Philly schools boss Ackerman eyes changes for School of the Future

Although each of the small schools that opened in 2006 reported high graduation and college-acceptance rates, a poor showing by students at the High School of the Future on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment [PSSA] tests in 2008-2009 is cause for Superintendent Arlene Ackerman to say that there would be major changes there next year.

Ackerman said that she's not talking about changing the school's leadership - the school had four principals by the time the Class of 2010 began its junior year - but that the district needs to "give lots of attention to the School of the Future moving forward."

Juniors last year at the three other small schools that opened in 2006 scored far above the district average in reading and math, but the Class of 2010 at the School of the Future scored far below it, district records show.

Of the four small schools that opened in 2006, the School of the Future was the only regular-admission school. Students at the other schools had to meet certain academic criteria for admission.

-Valerie Russ