Families Explore Their School Options at the 2026 K–12 Philly School Fair
Thousands of Philadelphia families came together at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on September 19, 2026 for the 2026 K–12 Philly School Fair, connecting with schools and community organizations from across the city.
Throughout the day, families met directly with school representatives, asked questions, compared options, and gathered information to help them navigate the school selection process.
For families, the experience looked different depending on what they came to the Fair to learn. For example:
- Yvette Aponte arrived with her son unsure where to start their high school search. After asking questions and exploring their options, they left confident with five schools at the top of their list.
- Eric Johnson came looking for details about science programs and admissions at special admission schools. His children also enjoyed visiting the Read by 4th Literacy Corner, which has become a favorite part of the Fair for them each year.
- Tomika Newman focused her questions to schools on special education support for her son and the transportation process.
- Jessica Hernandez described the Fair as “super organized” and said her interactions with people were “wonderful.”
The post-event feedback reflected those experiences. Of the more than 200 families who responded to the survey:
-
97%
said the Fair was a valuable use of their time.
-
93%
were satisfied or very satisfied with the information they received about schools.
-
80%
left with a high level of confidence in their ability to navigate school options.
Families also shared:
“It was a nice experience and I had a lot of fun.” — Elyas Rushdie
“Thank you for all the information.” — Jennette Green
Thank you to the families, schools, community organizations, volunteers, and partners who made this year’s Fair possible. We are especially grateful to our sponsors:
