Philadelphia School District

The Philadelphia School District, one of the largest in the United States, educates approximately 200,000 students and faces numerous challenges typical of large urban districts, including low test scores, declining enrollments, and financial constraints. The district's special admissions high schools have historically been bright spots, renowned for their high standards and college preparation. 

However, the existing admissions process became a point of contention for its perceived lack of equity. Enterprising parents often relocated to ensure their children attended feeder middle schools that improved their chances of acceptance into these prestigious high schools. In response to concerns and a report highlighting the lack of representativeness in special admissions schools, Superintendent William Hite and his team devised a new, more equitable admissions policy. 

The new system, which fully took effect for the 2022-23 school year, replaced state test requirements with a computer-graded essay and introduced a centralized lottery. This method prioritized students from historically disadvantaged zip codes. The rollout faced significant hurdles, including a lawsuit from parents and logistical issues within the schools, leading to difficulties in managing new student demographics and leaving some schools with empty seats. These challenges prompted the new Superintendent, Tony Watlington, to seek improvements and reevaluate the selection process.