Len Lipkin

Counting on Masterman? Think Again.

The Inquirer reported yesterday that Philadelphia School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman is proposing radical changes to the way that special admission schools, like Masterman and Central, admit students.  The Inquirer reported, The plan would take admissions decisions away from principals and their committees, and select students for magnet and citywide-admissions schools centrally, using a...

Len Lipkin

Thinking About School Choice Long Term

Yesterday, Kristen Graham of the Philadelphia Inquirer posted a story entitled “Study finds high school choice ‘an illusion’.” There is a pretty vibrant (and in some cases heated and profane) debate about this article happening in the Philadelphia Speaks Forum.  I am evaluating elementary school options for my kids, and I wrote about my own anxiety around sticking with the School...

Len Lipkin

K Through What?

I am having trouble getting my head around the organizational breakdown of elementary schools in the School District of Philadelphia.  Some are K-5, others K-8.  For students who go to a K-5 school, are they expected to go to a private school, a “Special Admission” a.k.a. ‘magnet’ school like Masterman (starts at grade 5), or transfer to an elementary school that offers up to 8th...