Walnut Hill: Community Organization Creates a Green Space for Students
While the School District of Philadelphia’s budget cuts have caused many schools to close, the problems brought unity to one West Philadelphia neighborhood. When Alexander Wilson Elementary School closed last school year, most students were sent to nearby Henry C. Lea Elementary School (below left). Although many people throughout Philadelphia have openly expressed their dislike of merging schools, […]
Spruce Hill: Lottery Brings New Era for Penn Alexander
Penn Alexander School’s kindergarten waitlist ended this year, changing to a contested lottery. Traditionally, parents had waited in line for days to register. School District Superintendent William Hite made the change within days of becoming aware of the situation, said Fernando Gallard, chief of communications for the School District. “It was a change that was […]
Spruce Hill: Wilson School Closes, Students and Principal Move to Lea School
The Alexander Wilson grade school on Woodland Avenue closed earlier this year along with 23 other Philadelphia public schools. Students were absorbed into the Henry C. Lea School on 47th Street, along with Principal Sonya Harrison, who took over the corresponding position at the Lea School. The question remains what will happen to the three-story, 40,200 […]
Cedar Park: School Closings Create Concerns of Emotional Harm for Students
One major, yet underexamined, issue in the publicly contentious process of closing schools is the psychological impact on young children. More than half of the schools that are slated to close at the end of the school year are elementary schools. This will force many children to change schools. The change could have a significant […]
West Philadelphia: Organizations Working to Make an Elementary School Better
[vimeo 44849427] For a public school built in 1914, it comes as no surprise the building doesn’t have a modern look, but the inside of the Henry C. Lea Elementary School in West Philadelphia is also running into some issues. Thanks to local organizations, some of those issues are beginning to turn around. The West […]
West Philadelphia: Neighboring Schools Feature Vast Differences
[vimeo 44868367] Though located along the same street and just five blocks separate them, Penn Alexander and Henry C. Lea Elementary Schools in West Philadelphia couldn’t be more different. Penn Alexander opened in 2001 and its boundaries were carved out of Lea and Wilson schools to help ease the overcrowding. Now, the crowding is formed […]