Len Lipkin

School Choice Based on Parental “Qualities”?

One of the things that I have noticed during my school search are the parents sitting next to me in open houses.  It occurs to me that one of the factors that has emerged as important to me indirectly are the parents of the children at the school I choose.  This point cuts across many themes that I have written about on this blog over the last 8 months, most directly parental involvement in the...

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 Springside School: 2010-03-24 School Selection Report

Date Submitted: 3/24/2010 What school did you decide on? Springside School Calendar year your child entered/will enter 2010 Grade your child entered/will enter Kindergarten What neighborhood are you in? NW Philly What schools did you consider? Miquon, Independence Charter, Greene Street Friends, The Philadelphia School, Wissahickon Charter What factors were most important to you? Financial Aid Package,...

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...

Len Lipkin

School Success Criteria Vol 2: Teachers

In yesterday’s post, the first of a series outlining what makes a school successful, I started the article by stating that I was unhappy that teachers are disproportionately punished for bad performance in schools. Newsweek’s cover story this week is titled “Why We Must Fire Bad Teachers” tells the other side of the story–that teachers should be blamed when blame is due, What...

Len Lipkin

The Lower Merion School District Paradox

Drawing the school districting lines for the Lower Merion School District (LMSD) last year was a contentious issue, involving loud town hall meetings, angry allegations of racism, lawsuits, and now a federal investigation. Should that controversy be a factor in whether to move to LMSD for the schools?

Len Lipkin

Comprehensive Directory of Philadelphia Charter Schools

The Philadelphia School District’s Charter School website is helpful, but the Directory of Philadelphia Charter Schools (PDF) published by the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition is much better. It contains a lot of great school data, including the mission of each school, demographic/test score data, contact information, and more. It also has special sections on cyber charter schools, a...

Len Lipkin

Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

This blog got very popular very quickly.  I have no illusions that it is about anything that I am doing.  I am certain that it is all about the shared anxiety we have as parents of soon-to-be-school aged kids.  I have only gotten one community submission on the emotional aspect of this process, but, as a result of finding this blog, many strangers and friends are reaching out to me to share their fears...