Len Lipkin

School Success Criteria Volume 4: Jerry Maguire Edition

“SHOW ME THE MONEY!” Perhaps one of the most memorable movie quotes from the 1990s, this line pretty much sums up the last and probably most obvious characteristic of a good school.  Money.  Financial resources are, in fact, key precursors to two of the other factors that I have already blogged about that make a school great, teachers and administrators, and there is likely a strong...

Len Lipkin

School Success Criteria Volume 3: Leadership

Who is at the helm, and how long have they been there?  When I talk to folks about schools, I often hear about teacher quality and parental involvement.  However, I have to believe that strong leadership within the school is also critical to a school’s success.  A principal/headmaster with a clear vision and the leadership skills to enact that vision must be critical to a successful school,...

PSS Community

Why I Chose Greenfield: 2010-04-13 School Selection Report

Tell PSS and our readers about your school choice! Date Submitted: 4/13/2010 What school did you decide on? Greenfield Elementary Calendar year your child entered/will enter 2010 Grade your child entered/will enter 1st What neighborhood are you in? Center City What schools did you consider? greenfield and friends select What factors were most important to you? Location, Teacher Quality, Diversity What...

Marta Rowh

Getting Started Series: The Parent Talk

Someday you’ll have to have “the talk” with your kids.  You know, ‘the birds and the bees’ discussion.  Finding a school can lead to the same type of avoidance.  My husband and I didn’t have “the talk” about our elementary school choice until we were already more than a little panicked.  Before the process snowballs out of control take the time to discuss what you (and your co-parent)...

PSS Community

Why I Chose Independence Charter: 2010-04-04 School Selection Report

Date Submitted: 4/4/2010 What school did you decide on? Independence Charter School Calendar year your child entered/will enter 2008 Grade your child entered/will enter Kindergarten What neighborhood are you in? East Falls What schools did you consider? All public and charter schools – Mifflin, Henry, Dobson, Cook-Wissahickon, Wissahickon Charter School, McCall, Meredith & Greenfield. What...

PSS Community

Why I Chose McCall: 2010-04-01 School Selection Report

Date Submitted: 4/1/2010 What school did you decide on? McCall Elementary Calendar year your child entered/will enter 2008 and 2010 Grade your child entered/will enter in 2010, 2nd grader and K What neighborhood are you in? Center City What schools did you consider? Independence Charter School Meredith Greenfield Russell Byers Charter School What factors were most important to you? Location, Public...

Len Lipkin

Penn Alexander Crapshoot

The Inquirer today published a story on how the Penn Alexander School has led  to a positive transformation of its university city neighborhood.  As a life-long Philadelphian, I know how the area around Penn has historically been a haven for poverty and crime, and as a Penn alumnus I have personally enjoyed watching the change. Only on the last couple of paragraphs of the article does my personal worry...