Letter from the
Head of School

September 1, 2005
Dear Penn Charter Alumni,

The school is bustling with energy and a sense of purpose as we prepare to welcome students back to what promises to be an exceptional year. I wanted to take a break from those preparations to write a brief note correcting two fundamental errors in a recent issue of "Philadelphia" magazine.

A cover story in the magazine's September issue incorrectly reported Penn Charter's student/faculty ratio and our student averages on the SAT. For the record, our student/faculty ratio is between 1:8.8 and 1.9 (15 is the size of a typical class). I am especially concerned with this error since it significantly distorts the resources we invest to ensure that our students receive individual attention. The correct SAT scores for the Class of 2005 were: 658 verbal and 650 math.

In collaboration with the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS), the independent schools in our area declined to participate in the magazine's "100 Best Public & Private Schools." We declined because we objected to the magazine's intent to use this statistical information to rate schools. Despite our objections and the attempts of ADVIS to work with the publication, the magazine proceeded with the ranking, collecting information from outdated and inaccurate sources.

We provide much of the same data requested by "Philadelphia" magazine - and more - to the "Philadelphia Inquirer" and other publications. However, those publications do not attempt to rank or rate the schools: they list the schools and corresponding data in alphabetical order.

ADVIS, the National Association of Independent Schools, and a host of respected educators oppose using a statistical snapshot as a method of ranking schools. Among other weaknesses, such a snapshot misses the qualities of diversity and service that are so important to Quaker schools. We advocate that independent schools are not all alike; the educational programs are different, the school cultures are different, and the students we serve are different. To pretend otherwise would not reflect thoughtful educational analysis.

I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful, rejuvenating summer with your families and that we will have the pleasure of welcoming you to the campus during the upcoming year.

Sincerely,
Earl J. Ball