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Schools in Northern Liberties

Northern Liberties is split among several public school catchments, so the school you are assigned depends on your address. The School District of Philadelphia's school finder gives the answer for any address. Below are the schools whose catchments cover most of the neighborhood, based on the District's published catchment maps.

What to know in Northern Liberties

  • Elementary and middle school, by catchment. Based on the District’s 2024-25 catchment maps, about half of Northern Liberties is in the General Philip Kearny School catchment, a little over a quarter is in Alexander Adaire School’s, and about a fifth is in James R. Ludlow School’s. A small part falls in General George A. McCall School’s catchment. Kearny, Adaire, and Ludlow each serve PreK through 8th grade, according to the District’s school list.
  • High school, by catchment. Based on the same maps, about half of the neighborhood is in the Benjamin Franklin High School catchment and about half is in Penn Treaty’s.
  • General Philip Kearny School, PreK-8, 601 Fairmount Ave, 215-400-7590, kearny.philasd.org
  • Alexander Adaire School, PreK-8, 1300 E Palmer St, 215-400-7480, adaire.philasd.org
  • James R. Ludlow School, PreK-8, 550 W Master St, 215-400-7430, ludlow.philasd.org
  • Benjamin Franklin High School, 9-12, 550 N Broad St, 215-400-7600, bfhs.philasd.org
  • Penn Treaty School, 6-12, 600 E Thompson St, 215-400-3800, penntreaty.philasd.org
  • Calendar and dates. The District posts its school calendar online, so check it for current dates rather than relying on a copied date. School District calendar
  • Charter, private, and pre-K options. Charter schools admit by application, not by catchment. Charter schools The City’s PHLpreK program helps families find free pre-K. PHLpreK

Your neighborhood association. Northern Liberties is served by Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, a good place to connect with other neighborhood parents and ask what they know about local schools.

Common questions

Which public school will my child attend in Northern Liberties?

It depends on your address. Use the School District of Philadelphia's school finder at philasd.explore.avela.org to look up your designated school. Catchments can change, so check again each year.

Do I have to apply to my neighborhood school?

Living inside a school's catchment gives you priority admission to it without a separate application, but you will need proof of residency when you enroll.

Is Penn Treaty closing?

The School Board approved the District's facilities plan 6 to 3 on April 30, 2026, and the plan lists Penn Treaty among the schools to close, with closures beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The District says the Board will make further decisions later, so check the District's plan page for the latest: philasd.org/fpp.