Academy at Palumbo

Academy at Palumbo, a big 9-12 campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of Philadelphia City SD, educates 1,225 students, covering grades 9 through 12. Enrollment runs roughly 66% larger than the state mean of about 738.

Within Philadelphia City SD, which oversees 220 schools and 116,230 students, Academy at Palumbo is one campus in the system.

Looking at the student body, Academy at Palumbo shows that 34% of students identify as Asian, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Other groups include 25% Black, 18% Hispanic, 17% White, 5% multiracial. By comparison, Philadelphia County as a whole is about 8% Asian, so the school skews visibly more Asian than its surroundings.

On the income-and-resources front, Academy at Palumbo reports 35 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 35.1:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 12.8:1, putting Academy at Palumbo higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 97% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Academy at Palumbo ranks in the top 10% of Pennsylvania public schools. The BeatsExpectations model, a per-state regression of composite proficiency on FRL share, predicts schools with this student profile to land around 36.0%; Academy at Palumbo posts 80.2%, +44.1 points above that line.

Across the wider county, Philadelphia County reports that median household earnings sit near $61,953, 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 17% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Philadelphia County's 309 public schools (combined enrollment of about 182,005 students), Academy at Palumbo is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Creative and Performing Arts, around 0.2 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. On composite proficiency, Academy at Palumbo comes 1st of 9 in the immediate cluster, higher than the nearby-schools average of 50.8%.

The school occupies a downtown site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Academy at Palumbo has edged up 34%, going from 916 students in 2018 to 1,225 in 2025. Over the same period, the Black share decreased from 43% to 25%. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 42.8:1 in 2018 to 35.1:1 today.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.