Many Philadelphia high schools offer students few class options. Will closing schools change that?

Many Philadelphia high schools offer students limited class options, raising concerns about how school closures will impact their opportunities. Gabriyel Ruffin, a 10th grader at Motivation High School, expressed disappointment that the school only offers one visual arts course. The same pattern is seen at other neighborhood and specialty high schools, with ten of the district's 55 high schools offering only one AP or IB class.

At some schools, the only language students can learn is Spanish, while others limit arts classes to introductory music or film. In contrast, magnet high schools like Central and Palumbo provide students with more than a dozen AP classes, multiple arts classes, and language courses. Philadelphia officials claim that closing 17 schools, including five high schools, will lead to more opportunities for students by absorbing them into larger schools with better resources.

However, educators argue that students at smaller schools often lack ways to pursue their interests beyond core classes. Without clear details on the additional opportunities the district promises, some educators find it difficult to convince families to accept the closures. The district states its aim to provide equitable access to courses through facility investments, teacher, program, and curriculum updates.

Small high schools offer students fewer choices, with factors like teacher availability, student interest, and curriculum goals influencing course offerings. At Northeast High, the district's largest high school with 3,500 students, students can choose from various languages and science courses, while small high schools generally offer fewer options.

The tension between school size and academic opportunities is not exclusive to Philadelphia and can be found in other cities like Chicago, where small high schools often have limited course choices. While researchers find that giving students more course choice can improve attendance and engagement, larger schools can more easily offer diverse elective options.

In Philadelphia, some schools, like Horace Furness High, have actively surveyed students and staff to identify desired electives and courses, increasing their variety over time.