Discovery CS

4700 Parkside
Philadelphia, PA 19131

Charter School 626 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Discovery Charter School, located at 4700 Parkside Avenue in Philadelphia, is a public charter school that serves students in grades K–8. Situated in the Parkside neighborhood, the school is known for its focus on providing a structured, supportive academic environment that emphasizes core subjects, critical thinking, and the development of well-rounded character. By operating as a charter institution, Discovery has the autonomy to implement its own unique pedagogical approaches while remaining tuition-free and open to students living within the School District of Philadelphia.

The school is deeply integrated into the local community and places a significant emphasis on parental involvement and community partnerships. Its educational philosophy often centers on "discovery-based" learning, encouraging students to explore their interests through hands-on activities, technology integration, and collaborative projects. With a commitment to academic excellence and emotional growth, Discovery Charter School aims to prepare its middle-school graduates for success in a wide variety of competitive high school programs throughout the city.

626

Total Students

36.0

Full-Time Teachers

17.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Discovery CS
Demographic	Student Count
White	2
Hispanic	5
Black	601
Asian	3
Two or More	14
American Indian	1

Black
601 (96.0%)
Two or More
14 (2.2%)
Hispanic
5 (0.8%)
Asian
3 (0.5%)
White
2 (0.3%)
American Indian
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Discovery CS
Phone:	(215)879-8182
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	626
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	36.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.4
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 60

Grade 1 77

Grade 2 53

Grade 3 71

Grade 4 74

Grade 5 72

Grade 6 73

Grade 7 78

Grade 8 68