Inquiry CS

Inquiry CS is one of the close-knit elementary schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, operated by Inquiry CS, with 272 students on its rolls from grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 443 students per school, that is 39% below typical.

Operationally, Inquiry CS answers to Inquiry CS, which sets policy, hires staff, and reports enrollment to the state.

On the student-mix side, Inquiry CS shows that nearly all students (85%) are Black. The remainder is composed of 9% multiracial, 4% Hispanic. That is considerably more Black than the county at large, where the share is closer to 39%.

Looking at school resources, On paper, Inquiry CS has 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 15.1:1. That figure is higher than the state norm's 13.1:1 average. Around 75% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Philadelphia County (around 95%), the school's rate is somewhat below typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Inquiry CS sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 45.6%; this one delivers 31.8%.

In the area at large, census data for Philadelphia County shows median household earnings sit near $61,953, roughly 35% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 17%. Across Philadelphia County's 309 public schools (combined enrollment of about 182,005 students), Inquiry CS is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Discovery CS, around 0.2 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Inquiry CS ranks 1st on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 16.9%.

The school occupies a metropolitan site. Inquiry CS is a charter school, which puts it inside the public-school system but outside the standard district-managed model.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count grew 31%: 207 students in 2018 compared to 272 in 2025. The Black share of enrollment ticked down from 94% to 85% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio widened from 12.9:1 in 2018 to 15.1:1 today.

On the community side, members of the Inquiry CS community share and discuss school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Members of the school community can share what they know.