Building 21

6501 Limekiln Pike
Philadelphia, PA 19138

388 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Building 21, located at 6501 Limekiln Pike in Philadelphia, is a distinctive public high school that operates on a model of competency-based education. Unlike traditional schools that rely on credit hours and seat time, Building 21 focuses on students mastering specific skills and concepts at their own pace. This personalized approach is designed to meet students where they are academically, allowing them to advance through their coursework once they have demonstrated a clear understanding of the material.

The school is known for its learner-centered culture, which emphasizes agency, community, and real-world application. By integrating project-based learning into its curriculum, Building 21 encourages students to connect their studies to their interests and future career goals. This environment is structured to support diverse learning styles and foster a supportive, collaborative community between educators and students, aiming to better prepare graduates for the complexities of college and the modern workforce.

388

Total Students

20.2

Full-Time Teachers

19.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Building 21
Demographic	Student Count
White	2
Hispanic	31
Black	340
Asian	4
Two or More	11

Black
340 (87.6 %)
Hispanic
31 (8.0 %)
Two or More
11 (2.8 %)
Asian
4 (1.0 %)
White
2 (0.5 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Philadelphia City SD
Phone:	(215)400-7450
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	388
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	20.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	19.2
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

Grade 9 113

Grade 10 109

Grade 11 94

Grade 12 72