elementary schools around wissohickon ave, eastfalls-gtown border?

[allarevessels]

We found a place in that neighborhood. We have four years until school begins. Yet, now seems like a good time to think over our possible options. Get an idea of what to look towards...So....
What are our public options? Green Woods looks awesome (how to get in?), John B Kelly (haven't read anything particularly good about it?) and Wissahickon charter(supposed to be good?)? Project Learn looks great but not sure we'll have the project money$. Any plans for new elementary schools?

[3rd&Brown]

Area residents seem to be very happy with a number of neighborhood schools in the NW, including Cooke-Wissahickon (Wissahickon/Roxborough), Dobson (Manayunk/Roxborough), Jenks (Chestnut Hill), Houston (Mt Airy), and increasingly, Mifflin (East Falls).

Green Woods is also popular.

I don't know the specifics of each school (catchment/transfer process), but I think this is a pretty complete list.

Monica Yant Kinney: Remarkable city school feels squeeze - Philly.com

Ronnie Polaneczky: School closing may strengthen E. Falls - Philly.com

[OldMama]

I was just wondering if you guys found a house. I grew up there (mc Kean Avenue) and still have friends on Manheim. Hope you like it.

[thomast]

The only school that you are guaranteed to get into is your catchment school. Wissahickon Ave is the line for a couple of different catchments - SE side from Rittenhouse to Queen Ln is Mifflin, NW side is Lingelbach down to Chelten Ave, and Kelly below Chelten Ave. Mifflin's & Lingelbach's reputations are improving but not great, and I don't know anything about Kelly. You can go to Phila.Gov | CityMaps Portal Page to find the catchment for a specific address, or to browse the catchment maps.

One alternative is charters, which each have their own lottery admission process. Green Woods is expanding and moving - somewhere into East Falls/Manayunk; I forget where exactly. Their lottery process requires attending their open house to get an application. Wissahickon I know less about, except that it enjoys a good reputation.

The other alternative is to apply for transfer to a catchment school other than your own. Slots not taken by in-catchment students are granted first to kids seeking transfer from "failing" schools under NCLB. Then there is some combination of lottery/principal decision that allots the rest of the slots. I have read that the principal's prerogative may be going away, though. It has been the case at Henry, in W Mt Airy where my kids go, that if you showed up to some meetings and made it clear you would be an active parent, the principal could often make sure you got in. I don't know if similar processes exist(ed) at other high-transfer-demand schools like Cooke-Wissahickon and Jenks.

There is not currently any school district transportation for transferring out of your catchment; I'm not sure about charters.

And of course, the likelihood that any of this information will be accurate when your child starts school in four years seems relatively low at the moment, since the SRC seems determined to blow everything up and give increased privatization another shot, even though its record of success is piss-poor in Philadelphia.

[allarevessels]

thanks for the info!

[annie]

Green Woods looks awesome (how to get in?)

You will need to pick up and drop off the application at the school, get through the lottery AND attend the orientation, even it it's held outside the city of Philadelphia:
Is Green Woods Charter a public school?

John B Kelly (haven't read anything particularly good about it?)

Transforming Urban Schoolyards Design Charrette
I attended the Community Design Collaborative design charrette to green Kelly School and was impressed with the assistant principal and the community involvement. Should make a visit but unfortunately you just missed the district-wide kindergarten open house.

Wissahickon charter(supposed to be good?)

Yes but...
Why does a four-year-old need 2 rec letters for Wissahickon Charter?

So basically....

[OldMama]

And, again, four years can make a huge difference. My child went to Dobson when it wasn't a popular choice. There were 17 kids in her kindergarten. Two, three years later it was full (30 kids).

[allarevessels]

wow, okay. I'll keep my ears open to what's going on at these schools and readdress these questions again in 3 years.