The School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington points to advancements in attendance, graduation rates, and performance scores while acknowledging that students are still lagging behind in math and reading compared to other major cities.
School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington highlighted notable educational advancements on Thursday, despite a recent report revealing that Philadelphia students lag behind their counterparts in major cities in both math and reading scores . Watlington emphasized incremental progress and improvements across various facets of the district over the past year, including increased attendance, reduced school dropout rates, and performance gains in grades 3rd through 8th.
While acknowledging these successes, he candidly admitted that there remains significant work to be done.Commenting on the national report, Watlington expressed delight over the seven-point gain in math scores achieved by Philadelphia's fourth-graders. He underscored the district's commitment to ambitious goals set by the Board of Education, outlining strategic initiatives such as a collaborative partnership with the University of Pennsylvania to enhance algebra instruction and financial incentives for students who falter on standardized tests, enabling them to retake and improve their performance. Responding to inquiries regarding the rationale behind providing incentives, Watlington drew parallels to longstanding practices of incentivizing corporate America and farmers, asserting that investing in student success is equally crucial. Meanwhile, education researcher Dan Goldhaber attributed the national report's findings to the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, emphasizing that while normalcy may seem to have returned in many aspects of life, student achievement remains below pre-pandemic levels. Goldhaber stressed that students continue to grapple with academic setbacks, urging continued support and intervention to address the lingering consequences of the pandemic.Watlington, in turn, emphasized the district's unwavering focus on improving attendance to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. He is resolute in his commitment to empowering all Philadelphia students to graduate prepared for either college or a fulfilling career. 'While all of our children are not yet well,' he stated, 'more of our children are well, and that is something I am immensely proud of.
Philadelphia School District Tony Watlington Education Achievement Math Scores Reading Scores COVID-19 Impact School Attendance Graduation Rates University Of Pennsylvania
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