Fayette School
Also known as: Jacobs,William C.,School
Why it's listed
A two-part school building at 21st Street and the Parkway in Philadelphia, consisting of a two-story stone wing with stucco finish and a later brick main block. The original wing was built in 1854-1855 to a design by Samuel Sloan, and its large elongated windows reflect his concern for daylight in classrooms. The original floor plan placed three interconnected classrooms between flanking stairways, following the multi-purpose layout that Sloan promoted for school interiors. In 1915 the school was enlarged with a hip-roofed, two-and-a-half-story brick Colonial Revival building with a decorated cornice and gabled dormers, and the name was changed from Fayette School to Jacobs School. The building is regarded as the only surviving Philadelphia public school by Sloan, which gives it value for the history of school architecture in the city. A modern one-story addition stands at the north end. The school was listed as part of a thematic group of Philadelphia public schools.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is the only surviving school in Philadelphia designed by Samuel Sloan, and that it preserves the multi-purpose interior plan Sloan developed, with partitioned rooms flanked by stairways. That plan is described as forming the basis for school interiors in the second half of the nineteenth century. The nomination also links the property to the Philadelphia Public Schools Thematic Resources group.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86003295, listed December 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Old Bustleton and Welsh Rds., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003295 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854-1915 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Sloan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.08221, -75.03856 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86003295.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5439025
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.