ELEVATE IN ACTION | Student Progress Worth Celebrating
In This Issue
Celebrating KIPP Catto’s First Fourth-Grade Class
A milestone years in the making reflects what’s possible through sustained investment in students and schools.
Why Every Philadelphia Neighborhood Needs Access to a Quality Public School
A new commentary from Elevate 215’s Executive Director explores how quality—not quantity—can create greater opportunity for students.
New Apply Philly Charter System Delivers Results
Philadelphia’s largest charter school network experienced a smoother, more efficient enrollment process through Apply Philly Charter’s new Rank & Match system.
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Years in the Making: Celebrating KIPP Catto’s First 4th-Grade Class
In 2022, KIPP Catto welcomed its founding students. On June 12, 2026, 80 students took part in the school’s first fourth-grade move-up ceremony, crossing the stage to receive their certificates surrounded by proud families, educators, and community members.
The milestone reflects the power of sustained investment in schools and students. It also underscores the impact of Elevate 215’s $1.1 million investment to help launch KIPP Catto and expand access to high-quality public schools in Philadelphia.
During the 2024–25 school year, this founding class took the PSSA as third graders and led the KIPP Philadelphia network in both English Language Arts and math proficiency. These outcomes demonstrate the strong academic foundation students can build when they have access to excellent learning environments from the very beginning.
As Dr. Letisha Laws, Deputy Chief of School-Based Initiatives at Elevate 215, shared with students during the ceremony, “This moment is not the end of a journey. It’s simply the next step. We are proud of all you have accomplished, grateful to the educators and families who support you, and excited to see what comes next. Good things are happening in Philadelphia schools, and it is our job to elevate them.”
Every Philadelphia Neighborhood Deserves a High-Quality Public School
Creating more schools alone will not improve outcomes for students. In a new commentary published in The Philadelphia Citizen, Dr. Stacy Holland, Executive Director at Elevate 215, argues that Philadelphia’s focus must be on ensuring every neighborhood has access to high-quality public schools where students can thrive. She highlights the importance of strengthening existing schools through outstanding educators, strong leadership, modern learning environments, and meaningful accountability while expanding high-quality options for families. By investing in what works and building on the progress already happening across the city, Philadelphia can create greater opportunity for every student.
As Stacy writes, “The future of Philadelphia will be determined, in large part, by the opportunities we create for today’s students. Our focus must remain on creating a portfolio of excellent schools supported by modern facilities, outstanding educators, strong community partnerships, and equitable access to resources.”
How a Better Enrollment System Benefits Schools and Families
Philadelphia’s largest charter school network experienced firsthand how the new Apply Philly Charter Rank & Match system is improving the enrollment process for both families and schools. During the first year of implementation, more students received offers to their top-ranked schools, while schools benefited from a more efficient enrollment process.
“The new Rank and Match system gave us a clearer, systemwide view of how families are prioritizing Mastery schools,” said Joel D. Boyd, Ed.D., Chief Executive Officer for Mastery Schools. “That information helps us make enrollment decisions across our network and shows how a quality common application system can create a better experience for both families and schools.”
Mastery Schools is still enrolling students for the 2026–27 school year. Families interested in applying to any Mastery school can submit applications through Apply Philly Charter.
In Case You Missed It: A First-of-Its-Kind Look at Student Learning Across Philadelphia
For the first time, Philadelphia has a single, citywide picture of how students are learning — across both district and charter schools. Released this month in partnership with the Philadelphia Equity Alliance, the Citywide Student Learning Report finds that Philadelphia students are showing strong, consistent academic growth: 74% of schools exceeded statewide growth expectations in reading and 70% in math in 2025.
The report also confirms real recovery since the pandemic. Math proficiency has now surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and reading is closing the gap. Citywide graduation rates have climbed steadily too, rising from 72% in 2016 to 79% in 2025.
At the same time, the report is candid about how far there is to go — proficiency citywide remains well below state and national averages, and closing that gap will take sustained, coordinated effort across the city’s civic and education leaders.
“Data show that Philadelphia schools are making progress, but we need to move with urgency to create real long-term change for students,” the report states.
As the first in an ongoing series, the Citywide Student Learning Report gives Philadelphia’s education community, funders, school leaders, and policymakers alike a shared set of facts that can inform future action.