The School District of Philadelphia has received 40 applications for new charter schools in the city, including for “Girls’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School,” two high schools in the 19104 zip code and several others around West Philly.

Released Monday afternoon, the list of applicants includes many organizations, including KIPP Philadelphia Schools and Mastery, that already operate schools in the district. The list includes the proposed school’s name, “the applicant team” or entity, the building zip code, grade configuration and projected total enrollment.

The applications will next go through a vetting process that includes a public hearing on each proposed school.

Independence Charter School is proposing two sites in West Philly, a high school in the 19104 zip code, which includes much of the area around Penn and Drexel, and a K-8 in 19142, which covers an area west of 60th Street and south of Kingsessing and includes the Elmwood Park neighborhood. West Philly Local reported last week that Independence was interested in a school in West Philly in 19139 or 19143. It turns out it could open two, but in neither of those zip codes. Both of these are proposed to start in the 2016-2017 school year. 

The Community Education Alliance of West Philadelphia, which runs the Belmont Charter School, has proposed “Belmont Charter High School” in the 19104 zip code. The organization’s board includes wealthy University City landlord turned charter school operator Michael Karp. The organization projects an enrollment of 550, with as many as 125 students starting school there in the 2015-2016 school year.

Each applicant was asked to address four criteria: academic program, organizational compliance, finance and facilities and community involvement and support. Community support will be gauged in public hearings scheduled within 45 days of Nov. 15 (the application deadline date) that will include time for public comment. The SRC must have a public vote on each within 75 days of the first public hearing.

Several applicants are looking to open schools in 19143, which runs south from Spruce to the river and west from 45th Street to roughly 60th Street. These include:

• “Girls Latin of Philadelphia Charter School” – A K-12 with projected total enrollment of 1,450 and as many as 480 students next year. The applicant is the well-known Boys’ Latin Charter School of Philadelphia.
• “KIPP West Charter School” – A K-12 with a projected total enrollment of 1,380 and 200 students next year.
• “PHMC Preparatory Charter School” – Public Health Management Corporation, a West Philly based non-profit is the applicant. Total enrollment for this proposed K-12 is projected at 1,000 students.
• “Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School II” – The applicant is Richard Allen Development and Improvement Organization, which currently runs a charter school on S. 58th Street near Bartram’s Garden. This is also a K-12, with a projected enrollment of 1,325 students.

Here is the full list of applicants (click to enlarge):

Image 1

Image 2

– Mike Lyons