History
A history of Philadelphia public school buildings, and the voices of building stakeholders.
History of a Room
Public schools in Philadelphia have gone through several eras of building construction. After construction, most buildings never received the consistent maintenance that they need, resulting in toxic hazards and poor learning environments. Teachers and students in Philadelphia have always been on the front lines advocating for better school facilities and continued maintenance.
Timeline
How did Philadelphia schools arrive at the current facilities crisis? Read on for a selected history of public education in Philadelphia, with a focus on school facilities, funding, and the forces that have shaped construction and maintenance in the district.
1837
The Philadelphia Board of Education opens the school system to all children, free of tuition. Central High School is built at Juniper & Market Streets.
1854
Pennsylvania legalizes segregation in all schools with over 20 Black students.
1883
James A. MacAlister becomes the first superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia.
1909
Philadelphia’s schools are so overcrowded that 1/3 of students can only attend class part-time. Chicago, which only has 33% more students, outspends Philadelphia by 250% on school construction.
1911
The legislature allows the School District to borrow money, beginning a 28-year construction boom during which 15 high schools were built.
1920
Irwin T. Catharine is appointed district architect. Through 1937, he oversees the construction of 104 new schools and renovations to over 75 more.
1933
The New Deal founds the Public Works Administration, which constructs 4 new schools in Philadelphia, including Bok High School and Central High School’s new location in the Logan section.
1945
Postwar suburbanization begins, leading to a boom in school construction outside Philadelphia city limits.
1954
Brown v. Board of Education outlaws school segregation. The Philadelphia Board of Education will not mandate that all schools integrate until 1963.
1965
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers wins collective bargaining rights for all School District of Philadelphia teachers.
1965
Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which establishes Title I to direct federal funding to low-income school districts.
1967
Thousands of high school students walk out of Philadelphia classrooms to demand improved school conditions and the teaching of Black history and culture. Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo orders 400 police officers to attack demonstrators.
1970
A period of labor unrest begins; the PFT will strike 6 times in the next decade, increasing teacher salaries and working conditions and doubling the district’s budget.
1983
The United States Commission on Excellence in Education releases a report detailing failures in public schools and calling for educational reform.
1984
The EPA fines the School District of Philadelphia for asbestos issues at Masterman and Franklin Learning Center.
1992
State funding for Philadelphia schools drops below 50% of the district’s annual budget.
1996
The Philadelphia Student Union organizes a citywide walkout to protest budget cuts and poor conditions in schools.
1998
In response to a district budget crisis, the state legislature votes to replace the Philadelphia Board of Education with a School Reform Commission appointed by the mayor and governor.
2001
Philadelphia City Council passes a ten-year abatement on property taxes for new construction, reducing the tax base for schools.
2002
George W. Bush signs No Child Left Behind, which aims to reform public education by tying school funding to standardized test scores.
2010
The district begins the Renaissance Schools Initiative, which transfers control of certain neighborhood schools to private charter managers.
2013
The SRC votes to close 24 schools and lays off over 3700 employees, including all school counselors.
2017
The SRC votes to dissolve itself and return the School District of Philadelphia to local control. Mayor Jim Kenney appoints a new Board of Education.
2021
As schools prepare to reopen after COVID shutdowns, teachers and parents at Masterman School protest unsafe building conditions, including asbestos and falling debris.
References
Bixler, Michael. “Remembering Philly’s 1967 School Walkout & the Attack on Teen Activism.” Hidden City Philadelphia, 13 Mar. 2018, hiddencityphila.org/2018/03/remembering-phillys-1967-school-walkout-the-attack-on-teenage-activism/.
Cutler III, William W. “Public Education: The School District of Philadelphia.” The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities at Rutgers University, 2013, philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/public-education-high-schools/.
Eisenberg, Emma Copley. “The Voice They Were Born to Use.” The Philadelphia Citizen, 13 June 2016, thephiladelphiacitizen.org/philadelphia-student-union/.
Finkel, Ken. “The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia’s Schools.” Philly History Blog, City of Philadelphia, 9 Dec. 2011, blog.phillyhistory.org/index.php/2011/12/the-rise-and-fall-of-philadelphias-schools/.
Gold, Eva, et al. Philadelphia’s Renaissance Schools Initiative: 18 Month Interim Report. Research for Action, Feb. 2012.
Graham, Kristen A. “Notable Moments during 17 Years of Philly’s School Reform Commission.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 29 June 2018, www.inquirer.com/philly/education/src-timeline-20180629.html.
Paul, Catherine. “Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.” Social Welfare History Project, 29 Apr. 2018, socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/.
School Choice : Timeline of Federal Support for K–12 Education. 1 Sept. 2017, congressionaldigest.com/issue/school-choice-2/timeline-of-federal-support-for-k-12-education/. Accessed 8 Dec. 2021.
Spencer, John P. “Public Education: High Schools.” The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities at Rutgers University, 2013, philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/public-education-high-schools/.
Ujifusa, Steven. “Irwin T. Catharine, Philadelphia’s School Design Czar.” Philly History Blog, City of Philadelphia, 27 Feb. 2020, blog.phillyhistory.org/index.php/2020/02/irving-t-catharine-philadelphias-school-design-czar/.
Wolfman-Arent, Avi. “A Day before Philly Schools Reopen, Facilities Woes Take Center Stage.” WHYY, 30 Aug. 2021, whyy.org/articles/a-day-before-philly-schools-reopen-facilities-woes-take-center-stage/.