Freire Schools has a 20-year record of success in closing the achievement gap and preparing historically underserved students for college. Many students arrive at Freire Schools below grade level in math and reading; our rigorous academic program and comprehensive supports enable them to catch up and thrive. Every day, Freire Schools is making an impact on Philadelphia and Wilmington’s youth.
- Freire Schools began with just 100 students at Freire High School. Today, we serve 2,000 students across our four campuses.
- Since its founding, Freire Schools has brought life-changing learning opportunities to over 5,300 students.
- 2018-19 was the first year that Freire Schools had graduating classes at all three of our high schools, with over 200 students graduating network-wide.
Prepared for College
- Across the network, 93% of our Class of 2019 Freire Schools graduates were accepted to college.
- On average, 77% of Freire Schools graduates seamlessly enroll in college the fall after high school graduation, compared to the national average of 68%. Other students have enlisted in the armed services or entered the workforce directly.
- Freire Schools is successful in connecting students to the financial resources they need to be able to persist at the college of their choice. The Class of 2019 received over $14 million in college scholarships and financial aid, an average of more than $69,000 per graduate.
- Our students succeed upon enrollment in college. On average, 86% of college-enrolled Freire graduates persist to their second year of college—compared to the national average of just 74%1.
- Our college graduation rate far exceeds the national average: Freire High School’s college completion rate within six years after high school graduation averages 37% over the past three years, compared to a national average of just 25% for low-income students from high minority, public non-charter schools.
- Freire High School students have exceeded the School District of Philadelphia’s performance on the Keystone exams measuring proficiency in Literature and Algebra every year since 2013-14.
- In 2017-18, Freire Middle School was the second highest performing general admission Philadelphia public school in ELA (English Language Arts) and Math and the 4th highest in Science in Philadelphia (this excludes schools with achievement-related admissions criteria).
- Based on 2017-18 test results, Freire Middle School had the highest growth score in Math across Pennsylvania.
- Even with the highest percentage of low-income students of any high school in Delaware, Freire Wilmington beats trends for SAT proficiency compared to all high schools in New Castle County. In Freire Wilmington’s first year receiving a rating for SAT results (2017-18), our students’ proficiency rate in ELA exceeded the state average.
- Since its opening, Freire Wilmington has helped students achieve considerable academic growth, annually outpacing the state and most area schools despite being a young school.
- In 2017-18, Keystone exam results placed TECH Freire ahead of the School District of Philadelphia average in Literature and Algebra proficiency in just its second year of operation.
A Comprehensive Education
- All four Freire Schools campuses receive competitive 21st Century Community Learning Center grants, which allow them to operate high-interest and academically enriching after-school and summer programs during the hours when youth are most vulnerable. In 2018, students had the chance to participate in 52,614 hours of extended-day programs and 88 after-school programs.
- All campuses provide Emotional Supports programs that address social and emotional barriers to learning. In 2018, Freire Schools students participated in over 5,000 hours of family therapy at no cost to them.
Awards & Recognition
- In 2018, Freire Schools network founder Kelly Davenport was honored by City and State PA’s Above & Beyond Awards.
- Freire High School received U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Bronze Medal in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017.
- TECH Freire was of only five schools, out of 39 total applications, approved to open a new Philadelphia charter school in 2016.
- Freire Charter School was designated a Pennsylvania Distinguished Title 1 School in 2015.
- Freire Charter School was featured in Philadelphia Magazine’s 2014 article, “Four Philadelphia Schools that Work”.
- Freire Charter School was recognized by Auditor General Eugene DePasquale as “a charter school doing things right” following a clean performance audit in 2014.
- Freire Charter School received the US Department of Education EPIC Silver Award for Student Achievement in 2011.
- In 2010, Freire Charter School became the first charter school in Pennsylvania to receive the National Title I Distinguished School award.