Patrick Kirkstra wrote a detailed article about a controversial proposal to close Alexander Wilson Elementary, move the students to Lea Elementary, and expand the boundary for the University of Pennsylvania-sponsored Penn Alexander Elementary School that has wreaked havoc on the University City real estate market and flared up tensions regarding gentrification.  The school in question is technically named Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander University of Pennsylvania Partnership School or the “Penn Alexander School” for short.  A little history about the school and its affiliation with UPenn is below.  For at least10 years the Penn Alexander catchment has been a community where Philadelphia residents can live, with suburban sized homes and yards, send their children to public school, and have access to Center City for work and play.  As such the community has thrived.  As an incentive for affluent families choose to stay in and near Center City, some groups, including the Center City District, are pushing for better performing public schools in West Philadelphia, South Philadelphia and parts of Center City.  As a 31 year old father of a soon to be 7 month old I can tell you that fears about the Philadelphia school district and the cost of private school tuition are a frequent topic of conversation at dinners with friends and at home with my wife.

Here’s a little history about the Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander University of Pennsylvania Partnership School from their website:

In June 1998, the University of Pennsylvania, School District of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers announced an unprecedented commitment to public education: the creation of an exemplary PreK-8 neighborhood public school. The Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander University of Pennsylvania Partnership School was developed with the participation of parents, teachers, university faculty, community members, and neighborhood groups. The school was named for Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, a distinguished graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. The School opened with Kindergarten and first grade in September 2001. The phase-in of all grades (PreK-8) was complete in 2004. The School serves approximately 500 students in grades K through 8, along with two PreK Headstart classes.  Located on a five-acre campus site, this unique public school has already been hailed as a “gold standard” by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities for bringing the most effective, research-proven educational practices into the classroom.  Penn’s partnership with PAS is a campus-wide endeavor. The University subsidizes the school with an operating contribution of $1330 per student—an amount that helps to keep the student-teacher ratio low (17:1 for kindergarten and 23:1 for grades 1-8).

In addition, Penn has participated in raising additional funding, including a grant from the William Penn Foundation to support the school’s community programming and the creation of the PAS Endowment, seeded with gifts from former Penn president Judith Rodin and others. The University also maintains the lush green space surrounding the school and cooperates with the community and the school in developing the grounds for use by students and University City families.  A large number of Penn schools, departments, and programs are working with PAS to enrich the students’ educational experiences. Penn Graduate School of Education is closely involved, contributing expertise and hands-on effort to Penn Alexander by providing Penn student teachers in the classrooms, professional development courses and workshops for staff, and enriched curriculum in literacy, math and science as well as an integrated global studies program at the middle grades. Penn students from all across the campus serve as interns, tutors, pen pals, and leaders of after-school clubs. Penn faculty in many different disciplines develop curriculum units and assist PAS teachers with instruction. Penn organizations provide reduced-rate or complimentary tickets and services to PAS students. Every grade at Penn Alexander has its own unique Penn partnership, and all students benefit from the depth and breadth of the school’s collaboration with the University. The school is grateful for the support of the Kelly Writers House, Department of Music, School of Social Policy and Practice, School of Dental Medicine, Annenberg Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University Museum, School of Nursing, Penn Law, University Bookstore, Weiss Tech House, WXPN, Department of Recreation, Center for Community Partnerships, Community and Government Affairs and many others.

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Blog post compliments of CenterCityTeam’s Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Frank L. DeFazio, Esquire
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