As was reported earlier this year, one of Philadelphia’s more successful charter schools, Independence Charter School, will be opening a new elementary school (ICS West) in Southwest Philadelphia in September 2016. The school will be primarily serving families in Southwest and West Philadelphia, as well as Overbrook.

To learn more about the school and its enrollment process, families are invited to one of the open information sessions held at area libraries. Two next information sessions are scheduled at the Cobbs Creek library. Updated information on community meetings can be found on the school website.

Currently, the following meetings are scheduled for prospective families:

Monday, Dec. 7, 10-11 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 11, 10-11 a.m.
Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek library branch
5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway (59th/Baltimore Ave.)

The school will initially be a K-3 for September 2016. A grade will be added each year, ultimately becoming a K-8 school, according to ICS West board member Dyana Reid.

The school is focused on global citizenship and language acquisition, and instruction will be about half Spanish/half English. “Students and families are not expected to already speak Spanish, though it’s fine if they do,” says ICS West board member Dyana Reid. 

The application is open now and can be found on the school website. It’s available in English, French, and Spanish. It’s also available in paper versions in English, French, Spanish and Vietnamese by stopping by ICS at 1600 Lombard St. The application deadline is February 1, 2016.

Admission to ICS West is by public lottery. Families who live in the catchment for Bartram, Sayre, or Overbrook high schools will have priority admission in the lottery.

The school will be located in the 19142 zip code in Southwest Philadelphia. The exact address is not yet known.