The Notebook

Stories tagged: special admit schools

Develop a common application for all Philly schools, groups say

by Kofi Biney Posted in April 2013 Edition | Permalink

The process of enrolling in a District or charter school can be complex and fraught with requirements that may discourage some parents and students. Advocacy groups like Education Voters Pennsylvania are pushing the District to simplify the process of how students are assigned to schools by implementing a common or universal enrollment system.

Deadline for high school applications fast approaching

Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 11/28/2012 - 16:31 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Charlotte Pope

The deadline for applications to attend citywide admission or special admission high schools, or to transfer to District neighborhood schools is Friday, Nov. 30.

All students in grades 8 through 11, including English language learners and children with disabilities, may apply to neighborhood high schools outside their neighborhood attendance area and citywide and special admission high schools.

Les Miserables at CAPA – it almost didn't happen

Submitted by Dale Mezzacappa on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 15:14 | Permalink

I had the privilege of seeing Les Miserables at Philadelphia's High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Thursday night.

I've seen Les Miz probably eight times, starting with the original Broadway cast more than two decades ago and, more recently, at two other high schools. I saw (and wrote about for the Inquirer) the first-ever production of the adapted scholastic version at Truman High School in Bristol.

In some ways – particularly in the raw emotional power of watching a young, extremely talented, multi-racial cast interpret this classic work about oppression and justice, love, and redemption – CAPA's Les Miz was as good as any of them.

But, speaking of justice, this incredible show almost didn't happen.

From neighborhood schools, 1 in 4 made it to college

by Benjamin Herold for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks Posted in Summer 2012 Edition | Permalink

There are some glimmers of progress. The percentage of Philadelphia high school graduates who enroll in college immediately after finishing school is on the rise, from 40 percent in 2008 to 44 percent last year.

"It's low, but I definitely think we're moving in the right direction," said Fran Newberg, the District's deputy for accountability and technology

To get into prestigious Masterman, it's 5th grade or bust

Submitted by Benjamin Herold on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 13:56 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Benjamin Herold
for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks

For many Philadelphia families, a diploma from ultra-selective Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School is the holy grail of public education in the city.

But how do parents get their children into the prestigious magnet school at 17th and Spring Garden Streets?

Math = Problem-solving

by Connie Langland Posted in April 2012 Edition | Permalink

Mathematics teacher Brad Latimer has a raft of strategies to help his students learn challenging algebra and calculus.

On a recent day, he started with a “warmup” question, challenging his senior calculus students to create a formula for calculating the area of a trapezoid. “It’s perfectly possible,” Latimer assured them.

Setting an example

by Benjamin Herold Posted in October 2011 Edition | Permalink

As a recently created high school preparing to graduate its first senior class, the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush in Northeast Philadelphia is just beginning to establish a sporting tradition.

If the school is lucky, it will someday have a legacy to equal that of its principal, Jessica Brown.

A three-time collegiate All-American in lacrosse and a standout field hockey player, Brown was inducted into Kenyon College’s athletic Hall of Fame in September.

Philadelphia's District and charter high schools: How are they doing?

Posted in Fall Guide 2011 Edition | Permalink

The Notebook gathered data including enrollment, student demographics, attendance, and test scores. You can view a PDF of the center spread of data from the print edition, and spreadsheets of District and charter data.