Inquiry CS

1301 Belmont Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Charter School 272 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Inquiry Charter School (ICS), located in the West Philadelphia neighborhood of Belmont, is a public charter school serving students in grades K–4. As part of the Children’s Exploration Agency (CEA) network, the school is built upon the philosophy of "inquiry-based learning." This pedagogical approach prioritizes student curiosity, hands-on exploration, and project-based investigations, encouraging children to take an active role in their education rather than serving as passive recipients of information.

The school emphasizes a holistic development model that balances rigorous academic standards with social-emotional growth and community engagement. By fostering an environment where students ask meaningful questions and collaborate on real-world problems, Inquiry Charter School aims to cultivate critical thinking skills and a lifelong love of learning. Located in the 19104 zip code, the school acts as a local educational hub dedicated to preparing its young students for future academic success through a supportive and creative learning environment.

272

Total Students

18.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Inquiry CS
Demographic	Student Count
White	5
Hispanic	11
Black	231
Two or More	24
Pacific Islander	1

Black
231 (84.9%)
Two or More
24 (8.8%)
Hispanic
11 (4.0%)
White
5 (1.8%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Inquiry CS
Phone:	(215)823-5541
Website:	http://www.cea-philly.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	272
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	18.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 64

Grade 1 41

Grade 2 42

Grade 3 44

Grade 4 43

Grade 5 38