May 26, 2022

Virgil Sheppard – President and CEO, Hope Partnership for Education

Students at Hope Partnership have been working hard throughout the 2021-2022 school year. Between schoolwork and after school activities, our students keep a busy schedule. Eighth Graders have an additional challenge to manage, an answer to the question of the year: “Where will I go to high school?”

Philadelphia’s high school application process is detailed and complicated: a personal essay, academic portfolios, shadow days, interviews, and entrance exams. If you are overwhelmed by all of this, imagine how Eighth Graders feel!

Despite this arduous process and the impacts of COVID, our current 8th graders have prevailed! 93% of the class have been accepted into a Special Admissions Public High School. This is a remarkable accomplishment, the highest percentage of students accepted to Special Admissions Schools of any Hope class to date!

George Washington Carver School of Engineering and Science, Philadelphia High School for Girls, Mercy Career and Technical, Ss. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School, Bodine High School for International Affairs, and Parkway Center City Middle College are but a small sampling of where our graduates will go.

Watching the Class of 2022 mature has truly been a pleasure. The Hope Community is excited to see what life has in store for the Class of 2022 during their high school and college years. Congratulations to each and every one of our outstanding graduates.