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Schools in Fishtown

Which public school your child is assigned to depends on your exact address. Use the School District of Philadelphia's [school finder](https://philasd.explore.avela.org/) to find your designated neighborhood school. This page lists the public schools in and around Fishtown and points to the right places for everything else.

What to know in Fishtown

Find your school. Use the School District’s school finder or the City’s Find Your Designated Neighborhood School page to look up your address. Per the City: students who live inside a neighborhood school’s attendance boundary get priority admission to that school, and they don’t need to submit an application to attend it — you’ll just need to provide proof of residency at enrollment. Neither page lists an enrollment deadline. If you have questions, call the district or the specific school directly.

Public schools in and around Fishtown. These are public schools in and around Fishtown. Your address decides which one is your designated school, so check the school finder.

The district’s catchment tool shows Adaire feeding into Penn Treaty for high school; other feeder patterns depend on your specific address, so check the school finder rather than assuming.

A separate note worth knowing: in 2026 the school board approved a district-wide facilities plan that includes changes to Penn Treaty starting with the 2027-28 school year. The details of that transition are still developing — check with the district directly for the current status before counting on Penn Treaty’s long-term setup.

School calendar. The School District of Philadelphia posts the current school year’s calendar on its calendar page — check there rather than relying on a date printed here.

Other options.

  • Charter schools are public but apply separately — they aren’t assigned by address the way your neighborhood school is. See the district’s charter schools page.
  • Private and parochial schools are separate from the School District entirely, and each one has its own application process.
  • Pre-K. The City’s PHLpreK program offers free pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds at participating providers across Philadelphia.

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

Common questions

How do I find my child's public school?

Use the School District of Philadelphia's school finder — your address determines your designated neighborhood school, not the neighborhood name alone.

Do I need to apply to my neighborhood school?

No. Per the City, students living inside a school's attendance boundary get priority admission and don't need to submit an application — you'll just need to provide proof of residency at enrollment.

Can I just enroll my kid in the closest school?

Not necessarily — priority admission goes to students who live inside that specific school's attendance boundary, which isn't always simply "the closest one." Check the school finder for your address, and contact the school directly if you have questions.

Where do I find the school year's dates?

The School District of Philadelphia posts the current calendar on its site — see the link below.

What if I want a charter or private school instead?

Both are separate from your designated neighborhood school and have their own application processes — see "Other options" below.