Overview
- Superintendent Tony Watlington announced the North Philadelphia initiative at the State of Schools and said the K-8 will open before the high school.
- The schools will operate in existing district buildings as opt-in choice options rather than neighborhood assignments.
- Harlem Children’s Zone founder Geoffrey Canada endorsed the plan, and Temple’s Future Scholars program will support college readiness.
- Aliya Catanch-Bradley was tapped to lead conceptual planning for the new zone.
- The district plans to release a facilities plan this winter with possible closures, colocations, modernizations, and repurposings, while Mayor Cherelle Parker seeks to transfer or redevelop more than 20 vacant school properties.