Where is Bridesburg? Bridesburg is a tight-knit, homegrown community situated along the Delaware River.

It is located just south of Philadelphias Northeast region. The neighborhood has a strong history, culture, and identity that are often passed down from generation to generation. The 19137 zip code, of which Bridesburg is the major part, accounts for a population of 8,638 residents which is a 7% increase over the past ten years. Population trends based off of information from the 2000 and 2010 Census data studies show that Bridesburg has experienced a significant amount of growth. The under 5 years old population group has increased by 21.8% in the last decade; while the 5 to 9 years old population group has increased by 2.7%. In addition, the 20-34 years old population group, which would account for the highest number of new births in the neighborhood, has increased by a combined total of 72.2% in the past decade. These population increases show that the numbers needed to support a quality, public Middle School in Bridesburg are available.

2000 to 2010 Census Comparison for ZIP Code 19137 2000 2010 % Change Total population 8,069 8,638 Under 5 years 449 547 5 to 9 years 551 566 10 to 14 years 635 590 15 to 19 years 539 590 20 to 24 years 469 586 25 to 29 years 489 658 30 to 34 years 558 629 Bridesburg Census Data

7.05% 21.83% 2.72% -7.09% 9.46% 24.95% 34.56% 12.72%

What is Bridesburg Elementary? Bridesburg Elementary is a public elementary school that services students from grades Kindergarten through 5th. The school currently has 403 students enrolled in their program. The integrity of a school and the richness of its academic rigor are measured by annual PSSA test scores. The PSSA is administered in Reading and Math in grades 3, 4, 5,6,7,8 and 11. The top two performance levels measured by the PSSA test are proficient and advanced. The amount of students as related to the whole student body of a school that score in the proficient or advanced categories determines if a school makes AYP (adequate yearly progress.) These labels and benchmarks are healthy indicators for both school officials and parents that a school is providing high quality education. Bridesburg Elementary has CONSISTENTLY made AYP for the past 9 years.

Bridesburg Elementary 2011/12 Made AYP 2010/11 Made AYP 2009/10 Made AYP 2008/09 Made AYP 2007/08 Made AYP 2006/07 Made AYP 2005/06 Made AYP 2004/05 Made AYP 2003/04 Made AYP Bridesburg AYP Data Page 9 In terms of comparison between Bridesburg Elementary and the School District of Philadelphia average for students at proficient and/or advanced, Bridesburg Elementary has CONSISTENTLY outperformed other district schools by as much as 57%. The following data tables break down these performance comparisons. Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 PSSA Grade 3 Math Bridesburg % SDP Average % 93 86.3 82.1 86.7 96.1 87.1 81.4 PSSA Grade 3 Reading Bridesburg % SDP Average % 84 72.8 80.8 80 81.9 81.5 74.3 % Greater 57.60% 39.20% 32.60% 31.30% 30.80% 23.30% 39.30% % Greater 42 46.6 52.1 54 52.6 58.3 44.6 50% 35.90% 35.50% 32.50% 35.70% 28.40% 39.90%

59 52.4 55.3 59.5 66.5 66.8 49.4

Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

PSSA Grade 4 Math Bridesburg % SDP Average % 93.3 81.2 86.8 85.6 91.9 93 66.7 PSSA Grade 4 Reading Bridesburg % SDP Average % 76 73.9 67.1 64.5 75.8 66.2 56.2 PSSA Grade 5 Math Bridesburg % SDP Average % 81.7 86.1 86.9 85.3 77.7 76.3 55.5 PSSA Grade 5 Reading Bridesburg % SDP Average % 61.9 75 67.2 55.8 57.4 61 44.4

% Greater 51.3 53 55.2 61.2 66.1 68.2 55.9 45% 34.70% 36.40% 28.50% 28% 26.60% 16% % Greater 52.50% 42% 36.20% 26.60% 34.60% 21.90% 25.60% % Greater 41.6 44.7 49.7 52.4 52.3 56.5 45.1 49% 48% 42.80% 38.50% 32.60% 25.90% 18.70% % Greater 48.90% 57.40% 45.90% 28.30% 29.70% 24.90% 22.20%

36.1 42.8 42.8 47.3 49.5 51.7 41.8

31.6 31.9 36.3 40 40.3 45.8 34.5

Bridesburg PSSA Data

The following is a list of academic achievements and awards, both local and national, which have been awarded to Bridesburg Elementary over the past decade. *School District Commendation/2000 *PSSA Achievement Award/2000 *Performance Target Award/2000 *School District Commendation/2001 * PSSA Achievement Award/2001 *AYP/2002 *AYP/2003 *National School Change Award/2003 *Best practice School Award/2003 *Pennsylvania Department of Education Award/2003 *School District Citation/2004 *AYP/2004 *Best Practice School Award/2004 *School District Citation For Academic Achievement/2004 *PSSA Achievement Award/2004 *Best Practice School Award/2005 *Best Practices Award/2006 *AYP/2006 *AYP/2007 *Best Practice School Award/2007 *NCUST Finalist (top 20 schools in the United States/2008 *NCUST Winner of Excellence in Education Award/2008 *Best Practice School Award/2008 *AYP/2008 *AYP/2009 *AYP/2010 *AYP/2011 *Member of the National Elementary Honor Society Bridesburg School Website Why add a Bridesburg Middle School?

To quote the website for the Philadelphia School District, the mission of the PSD is to, provide a high-quality education that prepares, ensures, and empowers all students to achieve their full intellectual and social potential in order to become lifelong learners and productive members of society.1 In addition, in his recent letters to district schools about

closings, expansions, and restructurings, Superintendent William Hite said, The [school reorganization] plan also includes recommendations for investments to improve safety, education programs and supports for students. As superintendent, my goal is to create a better-run, safer and higher-performing system of public schools in Philadelphia.2 However, the current system of public education options after 5th grade for Bridesburg families DOES NOT align with the Superintendents vision. The catchment area for the 19137 zip code sets up a linear pattern for students leaving Bridesburg Elementary to be fed into Warren G. Harding Middle School.3 The problem that arises at this juncture is the severe drop off in high quality education and safety. Using the same source, the Philadelphia School District website and Facilities Master Plan documents, it becomes clear that there will be a severe dip in terms of academic performance once students leave Bridesburg Elementary and enter Warren G. Harding Middle School. Warren G. Harding Middle School has not made AYP a single time in the past 9 years. In fact, they have been listed as receiving Corrective Action since 2003/2004 and have recently been named to the 2013/2014 list of PA Failing Schools. The comparison between Harding Middle School and other Philadelphia School District schools in terms of student achieving proficient and/or advanced is a very disturbing picture. Harding performs worse than other public schools in Philadelphia at a rate that is at least 25 percent BELOW the average. In most cases, Harding is anywhere from 30-60 percent BELOW the school district average. Harding AYP 2011/12 Corrective Action II10 2010/11 Corrective Action II9 2009/10 Corrective Action II8 2008/09 Corrective Action II7 2007/08 Corrective Action II6 2006/07 Corrective Action II5 2005/06 Corrective Action II4 2004/05 Corrective Action II3 2003/04 Corrective Action II2 Harding AYP Data page 20

Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

PSSA Grade 6 Math This School % SDP Average % 19.1 30.8 19 27.9 19 30.9 20.4 PSSA Grade 6 Reading This School % SDP Average % 17 22.2 13.5 24.1 20.6 28.1 26.5 This School % PSSA Grade 7 Math SDP Average % 28.4 21.3 29.5 26.5 36.6 37.5 39

% Change 40.6 46.7 49.7 54.3 57.2 61.3 52.3 -52% -34% -61% -48.60% -66.70% -49.50% -60.90% % Change -52.20% -39.30% -66.30% -43.50% -54.40% -38.10% -36.90% % Change -27.90% -47% -39% -50% -35.90% -36.10% -30.60% % Change -30.20% -44.40% -32.20% -52.30% -31.80% -31.50% -34.40%

35.6 36.6 40.1 42.7 45.2 45.4 42

39.4 40.2 48.4 53.7 57.1 58.7 56.2

PSSA Grade 7 Reading This School % SDP Average % 27.5 22.6 32.4 23.9 36.3 38.1 33.9

39.4 40.7 47.8 50.2 53.3 55.7 51.7

Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

This School %

PSSA Grade 8 Math SDP Average % 23.3 26.5 24.6 32 28.4 42.6 33.2

% Change 37 43.9 48.9 50.6 55.6 57 52.4 -37% -39.60% -49.60% -36.70% -48.90% -25.20% -36.60% % Change -28.90% -31.30% -27.50% -24.80% -32.20% -28.50% -33.10%

PSSA Grade 8 Reading This School % SDP Average % 31.6 33.9 40.5 46.6 45.4 44.7 38.7

44.5 49.4 55.9 62 67 62.6 57.9

Harding PSSA Scores The platform that Superintendent Hite is basing his education reform on is two fold. The first part is increasing high quality educational opportunities. The transition from Bridesburg Elementary to Warren G. Harding Middle School does not fulfill that promise. The second part is increasing student safety. The school climate at Harding is much different than what students are used to at Bridesburg Elementary. Citing data from the School District of Philadelphia, there were a total of 8 serious incidents at Bridesburg Elementary from 2009-2012. The number for serious incidents at Harding, which includes assault, drugs, and weapons, was 113. The data proves once again that the transition from Bridesburg Elementary to Warren G. Harding Middle School does not fulfill the promise of improving student safety.

In many neighborhoods, the alternatives to underperforming and unsafe public schools are Charter and/or Catholic schools. The community of Bridesburg has watched both of its neighborhoods Catholic schools close in the past 10 years. That option is now more costly than ever for parents since any Catholic school alternative is out of the neighborhood which results in higher tuition and transportation fare. The local Charter school options, Franklin Towne and First Philadelphia, have outrageously long waiting lines that hinder families from getting their children into those schools after 5th grade. The only option that guarantees a linear transition from K-8th in those schools is entering at Kindergarten. However, even this is not always an option. Franklin Towne Charter Elementary recently held its lottery to draw for the open Kindergarten spots for next year. Of the 350 applicants submitted, only 30 were chosen. What options do the parents have after that for enrolling their child in a high quality and safe school that will see them through from Kindergarten to 8th grade? The best option for the neighborhood and its families is to reward the academic achievements of Bridesburg Elementary by allowing them to expand by adding a Middle School.
1. School District Mission Statement 2. Superintendent Hite's Vision for Schools 3. Catchment map for 19137 zip code

Are other schools expanding in Philadelphia? The School District of Philadelphia will see three K-6 schools and one K-5 school expand to become K-8 models. However, these schools do not align the Superintendents vision of, create[ing] a better-run, safer and higher-performing system of public schools in Philadelphia. The 4 schools are Stearne Elementary, Comegys Elementary, Harrington Elementary, and Mitchell Elementary. Stearne has not made AYP ONCE in the past 9 years. Comegys has not made AYP since 2003/2004. Both Mitchell and Harrington were issued warnings for the 2001/2012 academic year. The only appealing number with these schools is that they are all under capacity. However, they are underperforming when measured against the same standards that Bridesburg Elementary is held to. Furthermore, Bridesburg is currently at or over capacity. Both the need and numbers are there to support a Middle School option for Bridesburg residents. SRC School Change Recommendations page 3 Samuel Powel Elementary School, a K-4 public school in West Philadelphia, recently received a grant in the amount of $215,000 from the Philadelphia School Partnership to develop plans to add a Middle School. Samuel Powel is a high quality option that deserves this

expansion. However, when you compare Powels achievements with Bridesburgs, the evidence is there to show that Bridesburg deserve the approval for expansion as well.
Bridesburg 3rd Grade Math Powel 3rd Grade Math Bridesburg 3rd Grade Reading Powel 3rd Grade Reading Bridesburg 4th Grade Math Powel 4th Grade Math Bridesburg 4th Grade Reading Powel 4th Grade Reading

20052006 20062007 20072008 20082009 20092010 20102011 20112012

93 86.3 82.1 86.7 96.1 87.1 81.4

84 59.3 59.5 43.8 61 78.8 61.3

84 72.8 80.8 80 81.9 81.5 74.3

63 70.3 65.9 56.3 56.1 68.1 70.4

93.3 81.2 86.8 85.6 91.9 93 66.7

51.8 75 66.7 66.7 49 70 83.4

76 73.9 67.1 64.5 75.8 66.2 56.2

42.8 71.2 62.8 71.1 43.2 70 66.7

Bridesburg has higher percentage all 7 academic years.

Bridesburg has higher percentage all 7 academic years.

Bridesburg has higher percentage 6 out of 7 academic years.

Bridesburg has higher percentage 4 out of 7 academic years.

Out of 28 measure test scores (7 academic years multiplied by 4 grade and subject levels) Bridesburg outperformed Powel by a ratio of 24:28 or 6:7. Those types of consistent scores

overwhelmingly support the idea that Bridesburg should receive the expansion approval to accept Middle School students.

How can Bridesburg Elementary expand? In order to accommodate a Middle School expansion, Bridesburg Elementary will need additional building space. The school just completed a renovation to the existing building that added more room for the K-5th students. Therefore, an addition to that building seems farfetched. When surveying the neighborhood for possible options, one thing becomes clear: there are two abandoned Catholic schools that could accommodate the space and need for a Middle School. Of the two available choices, Saint John Cantius/PJP II appears to be the better option. The first reason is that it has been empty for the shorter period of time since it only closed its doors this past summer. The second reason is square footage of the building. According to a report from the City of Philadelphias Office of Property Assessment, Saint John Cantius/PJP II has a land area of 39,600 square feet. The school already has R9A zoning which is described as single family row and twin. The certified values for 2012 list the school as having a market value of $316,800. When the school was operating as Catholic school, it served grades K-8 with two classrooms per grade level. That accounts for a total of 19 available classrooms. In addition, the school has an established gymnasium with stage, cafeteria, kitchen, library, music room, science lab, and computer lab. The school already has an established parking space on the side for staff parking and ample school yard space around the school itself for use during lunch, recess, and physical education class. In the past 5 years, the school had restructured its parking lot to allow for early morning school drop offs to happen in a smooth and orderly fashion. These logistical figures make this site a very attractive option that is currently underutilized. By allowing this site to be used for Bridesburg Middle School, there will be a domino affect on the local economy and community. Birdesburg is already an attractive option for younger families. However, I know from speaking with parents recently that they are reluctant to enroll their children in Bridesburg Elementary because of the uncertainty that exists after 5th grade. By utilizing this site, parents will be encouraged once again to not only enroll their students at Bridesburg Elementary but also commit to living in Bridesburg by hopefully buying a home here. The addition of a high quality and safe Middle School option for the neighborhood could also have a positive affect on the property values of homes in the neighborhood. Families that would consider moving because of a lack of school choice will now be more likely to stay. Growth within the community and into the community will be positively affected by the addition of Bridesburg Middle School. Saint John Cantius School Property Assessment

Front of Saint John Cantius/PJP II School:

Staff parking lot/Almond Street Exit of Saint John Cantius/PJP II School:

Schoolyard at Saint John Cantius/PJP II School:

Area of Schoolyard where buses and parent drop-offs/pickups would occur:

Street view from East Thompson Street of gated entrance to front of Saint John Cantius/PJP II School:

Aerial view of Saint John Cantius/PJP II property: A. Drive way where school buses and parent drop-offs/pickups would enter.

B. Drive way where school buses and parent drop-offs/pickups would exit. P. Staff parking lot with enter/exit driveway

The final and seemingly most important factor driving my argument is student success, achievement, and confidence as they move along on their educational journey. Recent studies from Dr. Martin West, an assistant professor of education at Harvard School of Education, make a strong case for the K-8 model. His studies focused on districts in New York and Florida but he referenced Philadelphia as a similar situation due to the size and diversity of the district. His research showed that the K-8 model increased student success because of the collaboration and linear curriculum that can be established from the beginning of a students entry at the Kindergarten level. And although the plan I am offering is not a traditional K-8 model in a single building, the closeness of the buildings would allow for a smoother transition from the elementary to middle school years. In addition, teachers and school administrators would be able to work in a more effective manner at planning for the transition since a large majority of students that would attend Bridesburg Middle School would be coming from Bridesburg Elementary. This trend would establish a link between the two separate buildings and establish a strong foundation that the students and staff could build upon. K-8 Model Information