Pennsylvania.”

The math proficiency is 23%, and the reading proficiency is 37%. Pennsylvania ranks higher than this district in both math (45%) and reading proficiencies (62%). Of course, there are still plenty of schools throughout Philly that have even higher proficiency levels, as well as graduation rates. You’ll find some of the highest-rated and best public schools in Philadelphia in the suburbs.

Top-rated public schools in Philadelphia

These are some of the best public schools in Philadelphia, PA:

Best Elementary Schools in Philadelphia:

Best Middle Schools in Philadelphia:

Best High Schools in Philadelphia:

What private schools are in Philadelphia?

Philly has tons of private schools that promise a great education and quality school experience. Here are some of the best private schools in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs:

Germantown Friends School (#1 private high school in Philadelphia, serves grades PK and K-12)
The Episcopal Academy (#2 private high school in Philadelphia, serves grades PK and K-12)
The Baldwin School (#3 in best private high schools in Philadelphia, serves grades PK and K-12)
The Hill School (#4 private high school in Philadelphia, serves grades 9-12)
The Haverford School (#5 private high school in Philadelphia, serves grades PK and K-12)

If you’d like to expand your search a little more, below are some additional schools to look at:

A leafy residential street in the Philadelphia

What are suburban Philadelphia schools like?

We have two words for this: high quality! Going to school in the Philadelphia suburbs, your kids are sure to find friends, activities, and classes that they enjoy. Many of the suburbs are rated highly in teachers, academics, clubs, and safety.

There are generally fewer students per teacher in suburban schools and great college readiness programs that can help your kids prep for college in the years to come. One of the residents in Swarthmore, a Philadelphia suburb says, “Swarthmore offers a surfeit of of opportunities for young families. You have access to some of the highest quality public education in the area, you are a 30 minute train ride into the city of Philadelphia, and are footsteps away from the breathtaking campus of Swarthmore College.”

What suburbs have particularly good school systems?

Allow us to direct you to Devon, Chesterbrook, and Berwyn. All of these suburbs have top-rated schools and a family-friendly environment that you can’t help but love.

We’ll start with Devon. This small and friendly community, which has a population of 1,830 people, has been voted the third-best spot to raise kids in the state. When it comes to public schools, family friendliness, and housing, Devon gets an A all around.

Then, there’s Chesterbrook. Believe it or not, this city has been called the “#1 best place to live in America,” with great public schools, amenities, diversity, and more. Roughly 5,080 people call this Philadelphia suburb home.

As for Berwyn, it’s been called one of the top suburbs in Chester County time after time. Only 3,621 people live there. One resident says, “Berwyn is a very family friendly neighborhood full of opportunity and community. I have lived in Berwyn my whole life and I have always felt safe, loved, and supported by my neighbors. Our public schools are very good. Most students would agree that all the teacher truly want the best for all of their students.”

What are the best school districts in Philadelphia?

Below are some top-rated Philadelphia school districts:

Radnor Township School District

What is the best school district in the state of Pennsylvania? Radnor Township School District is your answer. It’s a highly rated school district in Philadelphia with 3,624 students between grades K-12, a 78% math proficiency, and 88% reading proficiency.

Lower Merion School District

When it comes to Montgomery County school districts, you won’t find better than Lower Merion. There are 8,603 students going to school between grades K-12. The math proficiency is 79%, and the reading proficiency is 88%.

Tredyffrin/Easttown School District

This is the second-best school district in the state of Pennsylvania. Approximately 6,957 students attend this school district between grades K-12. The math proficiency sits at 74%, with the reading proficiency at 88%.

Good luck with your school search

Now that you know what the best schools in Philadelphia are, we hope you feel more confident in your upcoming move (and your kids do, too!). Need some movers to help you relocate? Bellhop can help with that. We provide local moves in Philadelphia as well as and long-distance moving services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and we would love to assist you.

Book a move online today.

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Tyler Brown

Tyler has been with Bellhop since 2022. When not working on making moving experience awesome, Tyler enjoys biking through new cities all over the country, figuring out where his next meal is going to be, and fantasizing about where he might live next. He's currently in Richmond, Virginia.