The Philadelphia School District announced major interventions for 11 schools in need. A spokesperson for the district said they will launch community engagement meetings and quality reviews for the following schools that are in need of rapid academic improvement:
- Bartram High School
- John Marshall Elementary School
- Ben Franklin High School
- Kensington Health Sciences Academy
- Blankenburg Elementary School
- Overbrook High School
- Delaplaine McDaniel Elementary School
- Samuel S. Fels High School
- Edward Heston Elementary School
- Warren G. Harding Middle School
- John F. Hartranft School
“Despite investments made in all schools, some schools are not meeting students’ needs and parents’ expectations. There are schools that require additional support right now so that children can have the learning opportunities they deserve,” said Dr. William R. Hite, Superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia. “To achieve the goal of a great school close to where all children live, each year the School District will prioritize schools to receive focused intervention as we work to drive school wide academic improvement and ensure better outcomes for our students.”
School District officials say all eleven schools had low performances for three years straight, were not part of a major intervention program and had a three-year School Progress Report average equal to or less than 15 out of 100.
Officials say none of the 11 schools will be closed and none of them will become a Renaissance Charter. Forums in which school staff, parents and communities discuss the best ways to improve the schools will begin next week. The quality review process for the schools will also include meetings with teachers and principals to identify the schools’ strengths that can be built on, direct input from families and community members and objective third-party reviews highlighting the schools’ strengths and challenges.
Officials say the information gathered during the forums and review process will be presented to each school community during a public meeting in November. The intervention options include entering the school into the District’s turnaround network, merging the school with an existing high-quality program, engaging a contract partner, initiating an evidence-based plan for academic improvement or restarting the school.
“Each school has unique strengths and challenges, and each school community is special, but the goal for all children and all schools is the same: to ensure children are able to learn and to succeed,” Dr. Hite said. “We are excited to begin this work with our parents and schools to make this goal a reality, and we will make the decisions necessary to ensure all children are given their right to a great education.”
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