where does meredith catchment lie and lie?

**queenbee** · 08-22-2012, 10:01 PM

When I bought my place in 2000, I assumed the school up a couple blocks from me (Meredith) was in my catchment. The catchment conveniently forgoes renters and goes AROUND me. What is the catchment based on?

**raider.adam** · 08-22-2012, 10:10 PM

Maps are here: https://www.google.com/search?btnG=1...hia+cachements

**concourse** · 08-22-2012, 11:20 PM

https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files..._maps/2380.pdf

I guess you live on the west side of 5th St. north of Christian? I mean, it doesn't go around you--you just aren't part of the catchment. Presumably that's because the location of Nebinger and the placement of children and other schools in Philly.

**Eastcoast** · 08-23-2012, 09:54 AM

Ahh yes the goofy look of the catchment boundaries...it does always look like Meredith and Nebinger should be split along Christian street.
Check out the odd reach-around that happens with Jackson at the corner of 9th and Fitzwater.

**annie** · 08-23-2012, 10:16 AM

https://webapps.philasd.org/school_finder/

I don't pretend to know why most catchments were drawn the way they were but I will say the Facilities Master Plan people who have been drawing new catchments (such as when a neighboring school closes) have been doing a more logical job. 40 schools are going to be proposed for closure in October but it won't be known until then whether any of them might impact the Meredith catchment.

Earlier this year, a representative from a block in the northern part of the Jackson catchment testified before the SRC requesting to be reassigned to the Meredith catchment. It was...not well-received...Joining the Friends of Nebinger may be more productive.

**Eastcoast** · 08-23-2012, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by queenbee

When I bought my place in 2000, I assumed the school up a couple blocks from me (Meredith) was in my catchment. The catchment conveniently forgoes renters and goes AROUND me. What is the catchment based on?

FWIW, I do know two couples who were either intentionally or incorrectly mislead into thinking that the houses that they bought fell into the Meredith catchment. At the end of the day it really came down to them to verify where the lines were drawn but I know that it caused a great deal of problems and anger for both couples.

Surprise! They both ended up in the burbs!

**CV's mum** · 08-23-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Eastcoast

FWIW, I do know two couples who were either intentionally or incorrectly mislead into thinking that the houses that they bought fell into the Meredith catchment. At the end of the day it really came down to them to verify where the lines were drawn but I know that it caused a great deal of problems and anger for both couples.

Surprise! They both ended up in the burbs!

Perhaps we know the same folks. For about 6 years I rented at 5th and Catharine and could see Meredith from my front door, yet we were not in the catchment, even though the property owners were under the impression we were.

**BarryG** · 08-23-2012, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Eastcoast

FWIW, I do know two couples who were either intentionally or incorrectly mislead into thinking that the houses that they bought fell into the Meredith catchment. At the end of the day it really came down to them to verify where the lines were drawn but I know that it caused a great deal of problems and anger for both couples.

Surprise! They both ended up in the burbs!

This makes sense because Meredith is the one and only good elementary school in the city.

**billy ross** · 08-23-2012, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

This makes sense because Meredith is the one and only good elementary school in the city.

It seems to me that those are the kind of brain surgeons who move to the burbs 'for the schools'.

**Eastcoast** · 08-23-2012, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by billy ross

It seems to me that those are the kind of brain surgeons who move to the burbs 'for the schools'.

Don't we already have one of those threads going!

I think it was either the trash, bicyclists, dog poop, hipsters or rude auto drivers that caused them to leave.

Perhaps it was the gentrifiers or anti-gentrifiers to blame...it's all a blur at this point.

Oh no, garage front houses, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

**cjm1971** · 08-23-2012, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by queenbee

The catchment conveniently forgoes renters

is that true? I thought the catchment was for anyone that resides within the boundaries...

**annie** · 08-23-2012, 04:03 PM

I think she was saying she rents and it's an area where a lot of people rent and it's not in the Meredith catchment.

**ArcticSplash** · 08-23-2012, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Eastcoast

FWIW, I do know two couples who were either intentionally or incorrectly mislead into thinking that the houses that they bought fell into the Meredith catchment. At the end of the day it really came down to them to verify where the lines were drawn but I know that it caused a great deal of problems and anger for both couples.

Surprise! They both ended up in the burbs!

If both sets of parents walked into the settlement table without even having expended a synapse to use Google to find the SDP's catchment maps, which have been online for about a decade now (I remember this topic coming up before 7 years ago on PB... newcomers kept asking which schools were where); plus they could have contacted the District on this thing called... a telephone... to validate the property address...

I really don't feel too sorry for their flight to the suburbs and something tells me their re-investment in suburban property won't have much of an effect on their children's eduction outcome, if at all if the parents are that dense.

**Eastcoast** · 08-23-2012, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by ArcticSplash

If both sets of parents walked into the settlement table without even having expended a synapse to use Google to find the SDP's catchment maps, which have been online for about a decade now (I remember this topic coming up before 7 years ago on PB... newcomers kept asking which schools were where); plus they could have contacted the District on this thing called... a telephone... to validate the property address...

I really don't feel too sorry for their flight to the suburbs and something tells me their re-investment in suburban property won't have much of an effect on their children's eduction outcome, if at all if the parents are that dense.

I oddly feel that this really made your month.

Essentially I was responding to the OP that people do make mistakes or are misled or a little of both. RE transactions can be stressful, emotional and confusing...combine this with the stress of moving, sometimes from a great distance and problems can arise.

Don't be too concerned about the two families that I referred to, one sold at a tidy profit and the other will hold the property (while renting it out) until the market allows them to make a killing. As far as burbs, education and intelligence related to genetics...what can I say, three of the four hold degrees from the top two Ivy's and either family could buy and sell you a couple times over.

However people do make mistakes, sometimes big ones.

**thegreattwizz** · 08-23-2012, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Eastcoast

either family could buy and sell you a couple times over.

::mmmm popcorn::

**Eastcoast** · 08-23-2012, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by thegreattwizz

::mmmm popcorn::

Ha!

I might add, they could also then move on to buying and selling me as well.

**Kaizen** · 10-25-2012, 12:06 AM

wow

You dont even have to "read" the map - either type an address or allow the net to figure it out (how it does that Im not sure however)

https://webapps.philasd.org/school_finder/

**lucidinnature** · 10-25-2012, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by Kaizen

wow

You dont even have to "read" the map - either type an address or allow the net to figure it out (how it does that Im not sure however)

https://webapps.philasd.org/school_finder/

Yeah, I don't quite get how someone is asserting that Meredith's catchment somehow 'forgoes renters'. I know at least 3 'renters' whose kids go to meredith. Additionally, 50% of the catchment area is rental properties(at least it was in 2009 when I did a neighborhood analysis).

**OldMama** · 10-26-2012, 09:36 AM

Given plans to close a number of schools, I wouldn't put all my eggs in the catchment basket.

**seand** · 10-26-2012, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by OldMama

Given plans to close a number of schools, I wouldn't put all my eggs in the catchment basket.

Sort of. The trouble being, they are less likely to close sought after, "sucessful" schools (i.e. not Meredith) so if anything closings might make Meredith's catchment might expand. Though I wouldn't bet a $400k townhouse on it.