According to police, the shooting happened at about 2:55 p.m. in the 2300 block of S. 66th Street, near Bartram High School.
Police said Christopher Braxton, who is listed as a 12th grader at the school, was shot in the chest. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he died a short time later.
"He left around dismissal time and shortly thereafter not far from the school is where he was shot in the chest," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
17-year-old student fatally shot near Southwest Philly high school
One official told Action News the school was placed on lockdown while investigators searched for a shooter.
A resident who goes by Tee said she heard the shooting as she was cleaning up outside.
"Can't even go to school and return to your family, it's sad. Gotta pray for 'Killadelphia.' We're not even the City of Brother Love no more," she said.
No arrests have been made. Investigators are hopeful that cameras in the neighborhood and outside the school will help find a gunman.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.