Post a commentSmall Philly schools with big hopes
High School of the Future and Science Leadership Academy, four-year-old Phila. high schools just graduated their first classes. Their experiences differ greatly.
First of two parts
Small high schools came to Philadelphia in a big way four years ago, when four new ones opened their doors.
Less than three miles apart, High School of the Future in Parkside and Science Leadership Academy (SLA) in Center City had vastly different beginnings.
Expectations for both were high. Both awarded their first diplomas this month.
But although leadership was identified as key to both, one had turmoil at the top and the other had a stable principal. Though both emphasized technology and were given freedom to innovate, one kept a close eye on district standards and the other initially veered from the path.
One accepted only top students, and its test scores were high. The other took mostly neighborhood students, including those who struggled, and its scores were low.
Jasmine Thomas picked SLA because she "thought it would be kind of cool to go to a place where you built it from the ground up," she said. Thomas, 18, just earned her diploma and said she is thrilled with her high school
Small high schools came to Philadelphia in a big way four years ago, when four new ones opened their doors.
Less than three miles apart, High School of the Future in Parkside and Science Leadership Academy (SLA) in Center City had vastly different beginnings.
Expectations for both were high. Both awarded their first diplomas this month.
But although leadership was identified as key to both, one had turmoil at the top and the other had a stable principal. Though both emphasized technology and were given freedom to innovate, one kept a close eye on district standards and the other initially veered from the path.
One accepted only top students, and its test scores were high. The other took mostly neighborhood students, including those who struggled, and its scores were low.
Jasmine Thomas picked SLA because she "thought it would be kind of cool to go to a place where you built it from the ground up," she said. Thomas, 18, just earned her diploma and said she is thrilled with her high school
Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20100630_High_School_of_the_Future_and_Science_Leadership_Academy__Small_Philly_schools_with_big_hopes.html#ixzz0sL2CFZK6
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