Neighborhood public schools are part of the School District of Philadelphia. If you register your child for a neighborhood school, he will be assigned to a school based on your residence. Each neighborhood school keeps records of school assignments based on residence. A child becomes eligible to enroll in a neighborhood school in South Philadelphia upon moving to South Philadelphia or when a child who lives in South Philadelphia becomes eligible to register for kindergarten. The Delaplaine McDaniel, George W Childs, William M Meredith and Francis Scott Key Schools are neighborhood public schools in South Philadelphia.
Charter schools in South Philadelphia are founded by non-government organizations and receive funding and authorization through the School District of Philadelphia to operate a school. However, charter schools are not subject to all of the requirements that other public schools are subject to. Many charter schools have smaller class sizes, and demand for those spaces may exceed capacity. The enrollment process may involve a lottery. Charter schools in South Philadelphia include the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, which has a special focus on the creative and performing arts, the Universal Institute Charter School, which focuses on developing character and civic responsibility, the Christopher Columbus Charter School and a branch of the Mastery Charter Schools.
South Philadelphia has traditionally been home to several Catholic schools, thriving in the large Italian-American and Irish-American segments of South Philadelphia. Joining them are several Protestant schools and a Moorish Science Temple school. Catholic schools in South Philadelphia include the St. Monica School, St. Richard School and Sts. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School. Non-Catholic private schools in South Philadelphia include School of Moorish Science Temple and Calvary Temple Christian Academy.
Magnet schools in South Philadelphia are public schools that attract students from other neighborhoods. These schools may have a particular subject area focus or a college preparatory program. They are subject to all the requirements of public schools, but may be selective in admissions processes. South Philadelphia's magnet schools are focused on the arts. Magnet schools in South Philadelphia include Girard Academic Music Program, known as GAMP, and The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, known as CAPA.