PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Staffers from the Philadelphia School District are canvassing neighborhoods, campaign-style, to try to boost sagging enrollment — by Thursday.
The district projected a total enrollment of 116,000, but so far, only about 113,000 have shown up for class. Speaking on KYW Newsradio’s “After School” program this week, Superintendent Tony Watlington said district staffers have been knocking on doors trying to find those missing students.
“We have teams out canvassing neighborhoods and making sure to locate every student and to work with the parents to get them enrolled in school,” he said. “I also think there’s a place for our teams to be seeking out block captains and ward leaders as well. They’ve got an organization in various neighborhoods. They know the families, and we need to be able to use all vehicles and avenues available to us.”
Watlington said student performance is tied to attendance.
“Children who are in school 90% of the month — 90% of the year — absolutely have a better shot at performing well by the end of the year,” he noted.
District enrollment saw an increase of about 1,800 two years ago, but over the last decade, enrollment is down nearly 14%.
There’s also an economic incentive for the district. Districts must report enrollment to the state on Oct. 1 — a figure that’s used to calculate per-pupil funding.
