‘Life or death issue’: Kensington schools seek higher graduation rates by embedding student support
Jeán Ruiz remembers their high school years in Kensington as…

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to covering one of America’s most vital stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, with a special focus on those who have historically lacked access to quality education. Through in-depth reporting and analysis, Chalkbeat aims to drive change and support better educational outcomes in Philadelphia and beyond.
Partner Contact:
The partner representative is Carly Sitrin, Bureau Chief at Chalkbeat Philadelphia. Carly joined Chalkbeat in March 2023 after working at POLITICO, where she covered New Jersey education, policy, and politics. Previously, she reported for NJ Spotlight News, focusing on schools, cannabis, and other policy topics, and also served as social engagement manager. Carly’s work has appeared in Vox, The Boston Globe, WBUR, MuckRock, and Scripps Howard News Service. You can contact her via email at csitrin@chalkbeat.org.
Jeán Ruiz remembers their high school years in Kensington as…
‘By closing schools, you leave a hole in the neighborhood,’…
Does the Philadelphia school district fail to communicate effectively and…
Kensington’s Willard Elementary School is getting its first playground. It’s…
A Philadelphia group wants schools to focus more on being…
Philly tax break program fails to deliver hoped-for benefits to…