Enrollment
1,225
Pennsylvania · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Philadelphia, PA
Academy at Palumbo
Federal NCES profile for Academy at Palumbo, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 421899000962
👥 S:T ratio 6
📚 AP courses 85
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Academy at Palumbo earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools.
- #28 of 57
- high schools in Philadelphia · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 23.6:1
- large classes for Pennsylvania
- 99.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Academy at Palumbo has class sizes larger than 99% of Pennsylvania schools. Computed live against every Pennsylvania school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Academy at Palumbo ranks #28 of 57 high schools in Philadelphia, PA.
School address
District: Philadelphia City Sd · Pennsylvania
NCES ID 421899000962 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
52.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23.6:1
vs 13.6:1 Pennsylvania avg
+74% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.7%
vs 58.1% Pennsylvania avg
+72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Academy at Palumbo compares with Pennsylvania and U.S. medians
What stands out at Academy at Palumbo
Academy at Palumbo is a high-poverty, large high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, enrolling 1,225 students.
Class loads run heavy: 23.6:1 is larger than about 99% of Pennsylvania schools and 74% above the 13.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 99.7% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Pennsylvania, bigger than 94% of state schools at 1,225 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,889 scored Pennsylvania schools.
Against 140 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #44.
Its student body is led by Asian (34%) and African American (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 76/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 17 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 408 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
13.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 23.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Philadelphia's high schools, it stands alongside Northeast Hs (3,463 students): Academy at Palumbo is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (23.6:1 vs 18.9:1).
Philadelphia City Sd also operates Northeast Hs (3,463 students) and Lincoln Hs (2,472 students) alongside Academy at Palumbo.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Academy at Palumbo compares
Academy at Palumbo on the metrics families compare, against Pennsylvania and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.6:1 | ▲ 74% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.7% | ▲ 72% | 58.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,225 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.6:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,225
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.6:1
students per teacher
- 74% above state mean
Top 99% in Pennsylvania - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
13.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$17,892
per pupil, district-wide
- below Pennsylvania avg of $17,970
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 408 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Asian 33.6%
African American 25.0%
Hispanic or Latino 18.3%
White 17.4%
Two or More 5.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 33.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.8, Academy at Palumbo is more mixed than the Pennsylvania school average of 37.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Philadelphia City Sd, which includes Academy at Palumbo.
$17,892
Per student
0%
vs Pennsylvania
Avg $17,970
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.0%
State 39.7%
Federal 23.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Academy at Palumbo Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central Hs | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northeast Community Propel Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mayfair Sch | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Academy at Palumbo's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,463
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,472
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,329
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,783
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 1,763
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar high schools in Philadelphia
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Northeast Hs
Standard public school
3,463 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Lincoln Hs
Standard public school
2,472 students 17:1 students per teacher
Central Hs
Standard public school
2,329 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Washington George Hs
Standard public school
1,755 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Franklin Towne Chs
Standard public school
1,292 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Fels Samuel Hs
Standard public school
1,255 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Pennsylvania, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,225 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Academy at Palumbo's federal record.
- Compare Academy at Palumbo against another school. Compare schools
- Philadelphia City Sd's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Academy at Palumbo
How many students attend Academy at Palumbo?
Academy at Palumbo has 1,225 students enrolled. It is a high school in Philadelphia, PA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Academy at Palumbo?
The student-teacher ratio at Academy at Palumbo is 23.6:1, which is 74% higher than the Pennsylvania average of 13.6:1 and 50% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Academy at Palumbo?
99.7% of students at Academy at Palumbo are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 58.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Academy at Palumbo?
The largest demographic group at Academy at Palumbo is Asian at 33.6% of enrollment, in Philadelphia, PA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Academy at Palumbo?
Academy at Palumbo has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Academy at Palumbo rank among high schools in Philadelphia?
By Resource Investment Index, Academy at Palumbo ranks #28 of 57 high schools in Philadelphia, PA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Philadelphia on the city page.
Is Academy at Palumbo a good school?
Academy at Palumbo earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of Pennsylvania schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Pennsylvania schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Philadelphia City Sd?
Besides Academy at Palumbo, Philadelphia City Sd also operates Northeast Hs (3,463 students), Lincoln Hs (2,472 students), and Central Hs (2,329 students). See the Philadelphia City Sd district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.