Len Lipkin

Making Bache-Martin Part of The Neighborhood

My local catchment school Jenks isn't the only Philadelphia public school with parents pushing to make it more of a neighborhood school. Bache-Martin is doing the same thing. While Jenks has included prospective parent's teas and distributed lawn signs in their efforts to spread the word. The "Neighborhood Parents for Bache-Martin" organization has

Len Lipkin

No Shades of Grey: School Diversity Hard to Find

Last week I visited two schools which lacked diversity at opposite extremes.

Len Lipkin

Going Local for Education Movement Escalates to…Lawn Signs?

Last month I wrote about lawn signs that had popped up all over my neighborhood for private schools advertising their open houses.  As I have been following and struggling with our neighborhood “Going Local” movement, the fact that our local public school has gotten into the lawn sign act has been an interesting development. I contacted a member of the Jenks Home and School Association and...

PSS Community

Why I Chose Andrew Jackson: 2010-09-10 School Selection Report

Tell PSS and our readers about your school choice! Date Submitted: 9/10/2010 What school did you decide on? Andrew Jackson Calendar year your child entered/will enter 2010/2011 Grade your child entered/will enter kindergarten What neighborhood are you in? South Philly What schools did you consider? we tried the transfer form for meredith, mccall, greenfield, jenks; we applied to folk arts charter,...

PSS Community

Why I Chose JS Jenks: 2010-07-29 School Selection Report

Tell PSS and our readers about your school choice! Date Submitted: 7/29/2010 What school did you decide on? JS Jenks Calendar year your child entered/will enter 2009 Grade your child entered/will enter K What neighborhood are you in? NW Philly What schools did you consider? Greene Street Friends, Germantown Friends, CW Henry, Houston What factors were most important to you? Tuition, Location, Financial...

PSS Community

Why I Chose Andrew Jackson: 2010-05-24 School Selection Report

Tell PSS and our readers about your school choice! Date Submitted: 5/24/2010 What school did you decide on? Andrew Jackson Calendar year your child entered/will enter 2010/2011 Grade your child entered/will enter kindergarten What neighborhood are you in? South Philly What schools did you consider? I considered International [PSS-I think this was supposed to be Independence?] Charter School, Christopher...

Len Lipkin

Beyond the Usual Suspects

When I talk to other parents about Philadelphia public elementary schools, inevitably the same handful of schools are of interest to them.  In no particular order, they are Penn Alexander (West Philly), Greenfield (Center City), and Meredith (Queen Village).  Then there are the popular charter schools like Independence Charter (Center City), Russell Byers Charter (Center City), and Green Woods Charter...

PSS Community

Open Houses Next Week!

If you are in the thick of a school search, you want to stay on top of when schools are offering open houses.  JS Jenks is having a prospective parent tea and Abington Friends is having an open house. Look for those and other open houses on our new open house calendar. Both events want RSVPs, so check out the calendar ASAP for more...