Three Elementary Schools Excel, Hit AYP

Shawmont, Cook-Wissahickon and Dobson make the mark on federal achievement measure.

Three Roxborough elementary schools made the federal standard school evaluation, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Cook-Wissahickon, Dobson and Shawmont Elementary Schools all made adequate yearly progress for 2012, unlike the School District of Philadelphia and area high schools. AMY Northwest Middle School, formerly in Mt. Airy, also made AYP. Levering Elementary, which closed last June, failed to make AYP. Following federal guidelines established by the No Child Left Behind Act, states grade the annual progress of each district and school. Elementary schools are judged in three areas—attendance, academic performance and test preparation. After making AYP in 2011, both Cook-Wissahickon and Dobson continued their …

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Support Philadelphia School Teachers on World Teachers' Day

Give back to local teachers by celebrating World Teachers' Day on Oct. 5.

World Teachers' Day, celebrated on Oct. 5, is a great opportunity to show teachers in the School District of Philadelphia how great you think they are. But, the day also takes on a deeper meaning, standing for the protection of teachers' rights. Since its inception in 1994, World Teachers' Day has had a theme every year. The theme for 2012 is “Take a stand for teachers.” This day was founded by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim is to educate the public about the conditions of being a teacher around the world, focusing specifically on the protection of teachers' rights, and the proper training, development and status raising of teachers. UNESCO’s partners in this effort are the …

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Roxborough's Three High Schools Fail to Make AYP

Saul, Lankenau and Roxborough miss the mark on federal achievement measure.

Three Roxborough high schools missed the federal standard school evaluation, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Roxborough, Lankenau and Saul High Schools all missed adequate yearly progress for 2012, as did the School District of Philadelphia. Following federal guidelines established by the No Child Left Behind Act, states grade the annual progress of each district and school. Both are judged in three areas—graduation, academic performance and test preparation. After making AYP in 2011, both Saul and Lankenau failed to achieve it in 2012. Special admission schools, both received a warning. Roxborough, the neighborhood catchment high school without admissions criteria for residents, entered the category "corrective …

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NW Philly Weighs in on School Closing Talks

Meeting took place Tuesday in Germantown.

Philly Schools Off Wednesday for Yom Kippur

Public schools observe Jewish holiday.

Children who attend public schools within Philadelphia will have Wednesday in observance of a Jewish holiday. Yom Kippur begins at sundown Tuesday. And on Wednesday, all schools and administrative offices throughout the School District of Philadelphia will close to mark the Day of Atonement. Schools return to normal schedules on Thursday. Click here for more info on a local Yom Kippur service.

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Test Scores Drop for Philly Schools

PSSA results demonstrate losses for the School District of Philadelphia.

The School District of Philadelphia posted a decline in nearly all categories for the 2012 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing results, according to data released by the school district. Across the board, in all grades, a drop occurred in advanced or proficient scores in reading and math. According to a news release: "When looking at all grades combined, math scores dropped 8.7 percentage points over last year, from 57.8 percent to 49.1 percent, and reading scores dropped 7.1 percentage points, from 51.6 percent to 44.5 percent. Student performance declined in every grade level and for every subgroup in reading and math." Only a few days into his new job, Superintendent William Hite had to deal with the poor scores. "…

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SRC Commissioner Takes Leave of Absence

No replacement announced by the School District of Philadelphia.

School Reform Commissioner Lorene Cary will take a leave from the School District of Philadelphia's organizing body due to health reasons. The district released a statement Thursday announcing her leave without mention of a timetable. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that her illness "was temporarily debilitating but not life-threatening." SRC Chairman Pedro Ramos said in a news release: We (the School Reform Commission Members) have the highest respect and affection for Lorene. Lorene dedicates her all, demonstrating her compassion for our city’s children. As the founding chairperson of the Safety and Engagement Committee, she marshaled the resources and input of parents, students, teachers, principals and civic leaders. Under her …

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New Superintendent, New School, New Year

AMY Northwest begins 2012-13 year with William Hite, Jr. and others on hand.

Dignitaries from City Hall, the PA General Assembly, Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments, and the School District of Philadelphia caused a stir at AMY Northwest's debut day in Roxborough Friday. However, as new Superintendent William Hite, Jr. noted, the most important attendees at the district's bell-ringing ceremony were the sixth, seventh and eighth grade students ready to explore their new home at the former Levering Elementary School. "I'm excited. This new school is so big," Azure Stokes said. "I came from the old AMY Northwest school, and there's a lot more space. But now there's steps, too," Troie Young said. The students began the 2012-13 school year at the magnet middle school's new Roxborough campus with a star-studded …

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Friday First Day of School for Philadelphia Students

A look at the Patch 'Back to School' guide.

Students may have dreaded it all month, but the day finally has arrived—Friday marks the first day of school for nearly all public school students in the School District of Philadelphia. Throughout August, Patch interviewed teachers, parents and administrators at schools all around Roxborough and Manayunk. The school year kicks off for public school first through high school students with a half-day Friday. Here's a rundown of stories leading up back to school. Shawmont Elementary School Says Hello to New Students Sign of Change at Roxborough School—AMY Northwest Middle School Lankenau HS Preps for Nearly 170 New Students Library Leader Builds New Library at AMY Northwest What's New at Roxborough High School? Roxborough's Newest School …

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Sign of Change at Roxborough School

New middle school posts signage at Levering building.

AMY Northwest Middle School continues to prep for the 2012-13 school year—the magnet school's first at the Roxborough campus on the former Levering School's ground. Principal Marco Zanoi and staff work to transform the building for the Sept. 7 first day of school one week from Friday and the district-wide, bell-ringing ceremony set for AMY Northwest that day, as well. The new era for Levering school has begun and signage to mark the shift has also arrived. AMY Northwest increases enrollment this year by nearly double and wants to become part of Roxborough. Welcome AMY Northwest to neighborhood Sept. 7 for the sign unveiling and bell ringing at 8:45 a.m. in the schoolyard in front of the sign at 6000 Ridge Ave. in Roxborough.

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