Editing School District of Philadelphia (section)

== History ==

Philadelphia established public schools in 1818, creating one of the nation's first urban public school systems. The system expanded throughout the nineteenth century as population grew and compulsory education laws took effect. Central High School, founded in 1836, and Girls' High School, founded in 1848, established selective public secondary education traditions that continue today. The system grew to serve hundreds of thousands of students at its mid-twentieth century peak, with schools in every neighborhood providing education to diverse populations.<ref name="sdp"/>

Demographic shifts beginning in the mid-twentieth century transformed the district. White flight to suburbs, deindustrialization, and concentrated poverty changed student demographics while eroding the tax base supporting public education. The district has closed dozens of schools in recent decades, consolidating facilities as enrollment declined while struggling to maintain aging buildings and competitive compensation. State oversight and control have periodically replaced local governance, reflecting persistent challenges that no single reform has resolved.<ref name="sdp"/>