Port Richmond: Neighborhood Sees A Fluctuation Of Private School Enrollment
The streets of Port Richmond were bustling with parents taking their kids to school. The children walked through the doors and were greeted by the principal of Our Lady of Port Richmond, Sister Mary Ripp. Students hung their jackets and backpacks on their hooks and shuffled to their seats to get ready for the day. […]
Education: Schools Teeter on the Brink of Financial Crisis
Philadelphia has had a big year. It’s welcomed the pope, honored the Dalai Lama and was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO. But behind the scenes is a building crisis: its schools are failing. Since 2011, the School District of Philadelphia has been operating with inadequate financial support, constrained by lingering budgetary stalemates in […]
South Philadelphia: Voices of Violence
For five years, Trang Dang has been labeled a victim. “For me, the definition is very hazy,” she said. “But people have always identified me as a victim of violence, so I was like, ‘OK, I guess I was one.’” On Dec. 3, 2009, the day that a wave of anti-Asian racial violence burst through […]
Germantown: Teachers Face Changes in Wake of School Closings
[vimeo 69047803] The closing of Robert Fulton Elementary School has not only left students unsure of what is next, but some faculty and staff members as well. Fulton Elementary was one of the 24 Philadelphia schools picked to close by the end of the 2012-2013 school year. It was a decision that came hand-in-hand with the […]
Fishtown: St. Laurentius School Excels After a Threat to Close
[vimeo 65189176] It’s hard to believe that St. Laurentius School, a private Catholic parish school located at 1612 E. Berks St., was threatened with closure a year ago. After a successful campaign to keep the school’s doors open, the institution has firmly established itself as an educational force to be reckoned with. “There’s nothing little, […]
Fishtown: Run Provides Support for Catholic School
[vimeo 65188953] When the Archdiocese of Philadelphia marked St. Laurentius School in Fishtown for closing, some of the reasons it cited included financial issues and enrollment shortages. Since that day, the St. Laurentius community has shown both of those concerns to be inaccurate. The St. LauRUNtius Fishtown 5K run was founded last year by a […]
Nicetown/Tioga: John G. Whittier Elementary School Closing
[vimeo 65740632] A number of schools are scheduled to close after a vote by the School District of Philadelphia. Of the three schools in Nicetown-Tioga, two are staying open and one is closing. The closing of John G. Whittier Elementary school has left many students and parents in the Nicetown-Tioga area with an uncertain future […]
University City: Students Rally for Quality Education
[vimeo 65290738] The students in Philadelphia’s public school system want everyone to know their education should not be a victim of budget cuts. Philadelphia Student Union is home to some of these students from around the city who stand up for high-quality education. The non-profit organization has been around since 1996 and works to address issues such […]
University City: School Closings Create Mixed Emotions
[vimeo 65290671] Twenty-three Philadelphia schools are set to close, including University City High School and Alexander Wilson Elementary School, after a vote by the School Reform Commission. The decision was made last month due to the increasing deficit which is expected to reach $1.4 billion within the next five years. These 23 schools account for […]
Germantown: Haines Street Church Offers Resources for Community
Located at 47 E. Haines St., the Janes Memorial United Methodist Church sits nearby Germantown High School and across the street from Robert Fulton Elementary School, both of which will be closed by September. Janes Memorial United Methodist Church, nicknamed Janes, serves the community more than just its congregation with youth programs like Start Smart, […]