Ackerman says scores up, names new Edison principal

Philadelphia Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said Wednesday that city students' state test scores are up for the eighth consecutive year.

"For the first time ever, more than half of our students now score in the proficient or advanced level," Ackerman said in brief remarks before the School Reform Commission.

Students in third through eighth grade and eleventh grade took the exams in reading and math this spring.

Ackerman also said that the district's "Empowerment" schools - 105 chronically failing schools given extra supports and closer scrutiny by the central office - mostly showed "significant and dramatic" gains in reading and math.

More details are expected later in the afternoon.

Ackerman also announced that Edison High, one of the district's more troubled high schools, will have a new principal in September. She is Marilyn Perez, currently a district regional superintendent.

The superintendent said she and her staff searched for the right leader for Edison for months.

"This new leader of Edison is courageous, courageous enough to take a detour from her upwardly mobile career track," Ackerman said, adding that Perez is "an educator in our own backyard, someone who has a history of success at anything she does."

Perez has been an educator for 17 years, working as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and administrator in the chief academic office as well as her current job as head of the city's Central region.

Edison, which educates a populations of primarily poor and Latino students, has long struggled.

But Perez said she welcomes the challenge.

"The opportunity to lead Edison High School allows me to share with young people the experiences of my own journey and what is possible, even in the midst of adversity," Perez said. "I believe that Edison High School can stand for excellence and a great school."