The Philadelphia school district is planning to reduce the number of standalone middle schools as part of a broader strategy aimed at cutting down on empty seats and enhancing student achievement. Superintendent Tony Watlington disclosed this intention during a recent Board of Education meeting.
Currently, the district operates 14 standalone middle schools, serving students from either fifth or sixth grade through eighth grade. Watlington emphasized the need to streamline grade transitions, allowing students to move between schools less frequently, which he believes will make better use of district resources.
“I want to be clear that does not mean that the traditional middle school is good or bad,” Watlington said. “We want to limit the number of transitions that our students have to make from one school to the next, as a strategy to continue to keep our enrollment and to build the enrollment and to meet our young peoples’ needs.”
Watlington’s remarks concerning standalone middle schools were part of an update regarding the district’s facilities planning process. This comprehensive planning may lead to school closures alongside new co-locations and building upgrades as officials seek to ‘rightsize’ the district. Although school closures are being considered, officials emphasized that no specific list of schools has been finalized, and they will engage families and community stakeholders in the decision-making process before any actions are taken.
The district will evaluate various factors, including the history of school closures in certain neighborhoods, as it develops its recommendations for schools that may be closed.
The effectiveness of standalone middle schools has been an ongoing topic of debate. According to Watlington, studies of district data indicate that students in Philadelphia achieve better outcomes with fewer transitions between schools. One such study from 2001 found that students who remained in their elementary schools for middle grades typically performed better. National research has reflected similar findings.
However, some studies comparing outcomes for students attending standalone middle schools versus those in K-8 schools indicate that there isn’t a significant difference in achievement.
Watlington mentioned that streamlining grade bands would align with facilities planning focused on improving access to school programs, including Advanced Placement classes and arts offerings.
“Our school district needs to increase access to high quality academic and extracurricular programming across all neighborhoods,” Watlington articulated. “Because right now, there are huge disparities based on where you live.”
Many school board members have expressed their support for reducing the number of standalone middle schools. They are hopeful that this move will result in enhanced academic opportunities for students.
“I am really happy to see the reduction on the grade bands,” commented board member Wanda Novalés. “I think we’re going to see a great benefit from that in our schools.”
The district’s facilities planning emphasizes the need for adequate seating in overcrowded schools while minimizing surplus seats in underenrolled ones. Currently, many standalone middle schools exhibit a stark imbalance in enrollment numbers across the city.
Most standalone middle schools are underenrolled, with many reporting less than half of their intended capacity last school year. For instance, Tilden Middle School had over 260 students in a building designed for 1,200. Similarly, the Academy for the Middle Years at Northwest had an enrollment of only 150 students, resulting in nearly a quarter of its seats going unused.
Conversely, two middle schools that were overcapacity last year were both located in Northeast neighborhoods. Baldi Middle School, for example, accommodated 200 more students than it had available space for.
Board President Reginald Streater has urged families and community members to participate in upcoming engagement events to provide feedback on the facilities planning process.
“There is no secret plan hidden in a drawer somewhere,” Streater stated. “This is really, truly intended to be a process that’s co-created with the public.”
The district aims to hold 16 engagement sessions in July, available both in-person and virtually, to discuss its facilities planning process. Details about these events can be found on the district’s website.
image source from：chalkbeat
