West Philadelphia High School
Why it's listed
West Philadelphia High School for Boys and Girls occupies a site at 47th and Walnut Streets in West Philadelphia. The Philadelphia School Board built it in 1911-1912, the only school the Board constructed itself during this period. Designed by school architect Henry deCoursey Richards, the building takes the form of a Gothicized castle. Its plan has two wings, one for girls and one for boys, joined by two separate connecting corridors. Teaching grades 10 through 12, the school was designed with an enrollment capacity of 1,287 pupils and included an auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria and recreational area. The building is considered important for its part in expanding secondary education for both boys and girls in Philadelphia, a priority that followed the opening of several district high schools and annexes in 1910. It is also regarded as a fine example of Richards's Gothic work.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant for its role in expanding high school education for both boys and girls in Philadelphia's public school system. It is also presented as a fine example of Gothic design by architect Henry deCoursey Richards. The document notes the building reflects the Board's expanded emphasis on school facilities.
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 86003345, listed December 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4700 Walnut St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003345 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Henry deCoursey Richards (architect) |
| Architectural style | Gothicized castle |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.95461, -75.21667 (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 86003345.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7986214
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.