Re: [UC] Penn schoolsWilma,
I have another question. The Phila. magnet schools don't really have a set
catchment area, or am I wrong?
I thought that was a big contradiction in the news reports. I was wondering if
this was an indication that Penn was going to make some special request.
Remembering the maps when the Sadie Alexander catchment area was drawn, it was
clear that the boundaries were designed through a consideration of real estate
value.
I wondered, what are Penn and Drexel doing by describing a local catchment area
(70%) for this magnet school?? If a magnet school could draw from the entire
city, what does this mean?
Is Penn/Drexel going to actually draw some "unique" catchment district to
reserve the slots around its holdings? I couldn't figure out what they were
trying to pull but something seemed wrong.
I'll try to find the answer too. Are magnet schools open to the entire city?
Isn't it nice to engage in real discussions with each other without those
goofballs distracting everyone with pot shots to make us keep silent? We've
got a civil public listserv!
Thanks,
Glenn
----- Original Message -----
From: Wilma de Soto
To: Dave Axler ; UnivCity listserv
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 12:39 PM
Subject: Re: [UC] Penn schools
You're welcome.
Traditionally, High Schools don't have catchment areas per se.
That's why I included Drew and Powel school maps since they are in the
immediate vicinity of UC High School. You can also see Martha Washington, and
McMichael's areas which are due north and West of Powel and Drew.
West Philadelphia HS School's area would be included in the H. C. Lea
School's catchment area.
On 4/5/08 12:25 PM, "Dave Axler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Thanks, Wilma. I have a reasonable idea of Penn Alexander's catchment area
-- at least enough to know that, though I'm 3.5 blocks from the school, my
house is not in that area. What I'm hoping someone can provide -- though Tony's
earlier post offered some verbal insight -- is a map showing the catchment
areas for West Philadelpha HS and UCHS.
-----Original Message-----
From: Wilma de Soto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Dave Axler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; UnivCity listserv
<[email protected]>
Sent: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 11:40 am
Subject: Re: [UC] Penn schools
Here's a link to the Alexander School Catchment Area form a Real Estate
site:
http://philadelphiarealestatehub.com/blog/catchment/
On 4/5/08 3:31 AM, "Dave Axler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> The existance of Penn Alexander is causing its catchment area to
undergo gentrification, and that would be increased if UC High became
"Penn-Assisted High".
If so, then what explains the gentrification of the areas outside the
catchment area, such as the North side of the 4400 block of Sansom, my own 4400
block of Chestnut, and similar parts of UC? It can't be the school, since the
residents don't benefit from it. At best, Penn Alexander is one of many causes
of gentrification within its catchment area.
Also, high-school students living in Penn Alexander's catchment area
would probably* be in the catchment area of West Philadelphia HS, not
University City HS. According to the School District's website, West
Philadelphia HS and Penn Alexander are both in the "South" region, while UCHS
is in the "Restructured/EMO Region". (Curiously, the site also lists a
"University of Penn HS", but without any address. Dunno what that means...)
*I searched the PSD site to no avail for catchment maps. If anyone knows
where to find 'em, or can otherwise confirm or disprove my supposition, go for
it!
-----Original Message-----
From: KAREN ALLEN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: SH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [email protected]
Sent: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 12:29 pm
Subject: RE: [UC] Penn schools
> Don't you think that Penn is mainly interested in getting free
schooling for their professors and well paid staff in the neighborhood who
normally would send their children to private school?
> Sharon
Yes.
And also to make Penn's graduate education program more competitive by
offering its own student teachers internships in a highly acclaimed "urban"
elementary school [Penn Alexander], populated by a well-behaved, highly
motivated, upper middle class student body. If UC High becomes a Penn
partnership school, then Penn can offer its grad students teaching
opportunities in a similar "urban" high school, and Penn Alexander grads will
have a top-notch neighborhood high school.
http://www.gse.upenn.edu/cms/cms.php?id=171
http://www.upenn.edu/campus/westphilly/pas.html#PAS4
Although Penn's website mentions working with Philadelphia public schools
other than Penn Alexander, having what amounts to its own elementary and high
school gives Penn's Graduate School of Education (GSE) its own "lab". This
arrangement accomplishes two goals simultaneously: both the GSE student
teachers and the Penn Alexander students receive a stellar education. And the
GSE has the advantage of not having to waste precious educational time dealing
with the social ills that other public schools have do deal with.
The existance of Penn Alexander is causing its catchment area to undergo
gentrification, and that would be increased if UC High became "Penn-Assisted
High". Penn employees and young people with children will want to send their
children to a top-notch public school, and will move to the catchment areas, in
turn creating a more upscale neighborhood, in turn reversing the public
perception of the neighborhood being dangerous, in turn making it easier for
Penn to market the University. Rising property values would eventually force
those deemed undesirable out of the area.
While Penn is saying that 70% of a new UC High's students would come from
the neighborhood, the gentrification that Penn-Assisted High would very likely
cause would mean that the "neighborhood" would probably not consist of the same
people who live there now.
Having top-notch public schools is the obvious ideal, and if Penn
Alexander and possibly UC High are such schools, that is wonderful. But these
schools have to exist across the board, not just in select neighborhoods for
select demographics. The key is creating Penn Alexanders in all of the city
neighborhoods.
Motivated, advantaged kids are going to do well in any event, because
their parents have the ability and resources to see that they do. The really
hard job is in creating strategies that will reach disadvantaged kids and their
families and in doing whatever it takes to make sure that those kids can also
take full advantage of the opportunities those schools present. THAT would be
world-changing! Penn, are you up to THAT job?
=
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