Philadelphia High Schools

What do you think?

School District of Philadelphia: The Basics

163,064 students (not including charter schools)8th largest in nationEthnic Makeup: African American   -61.2%; Asian- 6.2%; Caucasian -13.3%; Hispanic- 17.6%; Native American -0.2%; Other- 1.6%63 Charter Schools, 32, 348 studentsGoverned by five-member School Reform ComissionSuperintendent: Arline Ackerman

Types of High Schools

• Special Admissions• City Wide Admissions• Neighborhood Schools

 • Students apply for high school early in their 8th

grade years.

Special Admissions

• 18 high schools• AKA “magnet schools,” • Requirements included: attendance, punctuality,

behavior, grades and standardized test scores.• Students citywide may apply• Examples: Central, Academy at Palumbo, CAPA

City Wide Admissions

• 14 high schools with admissions criteria.• Students citywide may apply. Generally,• Chosen by lottery,• Eligibility requirements:

o on-site interviewo three of four criteria: marks of A, B or C; no more

thano ten absences; no more than five latenesses; andno

negative disciplinary reports.o There are some exceptions

• Examples: Bok, Constitution, Dobbins

Neighborhood Schools

• 31 high schools have• Open admission to students within the feeder

pattern• Outside students may apply

o Admission is based upon space availability; selection is made by computerized lottery.

• Examples: Germantown, King, Gratz

Differences

What do you think may be differences between neighborhood schools and special admission/city wide admission schools?

Differences

• School atmosphere• Student attitudes• SAT / College preparation• Specialty schools• Graduation rates