The Paul Laurence Dunbar School is an historic, American school building that is located in the Templetown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, it is a middle school in the School District of Philadelphia.
Serving 229 students in grades Prekindergarten-8, Dunbar Paul L School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Pennsylvania for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is ≤5% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 38%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 15-19% (which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 55%).
The student:teacher ratio of 9:1 is lower than the Pennsylvania state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 96% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Pennsylvania state average of 39% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: Prekindergarten-8
- Enrollment: 229 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 9:1
- Minority Enrollment: 96%
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50% in PA
- Math Proficiency: ≤5% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 15-19% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 11-19% (Btm 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Dunbar Paul L School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:
Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Community Size
Student Attention
School Overview
Dunbar Paul L School's student population of 229 students has declined by 13% over five school years.
The teacher population of 26 teachers has grown by 18% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-8
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
229 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
26 teachers
School Rankings
Dunbar Paul L School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 2,733 schools in Pennsylvania (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Dunbar Paul L School is 0.26, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.59. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#2650 out of 2733 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤5%
38%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
15-19%
55%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
11-19%
57%
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
13:1
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
2%
5%
Hispanic
7%
15%
Black
86%
14%
White
4%
61%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
1%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
Eligible for Free Lunch
100%
60%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch (08-09)
7%
7%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), PA Dept. of Education
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dunbar Paul L School's ranking?
Dunbar Paul L School is ranked #2650 out of 2,733 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Pennsylvania.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
≤5% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 38% PA state average), while 15-19% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 55% PA state average).
How many students attend Dunbar Paul L School?
229 students attend Dunbar Paul L School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
86% of Dunbar Paul L School students are Black, 7% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are White, 2% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Dunbar Paul L School?
Dunbar Paul L School has a student ration of 9:1, which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of 13:1.
What grades does Dunbar Paul L School offer ?
Dunbar Paul L School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-8 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Dunbar Paul L School part of?
Dunbar Paul L School is part of Philadelphia City School District.
In what neighborhood is Dunbar Paul L School located?
Dunbar Paul L School is located in the North Philadelphia neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. There are 106 other public schools located in North Philadelphia.
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