What happens next for Philly schools that are closing or receiving closing schools? Here’s how to weigh in.
The Philadelphia School District said it will soon open applications for transition teams to help manage what comes next for a number of city schools.
The Philadelphia School District will soon offer a new way to have a say in how Philadelphia school closings, mergers, and other transitions happen.
The district announced Thursday that it will soon open applications for 50 transition teams to help manage what comes next for a host of schools — those closing or beginning phaseouts at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and those receiving students from those schools in 2027-28.
The school board voted in April to close 17 Philadelphia schools, some as soon as the end of the 2026-27 school year. It’s also ordering mergers and other changes. The $3 billion plan, the funding for which is not assured, also plans for 169 renovation projects at schools around the city.
The plan remains unpopular, with several City Council members still pressuring the district to change course on some closures.
The aim for the transition committees, officials said, it to “bring together students, families, educators, staff, and community partners to provide input, help identify priorities, and support the development of transition plans that reflect the needs of each school community.”
A new school transition office, led by Shakeera Warthen-Canty, will coordinate the work.
“We know that successful school transitions require more than a plan — they require meaningful partnership with the students, families, staff, and communities who will experience these changes,” Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said in a statement. “This next phase gives communities a clear opportunity to help shape the transition process and ensure that we are planning thoughtfully, collaboratively, and with students at the center.”
The applications will open Aug. 31 and can be filled out through Sept. 18.
Transition committees, made up of up to roughly 20 members, may include teachers and staff, parents and families, community members, and students.
Officials said the committees won’t be the only way for people to have their say. School-specific feedback opportunities will be announced later, they said.
Which 50 schools are forming transition teams?
The schools closing in 2027-28 are:
Blankenburg
Fitler
Lankenau High School
Robert Morris
Overbrook Elementary
Parkway Northwest
Parkway West
Pennypacker Elementary
Paul Robeson High School
John Welsh Elementary
The schools beginning phase-outs in 2027-28 are:
AMY Northwest
Penn Treaty
Harding Middle School
Stetson Middle School
Tilden Middle School
Wagner Middle School
The schools receiving students starting in 2027-28 are:
Bache-Martin Elementary
Barry Elementary
Bluford Elementary
Carnell Elementary
Cassidy Elementary
Catherine Elementary
Cramp Elementary
A.B. Day Elementary
F.S. Edmonds Elementary
Ellwood Elementary
Hackett Elementary
Hartranft Elementary
Heston Elementary
Howe Elementary
W.D. Kelley Elementary
Kensington Health Sciences Academy
Kensington High School
King High School
Lawton Elementary School
Ludlow Elementary School
John Marshall Elementary
Morton Elementary
Motivation High School
Patterson Elementary
Pennell Elementary
Prince Hall Elementary
James Rhoads Elementary
Rowen Elementary
Science Leadership Academy at Beeber
Sullivan Elementary
Martha Washington Elementary
