[2] Portions of South Philadelphia (including Bella Vista, Passyunk Square, Pennsport, Queen Village, and Whitman) are zoned to Furness.

It is a four-story, rectangular, reinforced concrete building clad in brick and terra cotta in the Late Gothic Revival-style.

It features an oversized arched entryway, blind panels, terra cotta quoining, and a brick parapet.

[9] Benjamin Herold of the Philadelphia Public School Notebook stated that Furness was largely free of racial tensions.

[9] In regards to Pennsylvania's state achievement tests, of 11th graders at Furness, the percentages of students meeting the standard or higher were 43% in reading and 58% in mathematics.