Penn Alexander School - Philadelphia, PA

Penn Alexander opened in 2001 as the result of an unprecedented partnership between the School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, and the University of Pennsylvania to demonstrate that urban neighborhood schools can be successful academically and socially for all students and serve to revive a struggling, yet diverse socio-economic neighborhood. Students are successful because every partner-principal, parent, teachers, and community-is committed to ensuring that every student meets, or exceeds, the social and academic identified objectives. Navigated by an instructional leader who sets a tone of high expectations for all, the school invests in the whole child. Closing the achievement gap would not be possible without each partner, and the strong belief that education is not limited to classroom-based academic interactions. Teachers and students are supported in this endeavor in various ways-through annual school and community events, through community and partner programming, through parent engagement, and through the rich opportunities provided by the Penn partnership. This network of individuals works together in collaboration to ensure that every child receives what he or she needs both academically and socially, so that the school's mission to maximize the academic and personal competence of all its students to become successful lifelong learners and productive citizens in a diverse and highly technological society can be achieved. The school has produced 11 National Board Certified Teachers, has maintained a 95% acceptance rate to selective high schools, and has earned numerous awards for student achievement in science, technology, and music.