Public School Review - Established 2003

West Philadelphia High School vs. Central High School

Should you attend West Philadelphia High School or Central High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
West Philadelphia High School
4901 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19139
: 
2/
10
Bottom 50%
Central High School
1700 W Olney Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19141
: 
10/
10
Top 1%
Top Rankings

West Philadelphia High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 1%)

Central High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 1%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 1%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 1%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 5%)
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 1%)
Overview
Serving 543 students in grades 9-12, West Philadelphia High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is ≤20% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 36%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 15-19% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 55%).
The student:teacher ratio of 13:1 is equal to the Pennsylvania state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 38% (majority Black).
Serving 2,364 students in grades 9-12, Central High School ranks in the top 1% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 1%, and reading proficiency is top 1%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 96% (which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 36%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is ≥99% (which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 55%).
The student:teacher ratio of 20:1 is higher than the Pennsylvania state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Asian), which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 38% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Blue Ribbon Schools
-
Yes
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
543 students
2,364 students
This chart displays total students of West Philadelphia High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Central High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
60% | 40%
44% | 56%
This chart displays gender of West Philadelphia High School
This chart displays gender of Central High School
Total Classroom Teachers
42 teachers
116 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of West Philadelphia High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Central High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
20:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of West Philadelphia High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Central High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#2395 out of 2733 schools in PA
(Bottom 50%)
#1 out of 2733 schools in PA
(Top 1%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of West Philadelphia High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Central High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
≤20%
(Bottom 50% in PA)
96%
(Top 1% in PA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
15-19%
(Bottom 50% in PA)
≥99%
(Top 1% in PA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
10-14%
(Bottom 50% in PA)
≥80%
(Top 30% in PA)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Central High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
65-69%
(Bottom 50% in PA)
≥99%
(Top 1% in PA)
This chart displays graduation rate of West Philadelphia High School and public school graduation rate of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Central High School and public school graduation rate of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of West Philadelphia High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Central High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
164
618
Grade 10 Students
166
592
Grade 11 Students
89
577
Grade 12 Students
124
577

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
36%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Central High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
3%
10%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Central High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
90%
22%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Central High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
1%
28%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of White public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Central High School and the percentage of White public school students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Central High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.19
0.74
This chart displays the diversity score of West Philadelphia High School and the public school average diversity score of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Central High School and the public school average diversity score of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
100%
100%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Central High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
8%
(08-09 School Year Data)
5%
(14-15 School Year Data)
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in West Philadelphia High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2008-09 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Central High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
 
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