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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Young Philadelphia family's choice reflects faith in its public school - Philly.com

Young Philadelphia family's choice reflects faith in its public school - Philly.com:


Young Philadelphia family's choice reflects faith in its public school

August 08, 2012|By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer
Image 1 of 2
  • Mark Scott and son Henry at E.M. Stanton Elementary, where Henry will start this year. (ELISE WRABETZ / Staff Photographer)
  • Mark Scott and son Henry at E.M. Stanton Elementary, where Henry will start this year. (ELISE WRABETZ / Staff Photographer)
  • Karrie Gavin helps paint the music room at E.M. Stanton, at 17th and Christian Streets. The school recently faced the possibility of closure. (ELISE WRABETZ / Staff Photographer)
Henry Scott's first day of school will be a big deal.
And not just because the 6-year-old is planning on "learning new things, like math and how to read," in first grade.
Henry's first day matters because his parents could have sent him to private school. They could have moved to the suburbs. They could even have sent him to the highly regarded Independence Charter School in Center City, where he had a spot waiting.
But Jill and Mark Scott chose E.M. Stanton at 17th and Christian Streets, their neighborhood public school, for Henry.
"Everyone kind of assumes they can't send their kid to the neighborhood school, but they've never stepped inside," said Jill Anastasi Scott, a clinical therapist and social worker. "We are really gung-ho on Stanton."
Story continues below.
The Southwest Center City school has a lot going for it: robust community partnerships, strong test