Facilities Planning Process
“Thank you for visiting the Facilities Planning Process website. Here you can find information that explains how we are working to provide greater access to high quality academic and extracurricular programs across neighborhoods. Doing so will help us become the fastest improving large urban public school district in the nation.”
– Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
Four Key Themes Guiding the Next Phase of Planning
Strengthening PreK–8 Programming Through Better Use of Space
Improving access to strong, high-quality PreK–8 learning environments through better use of facilities and resources.
Learn MoreReducing Unnecessary School Transitions for Students
Creating predictable and supportive school pathways to minimize mid-school moves and disruptions.
Learn MoreReinvesting in Neighborhood High Schools as Community Anchors
Building strong, engaging high schools that serve as thriving community hubs for learning and opportunity.
Learn MoreExpanding Access to Grades 5–12 Criteria-Based and CTE Schools
Providing equitable access to consistent academic experiences and community across more schools.
Learn MoreDecision Making Process
Four Key Themes Guiding the Next Phase of Planning
Strengthening PreK–8 Programming Through Better Use of Space
Many school programs with declining enrollment, or which operate in aging buildings, struggle to offer a full range of high-quality classes, activities, enrichment opportunities, and supports.
Our goal: Improve student and educator access to spaces, staffing, and resources needed for comprehensive, high-quality PreK–8 teaching and learning environments.
This could include:
- Merging or co-locating schools
- Investing in more suitable buildings
- Increasing access to high-quality academics, extracurriculars, & enrichment
Reducing Unnecessary School Transitions for Students
Transitions between schools can be disruptive to learning and community connection. Research supports that students do better when they have fewer transitions between school programs during their PreK-12 experience.
Our goal: Create more predictable and supportive school pathways for students.
This could include:
- Increasing PreK-8 schools
- Adjusting existing grade configurations
- Strengthening continuity of school culture and supports
Reinvesting in Neighborhood High Schools as Community Anchors
Some neighborhood high schools lack a full range of academic enrichment and post-high school preparation pathways, while some smaller magnet high schools lack extracurricular programs and diverse enrichment opportunities.
Our goal: Ensure every neighborhood high school offers strong, engaging academic, extracurricular, and enrichment programs while providing welcoming environments for students.
This could include:
- Targeted building improvements
- Strengthening partnerships
- Adding theme-based or career-connected programs to neighborhood schools
Expanding Access to Grades 5–12 Criteria-Based and CTE Schools
The Philadelphia community desires schools that allow students to learn in one community from middle grades through high school.
Our goal: At more schools, provide equitable access to consistent academic experiences.
This could include:
- More seats at 5-12 schools
- Creating new 5-12 pathways
- Ensuring fair access across neighborhoods
Project History
The School District of Philadelphia is committed to accelerating academic achievement while expanding access to high-quality academic and extracurricular programs across neighborhoods. The sections below highlight our progress to date and outline the ongoing Facilities Planning Process (FPP).
Accelerate Philly Progress
In 2022, nearly 3,000 community stakeholders from across the City of Philadelphia joined us in developing the new five-year strategic plan–Accelerate Philly. The focus of the plan is simple: to position the School District of Philadelphia, the nation’s eighth-largest, to be the fastest-improving large, urban school district in the nation and to achieve the Board’s Goals and Guardrails. And we are making progress towards that goal.
Over the past three years, we have seen:- Increased student attendance
- Increased teacher attendance
- An increase in the four-year graduation rate
- Improved test scores for students in grades 3–8
- A significant decrease in the number of student dropouts
- An increase in district-wide enrollment for the first time in a decade
Facilities Progress
Over the last three years, we have also made historic progress in improving our school buildings and learning environments. The District has invested approximately $954 million in facility improvements, including:
- Built three new school facilities: Lewis C. Cassidy Academics Plus School, Thomas Holme School, AMY James Martin
- Completed seven new school additions
- Completed 24 new classroom modernization and Career and Technical Education (CTE) expansion projects
- Completed 89 energy, mechanical and life safety improvement projects
- Built 22 new playgrounds or play yards
- Reduced the number of schools with inadequate cooling nearly in half from 118 to 54
- Added 1,618 state-of-the-art hydration stations in every school, with a total of 2,422 state-of-the-art hydration stations installed throughout the district
- Completed lead paint assessments in 134 facilities, and certified 78 lead-safe schools
- Tripled our investment in environmental management and, for the first time, are current in our AHERA inspections and schedule of repairs.
As we continue to build on these improvements to accelerate academic achievement, the District needs to increase access to high-quality academic and extracurricular programs across neighborhoods, recognizing that many of the District’s aging and unequal facilities are either under- or over-enrolled.
Facilities Planning Process (FPP)
Since we began implementing Accelerate Philly, our five-year strategic plan, we also launched an 8-phase facilities planning process. Through this process, we have completed seven of the eight phases, including:
- Developed a five-year strategic plan (Accelerate Philly)
- Developed a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to secure a data strategy vendor
- Established academic baseline standards for our schools
- Created a swing space plan to swiftly relocate students and staff to designated alternative locations when necessary
- Created a data planning strategy
- Completed a pilot facilities data warehouse
- Completed a comprehensive facilities data warehouse (Academics, Environmental, Educational Suitability, Demographics, Safety & Security, Maintenance, Enrollment, FCA Partner, Data Leadership)
We are now in Phase 8: developing a comprehensive District Facilities Plan that will guide future investments and decisions about our school buildings.
Community Engagement
In September 2024, the Board of Education issued a resolution directing the Superintendent to complete Phase 8 of the Facilities Plan. In this phase, the District is engaging community stakeholders and analyzing complex data through a robust process that will result in recommended actions to:
- Provide greater access to high-quality academic and extracurricular programs across neighborhoods
- Analyze complex data to address the under- and over-enrollment at many of the District’s aging and unequal facilities
These recommendations will be made public in the fall and will go through a comprehensive public feedback period before being submitted as final recommendations to the Board of Education.
The District is committed to meaningful engagement throughout this process. To date, we have:- Engaged a diverse project team and nine advisory groups totaling 170 individuals
- Hosted 47 public listening and learning sessions
- Conducted 35 principal verification sessions
- Issued a survey that received more than 5,700 responses
The District will host its next round of community engagements focused on school scenarios, and we invite you to share your thoughts about these scenarios.
Every day we work together during the Facilities Planning Process brings us one step closer to providing access to high-quality academic and extracurricular programming across neighborhoods and achieving our vision of becoming the fastest-improving large urban school district in the country. Thank you for your ongoing participation and support.
Planning Team Members & Roles
Project Team Members & Roles
The Facilities Planning Process Project Team is a group of community leaders from across our city that will play an active role in drafting the facilities plan. These individuals represent a diversity of experiences and collectively have deep knowledge and understanding of our students, families, and community. They will meet monthly throughout this process to synthesize inputs from our public listening sessions and surveys, as well as review a wide range of data, to generate drafts for feedback from the Advisory Groups and the public overall. We thank these individuals for stepping up to serve in this important role and being generous with their time.
Project Team Members
- Kenzy Ahmed, Student Board Representative, School District of Philadelphia
- Soledad Alfaro, Chief Operating Officer, Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
- Dr. Darrin W. Anderson, Sr., President & CEO, Urban League of Philadelphia
- Paul Bonewicz, Interim Deputy Chief Operations Officer, School District of Philadelphia
- Donna Bullock, President and CEO, Project HOME
- Rev. Bonnie Camarda, Director of Partnerships, The Salvation Army
- Dr. Debora Carrera, Chief Education Officer, City of Philadelphia
- Walette Carter, President, Philadelphia Home and School Council
- Peng Chao, Chief of Charter Schools, School District of Philadelphia
- Donna Cooper, Executive Director, Children First
- Rebecca Cornejo, Executive Director, Neubauer Family Foundation
- Daniel Di Martino, Kindergarten Teacher and PFT Building Rep at Shawmont, School District of Philadelphia
- Jannette Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Congreso de Latinos Unidos
- Tanya Edmonds, Local 634 organizer, School District of Philadelphia
- Cynthia Figueroa, President and CEO, JEVS Human Services
- Shanée Garner, Founding Executive Director, Lift Every Voice Philly
- Joe Gravius, AIA, NCARB, Philadelphia Housing Authority
- Regina A. Hairston, MPA, President & Chief Executive Officer, African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE
- Dorene Henderson, School Safety Officer and Interim Treasurer of SPAP union, School District of Philadelphia
- Kenyatta James, Deputy Executive Director, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia
- Dr. Sabriya Jubilee, Chief of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, School District of Philadelphia
- Mary Beth Morgan, Independent Living Specialist; Youth Transition, Liberty Resources
- Dr. Penny Nixon, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Charter Schools
- Sulaiman Rahman, Board Chairman, Mastery Schools
- Deana Ramsey, Principal, Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Center School
- Charles Rinker, Student Board Representative, School District of Philadelphia
- Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, Councilmember and City Council Education Committee Chair, City of Philadelphia
- Rev. Alyn E. Waller, Senior Pastor, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
- Dr. Shakeera Warthen-Canty, Assistant Superintendent of School Operations and Management, School District of Philadelphia
- Jerry Roseman, PFT Director of Environmental Science
Advisory Groups & Member List
The Advisory Groups below comprise a wide range of backgrounds and experiences that represent key stakeholder voices in our schools and communities. They will meet monthly throughout this process to provide feedback, opinions, and experiences to inform the work of the Project Team and Facilities Planning Process. We thank these individuals for stepping up to serve in this important role and being generous with their time.
Education and Community Partners
- Akira Drake Rodriguez, University of Pennsylvania
- Darryl Bundrige, City Year Philadelphia
- Dr. David E. Thomas, Community College of Philadelphia
- Elizabeth Class-Maldonado, Trust for Public Land
- F. Christopher Goins, Philadelphia Academies Inc.
- Jeff Wasch, MA, Saint Joseph’s University
- Justin Crews, Aramark
- Laura Johnson, Sunrise of Philadelphia
- Libby Lescalleet, Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia
- Madeline Birkner, Philadelphia Education Fund
- Marcus Allen, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region
- Pep Marie, Our City Our Schools Coalition
- Rhonda Lauer, Foundations, Inc.
- Sean E. Vereen, Ed.D., Heights Philadelphia
- Shaun Elliott, Greater Philadelphia YMCA
- Veronica Chapman-Smith, Opera Philadelphia
- Zig Rorer, Indego Bike Share
Elected and Government Officials
- Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, PA House of Representatives
- Councilman Anthony A. Phillips, Philadelphia City Council
- Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., Philadelphia City Council
- Councilmember Cindy Bass, Philadelphia City Council
- Councilmember Jamie R. Gauthier, Philadelphia City Council
- Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Philadelphia City Council
- Councilmember Kendra Brooks, Philadelphia City Council
- Councilmember Mark Squilla, Philadelphia City Council
- Councilmember Michael Driscoll, Philadelphia City Council
- Senator Nikil Saval, Pennsylvania State Senate
- Senator Vincent Hughes, Pennsylvania State Senate
- Speaker McClinton, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Union Representatives
- Arthur Steinberg, PFT
- Bernadette Ambrose-Smith, School Police Association of Philadelphia
- John Bynum, 32BJ
- Nicole Hunt, Unite Here Local 634
- Robin Cooper, CASA
Parents/Guardians
- Adam Blyweiss
- Alicia Gonzalez
- Alyn Turner
- Andrea Blassingame
- Andrea Chaney-Lawrence
- Angelina Rivera
- Blithe Riley
- Cecelia Thompson
- Danyelle Campbell
- Edwin Mayorga
- Emily Pugliese
- Ester Roche-Curet
- Felicia Bryant-Dawson
- Kara Medow
- Kate Reber
- Kevin Trimble
- Kimberly Jessup
- Kristen Rucker
- Lauren Perez
- Leah Corsover
- Leslie McShane Lodwick
- Maritza Guridy
- Melanie Silva
- Olga Doubrovskaia
- Patrick Ganley
- Ryan Stewart
- Shalane M. Lutz
- Shaleah Williams-Allen
- Sherine Mathew
- Tia Dancy
- Veronica
- Virginia Nguyen
Community Leaders
- Aissia Richardson
- Anna Forrester
- Charisma Presley
- Elaine Simon
- Gabriella McLoughlin
- Horace Cloudon
- Jasmine Fleming
- Jeron Williams II
- Kristen Goessling
- Leroy Baker
- Leslie Diaz
- Luisa Velasquez
- Luz B. Colón
- Lydia Currie
- Mariah McMullen
- Max Tuttleman
- Nyjah Smith
- Quibila A. Divine
- Sam Vitiello
- Sandra Dungee Glenn
- Sangha Soun
- Sharrieff Ali
- Tamir D. Harper
- Taslim Sabil
- Veronica Holman
- Wes Claffee
- Zhanar Boschshanova
School Leaders
- Amanda Pointer, Assistant Principal, School of the Future
- Anieca Suber, Assistant Principal, Olney Elementary School
- Blair Downie, Assistant Principal, Olney High School
- Dr. Don Anticoli, Principal, Edward Heston School
- Dana Frye-Thompson, Assistant Principal, Mary M. Bethune School
- David Laver, Principal, Bayard Taylor School
- Dr. Dollette Johns-Smith, Principal, Morton McMichael School
- Gordon Laurie, Principal, Julia R. Masterman High School
- Kate Sylvester, Principal, Fitler Academics Plus School
- Kellie Gilroy, Former Assistant Principal and Interim Principal, Ethan Allen School
- Kristin Williams Smalley, Principal, Roxborough High School
- Kristy Len, Principal, Charles W. Henry School
- Lawrence King, Principal, Paul Robeson High School for Human Services
- Lori Riggs, Assistant Principal, George Washington High School
- Mason Luksch Wilson, Assistant Principal, Lewis Elkin School
- Mickey Komins, Principal, Anne Frank School
- Monica Hawk, CEO, One Bright Ray
- R. Michelle Torres, Principal, Isaac A. Sheppard School
- Timothy M. Boyle, Principal, Science Leadership Academy Middle School
- Todd Kimmel, Principal, Horatio B. Hackett School
- Toni Damon, Principal, Middle Years Alternative School
- Traci McCabe, Assistant Principal, Overbrook High School
- Vance McNear, Principal, Edwin Forrest School
- Will Brown, Principal, Parkway West High School
School Support Staff
- Zam Than Lian, Bilingual Counseling Assistant, Horace Furness High School
- Brite A Alexander, Student Climate Staff/Supportive Services Assistant, Tanner G. Duckrey School
- Camille Barnes, Climate Lead, Charles W. Henry School
- Cory Johnson, Senior Project Manager, Pre-K, Other
- Daeshanae Diego, Paraprofessional, Central High School
- Devon Smith, STEP Clinical Coordinator, Gloria Casarez School
- Erika Dajevskis, School Counselor, Stephen Girard School
- Felicia Rosen, Academic Coach, John Bartram High School
- Gloria Collins, Paraprofessional, John F. Hartranft School
- Janice A. Smith, School Nurse, John Hancock Demonstration School
- Janice Evans Bernstein, Lead Speech Language Pathologist, Swenson Arts and Technology High School
- Jessica Newell, School Counselor, Hamilton Disston School
- Joana Diaz, Educational Technology Specialist, George Washington High School
- Laurie Binder, Special Education Director, Other
- Lenora Howard, School Improvement Support Liaison, Edward Heston School
- Mark R. Francis B.S., Food Services Manager III, William H. Ziegler School
- Najwa Smith, Industry Development Specialist, Walter B. Saul High School
- Paul Brown, School Psychologist, Roxborough High School
- Richard Jeffries, Occupational Therapist, Kenderton Elementary School
- Ron Smith, Building Engineer, J. Hampton Moore School
- S. Simone Knight, Climate Manager, John Bartram High School
- Stephanie Reynolds, Instructional Coach, Other
- Syida Johnson, Secretary III, Rudolph Blankenburg School
- Tamara Sepe, Speech Language Pathologist, Carver High School of Engineering and Science + Charles W. Henry School
- Theresa Mclaughlin, Computer Support Specialist, Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School
- Tracey Petty, Director, Nursing, Other
- Typrea Dorsey, Secretary I, John Barry School
Teachers
- A. Reed, Teacher, Meade, General George G. Meade School
- Charles Hudgins, Teacher, Abraham Lincoln High School
- Charlotte Furcron-Lane, Teacher, Gloria Casarez School
- Christa Iwaniw, Teacher, South Philadelphia High School
- Dana McLaughlin, Teacher, Abraham Lincoln High School
- Duran Perkins, Teacher, Julia R. Masterman High School
- Elizabeth Cooper, Teacher, John B. Stetson Middle School
- Emma Kaub, Teacher, Clara Barton School
- Ibidunni T. Osundare, Teacher, Bache-Martin School
- Jacquelyn Anderson, Teacher, Philadelphia Military Academy
- Kelly Anatol-Castelli, Teacher, Samuel Gompers School
- Kimberley Colasante, Teacher, Castor Gardens School
- Lattonia Robichaw, Teacher, General Philip Kearny School
- Lillian Goldberg, Teacher, Horace Furness High School
- Linda Keels, Ed.D, Teacher, Northeast Community Propel Academy
- Lisa Hannum, Teacher, Gloria Casarez School
- Meredith McDonald, Teacher, Horace Furness High School
- Mohammad Azim George Siddiqui, Teacher, Roxborough High School
- Raquel E Morton Britton, Teacher, George Washington High School
- Robert Schloss, Teacher, F. Amedee Bregy School
- Seanier Keyes, Teacher, John B. Kelly School
- Sheena Miles, Teacher, Andrew Hamilton School
- Takia McClendon, Teacher, Mary M. Bethune School
Students
- The student advisory group will consist of Superintendent Watlington’s Student Advisory Council which represents more than 40 schools from across the District.
Facilities Planning Timeline
Facilities Planning Timeline
September 2024 – December 2025
📊 Foundational Work
- Sep 2024: Board of Education Approves Resolution to Initiate Facilities Planning Process
- Oct 2024 – Feb 2025: Gather & Finalize Data
- Dec 2024 – Jun 2025: Develop Decision-Making Framework
- Ongoing: Project Team + Advisory Feedback
- Monthly: Advisory Group Meetings / Project Team Meetings
🤝 Community Engagement & Public Updates
- Nov – Dec 2024: Facilities Planning Process Listening Tour
- Dec 2024: Facilities Stakeholder Feedback Survey Launch
- July 2025: Decision-making Framework Engagement Sessions
- Nov 2025: Emerging Themes Announcement
- Nov – Dec 2025: Emerging Themes Survey Window
⚙️ Technical Planning
- Jan – Jun 2025: Develop Decision-Making Framework
- Sep – Dec 2025: Develop Plan
- Winter 2026: Present Updated Plan to Board of Education
✅ Finalization
Past Materials & Reports
Facility Condition Assessment Summary Reports
The Facility Condition Assessment Summary Report provides a summary of the Facility Condition Index (FCI) value of a school facility and select major building systems. The FCI is a numerical representation of conditions organized into five performance tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Facilities Planning Process is not a simple process with one right answer or where we average the numbers to reach a final decision. Each school is unique, and the decisions ahead are complex and require careful consideration.
A score of “unsatisfactory” in any category does not mean that a school is unsafe or will close. These data points do not dictate outcomes on their own. Instead, they provide a foundation for deeper analysis, community conversations, and informed short-term, mid-term, and long-term recommendations. Using this information, the superintendent will recommend one or more of five short-term, mid-term, or long-term options for each school: maintain, modernize, co-locate, repurpose, or close.
Please see the FAQs below for more information.
View FAQs in your language
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Community Feedback
Additional Engagement Opportunities
Coming soon!
What leaders are saying
News & Updates
- Sept. 2024: Board Issues Resolution to Complete Phase 8
- Oct. 2024: Facilities Listening & Learning Tour Launch
- Nov. 2024: Advisory Group Application Announcement
- Nov. 2024: Stakeholder Feedback Survey Launch
- Jan. 2025: Advisory & Project Team Introduction
- June 2025: Summer Community Engagement Series Launch
- Sept. 2025: Announcing the Facilities Planning Process Data Dashboard
- Nov. 2025: Facilities Planning Process Update & Emerging Themes Survey
Recommended Options
Co-Location
Multiple, distinct academic programs operating within a single building.
Recent Examples:
- Benjamin Franklin HS & Science Leadership Academy
- Powel & Science Leadership Academy MS
Modernization
The site will undergo new construction, physical rebuilding, or renovation to improve safety and accessibility, and to ensure it meets environmental and modern technology standards.
Recent Examples:
- Lewis C. Cassidy (rebuilt)
- Frankford HS (renovated)
Repurpose
The building will remain in operation; however, one or more of the academic programs may close or re-locate, and the facility, or a portion of the facility, will be used for another community purpose (ex: swing space, PreK programming, or work space for external partners).
Recent Examples:
- William D.Kelley Dental Clinic
- MLK HS (swing-space)
