Parents sharing the process of searching for a school in Greater Philadelphia. What kind of school are you looking for? Charter, public, private, city, suburban?
Parents that gamble by buying a house in a desirable catchment or forgo the lottery or private school application process could end up out of luck 
This was such a long and drawn out process. We loved many of the schools we visited and applied to. 
'Choice' is a term that makes my blood boil when you have a special son like mine, cause it only existent to the extent you want to play roulette with your child's education. I played. 
I suspect that Quaker school values likely are quite pervasive in non-Friends schools throughout Greater Philadelphia. 
We may remember a time when kids just went to their neighborhood school. But this isn’t Kansas anymore. There are lots of options and lots of different application processes for parents nowadays. We started school hunting at the dining room table and finally I threw my hands up...what are ALL the options?! Every time I thought I knew it all, another school popped up! I wanted to have all my options before deciding which schools to look at and which open houses to attend, so here is a brief Elementary School Options 101. ![Music at School as a Vehicle for Social Change [Video]](http://phillyschoolsearch.com/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/violin2_z-613578_200x200.jpg)
Recent efforts in Philadelphia by Tune Up Philly have shown that music in schools can also be a powerful social agent in addition to an educational tool. 
It did not occur to me that a child able to attend Masterman for high school would turn it down in favor of a Catholic school. 
As I have begun to consider a private school for my son, I have come across some very powerful arguments in the media stating that private schools aren't necessarily as desirable as their glossy viewbooks would lead you to believe. 
Len Lipkin
PSS Community