In under a decade, Wissahickon Charter can claim what many more established schools cannot - students who are enthusiastic about learning, parents who are involved in their child's education, and teachers who truly know and respect students and families. Key successes include:
- Renewal of its charter through 2012 by the Philadelphia School District.
- Growth from 250 to over 400 students, through a 2005 middle school wing.
- Advancement in 2007 test scores of "proficient to better," exceeding citywide School District and charter school averages by up to 12% in math and 8.4% in reading.
- Community security - 95% of parents say their children feel safe and enjoy coming to school.
Wissahickon Charter is uniquely poised to assure students' ongoing progress, while providing its best-practice curriculum resources to public educators region-wide. The school has developed a three-year Agenda for Growth to advance learning and build partnerships through: a model Collaborative Eco-Learning Center for middle school education, a fund for teacher retention, and purchase of its facility as a permanent home.
This Agenda will assure a brighter future for a generation of youth too often held back by poverty, violence and limited opportunity for learning. To achieve its goals, Wissahickon Charter has launched a $3,000,000+ fund-raising campaign to further its pioneering work to develop and promote excellence in public education. Success will send a strong message of support for progress in Philadelphia's schools.