Middle Years Alternative: Top Middle School in Philadelphia (2026 List)

About Middle Years Alternative

Middle Years Alternative School is located at 4725 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19139, and serves grades 5 through 8. It is a public middle school in the School District of Philadelphia with a smaller campus setting. Enrollment is about 155 students, which can help the school feel more personal and connected. The student-teacher ratio is roughly 12:1, giving students regular access to classroom support. Reported gender enrollment is 55% female and 45% male. Recent state results show about 12% math proficiency and 42% reading proficiency, with steady work centered on academic growth and skill building. Students engage in daily core classes, electives, support programs, and school activities that foster confidence, participation, and constructive routines. After eighth grade, families often explore local, magnet, charter, and citywide high school options in Philadelphia. Proximate residences generally begin at around $170,000, while larger or renovated properties may surpass $420,000, depending on the location. It remains part of the larger group of schools that parents compare when searching for the top middle schools in Pennsylvania.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 12%

Reading 42%

State average proficiency is 12% in Math and 42% in Reading.

13

Full-time Teachers

12 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

1

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

155

Total Students

$76537

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 0.65%

Asian 3.23%

Hispanic 13.55%

Black 80%

Two+ Races 2.58%

Native Am. 0%

White

0.65%

Asian

3.23%

Hispanic

13.55%

Black

80%

Two+ Races

2.58%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 155

54.84%

85 Female

45.16%

70 Male

Student Population

155 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 12 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

155 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Middle Years Alternative Contact Information

Address

4725 Fairmont Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19139

View on Map

Phone

(215) 400-7720

Call Now

Website

mya.philasd.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:15 AM - 3:19 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:00 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Middle Years Alternative has received the Elevate 215 “Beat the Odds” Planning Grant. The award was presented to only three district schools and MYA was one of them. It is a grant for schools with diverse, high-poverty student populations that have demonstrated significant growth and accelerated student progress for multiple years. The school is being recognized for its significant contributions to district improvement and equity initiatives.

FAQ

Q1. How does Middle Years Alternative approach learning?

Ans. Middle Years Alternative is built around the middle grades, with academics, student supports, and extracurricular opportunities.

Q2. Which details should parents compare first?

Ans. Useful areas include school profile data, attendance rules, transportation options, communication systems, and available programs.

Q3. What student support is available here?

Ans. Families can ask about counseling, academic help, special education services, multilingual learner support, and wellness resources.

Q4. What can students do outside regular classes?

Ans. Students can take part in clubs, arts programs, sports teams, enrichment activities, leadership roles, and tutoring support.

Q5. What makes this school different?

Ans. Its model focuses specifically on middle-grade students rather than a larger combined campus structure.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say