Blog posts about high schools.
West Philly community responds to 'Renaissance' label
Submitted by Eric Braxton on Mon, 02/22/2010 - 12:18 Posted in High schools | Permalink
Thursday evening I attended the Renaissance Community Meeting at West Philadelphia High School. About 50 people attended. Most of them were parents and community members with a few students and teachers in the mix as well. The message they sent was incredibly unified: our school has already started the turnaround; don’t lose that progress.
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Were our schools designed to succeed?
Submitted by Eric Braxton on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 10:24 Posted in High schools | Permalink
A lot of people are talking these days about the failure of public schools. They cite astronomical dropout rates, low test scores, and a host of other alarming statistics. I want to suggest another perspective. Our schools are actually quite successful at doing what they were designed to do.
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South Philly grad's immigrant experience
Submitted by Gustavo Martínez on Wed, 12/16/2009 - 11:16 Posted in High schools | Permalink
We'll pick up the conversation from last week. As an update, we can tell you that school authorities announced measures in an attempt to make South Philly High safer. This includes cameras, more police, and an education program so kids learn how to deal with other cultures.
School District CEO Arlene Ackerman said she wanted the Asian students to come back to school on Monday, and that she would be there to welcome them back and have personal conversations with each one of the affected students. The students returned today.
I spoke with a South Philly High graduate, who is a recent immigrant, about his experience acclimating to the new environment.
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We need to stand together to fix our schools
Submitted by Eric Braxton on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 10:39 Posted in High schools | Permalink
On Sunday I attended a rally in support of the Asian students at South Philadelphia High School.
It was a powerful and emotional event.
Several adult speakers told stories about how they had been harassed in high school because they were Asian, but they did not have the courage or support to stand up like the students from South Philly.
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Kensington to get a fourth small school with urban education theme
Submitted by Eric Braxton on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 10:58 Posted in High schools | Permalink
I am very pleased to report that a fourth Kensington small school will open next year.
At a meeting of the Kensington School and Community Coalition last week, School District Chief of Staff Tomas Hanna announced that in the fall when Kensington CAPA moves into its new building, a new small school will open in KCAPA’s place in the old building.
This is great news for many in the Kensington community who had been concerned that the District might decide to use the space created by KCAPA’s move to make Kensington Business into a large school again.
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The real story at West Philly High
Submitted by Eric Braxton on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 15:57 Posted in High schools | Permalink
West Philadelphia High School has been in the news a lot in the last few weeks. The Inquirer did a story on the turnaround at West and Tuesday was the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building.
While West still has a long way to go, there have been some great strides made in the last two years.
The media reports, however, often miss the intricacies of what it takes to make this kind of change.
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Philly high school application deadline Oct. 30
Submitted by Erika Owens on Fri, 10/30/2009 - 11:00 Posted in High schools | Permalink
Less than two weeks till the applications are due. Applications are due TODAY. Any last minute questions? Check our Guide!
Please share your thoughts on the process and ask your friends to comment, too.
How did you find the application process? What was most difficult, or unexpectedly easy?
High school teachers and administrators, what are the most important last minute things students should do?
Students, do you already have your application in? What helped you figure out which five schools to list?
Middle school counselors, a limited number of copies of the Notebook Fall Guide remain. Please email us if you'd like to pick up some copies for students you work with or have the copies mailed to you for a small fee.
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Is Philly's small schools experiment coming to an end?
Submitted by Eric Braxton on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 13:12 Posted in High schools | Permalink
Anyone who steps inside one of the Kensington small high schools, who was familiar with the old Kensington High School, will tell you that there is a world or difference. The hallways are clean and clear, students seem engaged, and there is a sense of collaboration and commitment among the staff.
Nonetheless, the District may be getting ready to convert some of these schools back into large schools.
In 2005 Philadelphia’s version of “small school” high school reform began.
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Engaging students in school reform
Submitted by Eric Braxton on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:18 Posted in High schools | Permalink
Often when we talk about engaging stakeholders in school reform we include teachers, parents, and even community and business leaders. Unfortunately, students, who are the most direct stakeholders of all, are often left out of the mix.
I believe that if we are really going to turn around our high schools, we can no longer view students as passive beneficiaries of education. We must start to see them as active participants in creating change.
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Getting parents involved
Submitted by Eric Braxton on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 16:03 Posted in High schools | Permalink
Over the summer I have been thinking a lot about parent involvement in high school reform.
I continue to believe that involving more parents in multiple ways is critical to turning our schools around. Parents need to be not only supporting their own children, but also holding schools accountable for providing quality education.
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Renaissance School provider applicants await the first cut
by Dale Mezzacappa
More from the NEWSFLASH
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This practice breaks my heart!
-- Michelle Breum responding to Corrective Reading raising questions
- How teachers and unions feel about turnaround
- Tepid response to attacks against Asians is nothing new
- Back to the drawing board: huge deficit means it's time to re-engage the public, re-establish priorities
- S. Philly High violence: Time to clear the record about Dec. 2
- Renaissance School provider applicants await the first cut
How should the District make up for the 
