PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The School District of Philadelphia is altering the enrollment process for its criteria-based schools, but the controversial admissions lottery remains. The move follows a review ordered by Superintendent Tony Watlington.
"It became clear that, while school selection is important for providing our students equitable opportunities to attend a school of their choice, our implementation needed a critical assessment and improvement," Watlington said in a letter to parents Thursday.
Until two years ago, principals at 39 criteria-based schools had some influence over student admissions. The admissions lottery, which prioritized students from under-represented ZIP codes for some schools, was instituted in 2021 to increase equity. But strict adherence to admissions criteria including PSSA scores also resulted in open seats at some schools, because not enough qualified students were selected in the lottery.
The admissions lottery for magnet schools launched in the name of equity two years ago will stay, district spokeswoman Monique Braxton told KYW Newsradio. "The district will continue to use a centralized lottery and waitlist system, applying specific grades that are school-specific, looking at attendance, looking at PSSA criteria," she said.
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The lottery will give preference to certain underrepresented ZIP codes for enrollment at Academy at Palumbo, Carver Engineering & Science, Central High School, and Julia R. Masterman Middle and High School.
One major change is that qualified eighth-graders at magnets with middle and high schools such as Masterman or Carver will automatically be able to continue at the high school without having to enter the lottery. Braxton says, in the coming years, the district plans to reduce enrollment at Masterman's larger middle school to accommodate those students moving on to the high school.
A report from the consulting firm Accenture said the district needed to improve communication with parents about the school selection process. Braxton said the district would be alerting parents to the process earlier and more often. Applications for school selection will be accepted between Sept. 15 and Oct. 27.
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