The institution is a first for Phila. The Philadelphia School District's first privately run disciplinary school has been open only six months but educators there are already encouraged by an increase in attendance, low student turnover, and improved academic effort. And it's not because all of a sudden they're academicians. Now, they're coming to school and applying themselves.
Students say that's the only thing they can do.
Community Education Partners, a private company that is based in Nashville and runs schools in Houston and Dallas, has become the latest weapon in fighting one of Philadelphia School District's major problems - disruptive students. The Philadelphia school board, impressed with CEP's track record in Texas, hired the national company last year at the urging of state officials. The Houston Independent School District cited a 30 percent drop in violent crime on district property since CEP opened. What's more, problem students showed significant improvement in test scores, attendance and behavior, Houston school officials said. And the company put its profits on the line - forfeiting money if it failed to raise scores and keep attendance up.