Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
The guidelines for how students are admitted to Philadelphia\u2019s magnet schools are changing.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia School District officials announced a number of shifts Wednesday that will be put into place for the application window for the 2027-28 school year, opening this fall.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not yet clear when the school district will open the 2027-28 application process for its 37 criteria-based schools.<\/p>\n
The changes are:<\/p>\n
Only students\u2019 grades in math, English and science will count toward students\u2019 eligibility for criteria-based schools. Social studies grades will no longer count.<\/p>\n
The zip codes that guarantee admission to four of the city\u2019s top magnet schools to students are shifting. Children who live in 19132, 19133, 19135, 19138, 19140 and 19141 who meet academic criteria are now guaranteed admission to Masterman, Central, Carver High School of Engineering and Science and Academy at Palumbo.<\/p>\n
New to the list are 19138 \u2014 Germantown<\/a> \u2014 and 19141 \u2014 sections of North Philadelphia<\/a> including Logan and East Oak Lane.<\/p>\n No longer on the preference list are 19121 \u2014 parts of North Philadelphia including Brewerytown<\/a> and Sharswood \u2014 and 19136, Holmesburg<\/a> and Torresdale<\/a>.<\/p>\n The zip code list is re-calculated annually based on which sections of the city were most underrepresented for admissions to Philadelphia\u2019s selective schools.<\/p>\n Students who attended pre-kindergarten program at a district school now get preference for admission to that school\u2019s kindergarten class.<\/p>\n Students who attended a district summer career and technical education program now get preference for admission to a career and technical education program.<\/p>\n More students will receive individualized review, or consideration for admission to criteria-based schools, as long as they meet eligibility requirements for any of the five schools they apply to. Individualized review applies to any student who is an English Learner, or who has a Individual Education Plan or qualifies for a federal 504 plan. <\/p>\n The change is \u201cto allow more students with disabilities or who are English learners to access magnet schools,\u201d officials said.<\/p>\n The changes come weeks after a judge signed off on a $650,000 settlement<\/a> to a lawsuit brought by three families challenging the special-admissions policy.<\/p>\n