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First Ever K-12 School Fair is Philadelphia’s Largest Education Event for Families to Learn More About How to Apply to Schools

The 2023 K-12 Philly School Fair will take place in-person October 13-14 in downtown Philadelphia; More than 200 K-12 schools will be in attendance

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Elevate 215 and GreatPhillySchools today announced details for the first ever K-12 Philly School Fair. Reflecting the greater need for educating families with children of all ages about school enrollment options, the High School Fair and the K-8 Fair have been merged this year to include more than 200 K-12 schools of all kinds from across the city. The new K-12 Philly School Fair will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (Hall F) in downtown Philadelphia, Friday, October 13 with afternoon hours from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., as well as Saturday, October 14 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

“The 2023 K-12 Philly School Fair is a tremendous opportunity for Philadelphia families to learn about the amazing school options across the city. From kindergarten to high school, families can come to one place to explore and learn about all types of schools, some of which they might not have known were available to them.”
Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia

At the Fair, local public district, public charter, private, and Catholic schools will be set up with information booths, staffed by representatives who can answer questions for families and students. Attendees can learn about the academics, activities, and programs that each of the schools has to offer. Students will also be able to utilize the Fair’s “Application Center,” with laptops available to apply on-site to schools using their respective application systems.

“More than 67% of children in Philadelphia attend a school other than their assigned neighborhood school, but navigating the different systems and criteria to apply to schools can be a daunting task for families. By expanding the Fair to include all grades and school types, Philadelphia families can come to get the guidance they need to pursue their common goal: finding the best school for their children.”
Dr. Stacy E. Holland, Executive Director of Elevate215

Important information for families about application deadlines:

  • District School Selection Process: Opened Sept. 15 – closes Oct. 27
  • Apply Philly Charter: Opened Sept. 22 – closes Jan. 22, 2024
  • Children’s Scholarship Fund: Opened Sept. 27 – priority application deadline Nov. 15
“We are thrilled that in the city of Philadelphia, our students have an opportunity to find a program that best meets their interests and future aspirations. What makes our District unique is that no matter what our students' interests are, we offer programming that aligns with their passions and future career aspirations. This weekend’s fair is an opportunity for students and their families to directly connect with schools to explore those options.”
Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D

The fair is sponsored by PECO, Comcast, The Connelly Foundation, Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia, and Elevate215. The K-12 Philly School Fair is open to the public, and there is no attendance fee. In addition to school information and application booths, there will be other important resources available for families including Comcast on site to help families get set up with the Affordable Connectivity Program, and the Department of Health giving out free covid tests and other information on pediatric health.

“The K-12 School Fair provides a one-stop-shop for thousands of families to connect with schools directly to get information they need for a successful school year. An important part of that is ensuring students are connected to all that the Internet has to offer and that eligible families are taking advantage of the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible low-income households with a credit toward their Internet and/or mobile service. When combined with ACP, eligible Comcast customers can get home Internet through Internet Essentials, our low-cost Internet service for income constrained households, at no cost.”
William Bronson, Senior Director of Community Impact, Comcast Freedom Region

For any further information, visit the K-12 School Fair website at: phillyhighschoolfair.com/

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