Text by Ella Lathan. Image by Kendra Franklin.
Out of the 24 public schools that were shuttered in 2013, several have seen new life as educational facilities. Four became charter schools. Two others are now public schools in the Innovation Network operated by the School District of Philadelphia.
Maritime Academy Charter School
Formerly the Stephen A. Douglas High School
2700 East Huntingdon Street in Olde Richmond
Maritime Academy Charter School started in 2002 at 30th and Market Streets. It now serves more than 800 students at two locations – Olde Richmond and Tacony.
Douglas High School served around 250 students from 9th through 12th grades during its last year as a neighborhood school.
The school was sold in 2014 for $2.1 million. The assessed value at that time was around $8 million.
Maritime Academy Charter School students are taught navigation skills, boat-building strategies, how to tie knots, and other skills related to maritime activities.
The U School
Formerly the Joseph C. Ferguson Elementary School
2000 N. 7th Street in North Philadelphia
The U School was established in 2014 as a part of the Innovation Network at the School District of Philadelphia. Housed in a U-shaped structure built in 1922 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, the U School currently serves around 230 students in 9th to 12th grades.
Ferguson Elementary served 358 students from pre-k to 8th grade in its last year as a neighborhood school.
According to the Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes, the school’s value was assessed at $4,656,100. It is still owned by the School District of Philadelphia.
Inquiry Charter School
Formerly the Joseph Leidy Elementary School
1301 Belmont Avenue in Parkside
Inquiry Charter School is a part of the Belmont Charter Network, which was established in 1998. Inquiry serves around 300 students from pre-K through 5th grade.
In its last year as a neighborhood school, Leidy Elementary served 314 students in grades K through 8.
According to the Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes, the school was sold in 2015 for $2.1 million and is owned by Bryn Mawr Education Alliance. The assessed value at that time was more than $3 million.
Hardy Williams Mastery Charter School
Formerly the Anna H. Shaw Middle School
5400 Warrington Avenue in Kingsessing
The Hardy Williams Elementary and High schools are a part of the Mastery Schools system, which operates charter schools in Philadelphia and Camden.
The elementary school serves 575 students from K through 6th grades, and the high school serves around 625 students from 7th through 12th grades.
Shaw Middle School served 189 students in 7th and 8th grades during its last year as a neighborhood school.
The building was sold from the School District of Philadelphia to Mastery Charter in 2014 for $2.7 million. The assessed value of the property at that time was more than $11 million, according to city records.
KIPP North Philadelphia Academy
Formerly the M. Hall Stanton Public School
2539 N. 16th Street in North Philadelphia
KIPP North Philadelphia Academy is a charter school that was founded in 2018 but it is a part of the larger KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools organization that began in 2003. KIPP North Philadelphia Academy serves around 590 students from kindergarten through 5th grades.
Stanton Elementary School served 378 students from pre-K through 8th grade during its last year as a neighborhood school.
The property was sold by the School District of Philadelphia to KIPP in 2016 for $650,000. The assessed value at that time was more than $4 million, according to city records.
Vaux Big Picture High School
Formerly the Roberts Vaux High School
2300 Master Street in Sharswood
Vaux Big Picture High School opened in 2017 as a partnership between the Philadelphia Housing Authority and the School District of Philadelphia. It is a part of the national Big Picture Learning Network.
Roberts Vaux High School served 280 students from 9th to 12th grade during its last year of operation in 2013. Vaux Big Picture High School now serves more than 300 students from 9th to 12th grades.
According to the Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes, the school was sold in 2017 for $2 million to the Philadelphia Housing Authority. The assessed value of the property at that time was nearly $11 million.
Please email any questions or concerns about these stories to: [email protected].
Be the first to comment