PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia School District has announced an overhaul of its special admissions process, with an eye toward equity.
Qualified students will now enter a lottery for admission to five of the city’s magnet schools.
It’s a move to make the system of getting into what are now being called “criteria-based” schools more equitable by removing admissions obstacles for Black students and students of color.
Historically, there have more white and Asian students at Philadelphia magnet schools than at the district overall. The district is now changing the admissions process in an effort to make it more equitable.
Students who meet academic qualifications will apply to a lottery run by the central office.
Preference will be given to those from underrepresented zip ccodes applying to five magnets: Masterman, Central, The Academy at Palumbo, Carver High School of Engineering and Science and Parkway Center City Middle College.
School District of Philadelphia Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chief Sabriya Jubilee, said it’s part of the district’s pledge to be an anti-racist organization.
“We recognize that there will be people who are uncomfortable with it,” Jubilee said at a news conference Wednesday at district headquarters.
“But we’re leaning into that discomfort and we’re going to do what we need to do to do right by our students.”
Before now, principals at magnets had some say over which students are admitted to their schools. District Chief of Student Support Services Karyn Lynch said humans are being taken out of the decision-making equation as much as possible.
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“In the past, we received feedback that there was the thought that there was a wizard behind the screen that was making decisions about the selection of students," said Lynch.
Now, she says, applicants’ writing samples will be digitally scored.
And don’t call Philly magnets “special admissions” schools. Lynch says all schools are “special,” so the district is now referring to them as “criteria-based” schools.
Students in all grades at all schools may apply to schools outside of their catchment.
The application window is open until November 21. Click here to apply.