Two School District of Philadelphia schools – the West Philadelphia based Penn Alexander School and South Philly based Girard Academic Music Program School (GAMP) – have received the 2021 National Blue Ribbon designation, according to an announcement by the District. Both schools are among the nation’s highest performing based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates. These are two of 13 schools in Pennsylvania – and the only two schools in Philadelphia – to achieve Blue Ribbon status this year.

Penn Alexander received the 2021 National Blue Ribbon designation for “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing.” The school was also recognized as National Blue Ribbon School in 2016. Penn Alexander serves just under 600 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is the result of a historic partnership between the University of Pennsylvania and the District. Continue Reading

The Penn Alexander School (PAS), the public K-8 school located in the Spruce Hill neighborhood, is searching for a new principal after its previous principal, Michael Farrell, accepted a post with the School District of Philadelphia at the end of last academic year.

A Consultative Committee has been formed to aid in the national search for the new principal. A public meeting with the Consultative Committee will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 6-8 p.m. in the PAS cafeteria (entrance on 43rd St. between Locust and Spruce). This is an opportunity for the community to learn about the search process and to voice perspectives and ideas.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can provide input using a Community Feedback Form or you can email your input directly to Criterion Search Group at administrator@criterionsg.com.

Residents are invited to the monthly Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) Board meeting tonight at the SHCA center at 257 S. 45th St, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Representatives from Penn will be at the meeting to provide updates on current events and plans, including Glenn Bryan, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations, Ed Datz, Executive Director of Real Estate, and Maureen Rush, Vice President for Public Safety and Superintendent of the Penn Police department.

Regular committee updates and May Fair planning are also on the agenda.  Continue Reading

The Philadelphia School District this week released a report that shows a second consecutive year of progress among most of the 164 Philadelphia public schools.

The 2016-2017 School Progress Report (SPR) shows increasing scores among the city’s lowest performing schools.

Now in its fifth year, the SPR evaluates district and charter schools in multiple areas, including student achievement, school climate, and college- and career-readiness among high school students. There are four report types: Elementary, K-8, Middle and High. Each school receives an overall score, as well as a score for each of four SPR “performance areas”: Achievement, Progress, Climate, and College and Career (high schools only). A school’s overall and domain scores are categorized into one of four performance tiers: Intervene (lowest), Watch, Reinforce and Model (highest).  Continue Reading

Community members are invited to attend the big annual meeting of the Spruce Hill Community Association on Nov. 15 at the Penn Alexander School (43rd and Locust).

Penn Alexander’s new principal, Michael Farrell, will address the meeting, which will be held in the school’s cafeteria. Farrel took over from founding principal Sheila Sydnor this fall. Read more about him here.

SHCA board members will also present the association’s activities over the year during the meeting and hold elections for a new board. Eric Santoro, SHCA’s current president, is running unopposed for a second one-year term. Election will also be held for four other officer positions and 10 board posts. Biographical information for those running will be available at the meeting.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served beginning at 7 p.m., and the meeting will start at 7:30 p.m.

Membership in SHCA is open to everyone. Dues are $20 per year.

The Penn Alexander School (4209 Spruce St.) today was named a National Blue Ribbon School, an award the U.S. Department of Education gives to about 350 schools around the country each year deemed “high performing” or “achievement gap closing.” Both public and private schools are eligible.

Penn Alexander was recognized as an “exemplary achievement gap closing school,” an award that recognizes schools that have consistently improved academic achievement against other schools around the state.

School officials received the award during a ceremony in the school this afternoon.

In its application, Penn Alexander officials wrote that, “Penn Alexander faculty spends a great deal of time developing programming and extracurricular activities to engage and support our diverse community. We believe the growth and achievement outside of the classroom has a direct impact on bridging the gap of student achievement inside the classroom.”

Two other schools in Philadelphia were also awarded the National Blue Ribbon. St. Mary Interparochial School at 5th and Locusts Streets was named an “exemplary high performing school,” as was the Folk Arts-Culture Charter School at 1023 Callowhill St.