The heads of the region's 100-plus private high schools, including the Catholic high schools administered by the Philadelphia Archdiocese and the Camden Diocese, also were invited to share information about their schools. And, surveys went to nearly three dozen publicly funded charter schools, some of which just opened their doors this month. Educational technology has made major inroads across the region. The data show that at least one computer in every classroom is the norm. Most schools have Internet access, and often they have high-speed connections through district networks.
Most districts have a Web page.
And Web addresses, where we could verify them, are featured in this report so readers can go online to learn more about the schools. As part of the emphasis on technology, the Report Card for the first time surveys the region's 22 technical schools. Their responses and school profiles are an eye-opener. A key feature of this Report Card continues to be the profiles of the region's 167 school districts and the nonpublic high schools. But just as report card distribution day can be a stomach-knotting experience for students, this report causes consternation among some school officials.