About Us
Our Why
We respond to the unique needs of male and female pre-trial and sentenced individuals confined to the Philadelphia County jails while promoting their continued meaningful engagement in learning leading to a standard high school diploma and through the educational services we provide, we build academic tenacity and social-emotional resiliency in our program participants.
Our What
We prepare youthful offenders and adult incarcerated persons for successful community reintegration and economic mobility following their justice system involvement and we contribute to recidivism reduction in the City of Philadelphia.
Our How
Our multidisciplinary team approach, a unified focus on character development, literacy, numeracy, and self-advocacy, and the implementation of personalized graduation pathways enable us to support our graduates in resetting their future and making positive contributions to their families, communities, and society moving forward through postsecondary education or training, military service, or independent work and living opportunities.
Additionally, through our Collaborative Common Foundation and Shared Practice Expectations, we continue to:
- Implement grade-level curriculum and administer formative assessments aligned to the Pennsylvania Core or Academic Standards using a modified scope and sequence.
- Deliver standards-aligned, differentiated, and challenging instruction and supportive learning opportunities using objective-driven lesson plans, incorporating accessible, high-quality materials and resources and utilizing engagement strategies for all learners.
- Build capacity in teaching and non-teaching professionals by leveraging observation, feedback, and coaching cycles complemented by delivery of timely, responsive professional learning opportunities.
- Create leadership development opportunities defined by clear expectations, a balance of accountability and autonomy, and high levels of support, which promote both agency and ownership and extend decision-making and problem solving beyond administrators, to facilitate continuous improvement of instruction, student support, and operations work.
- Institute coordinated student support services that are articulated with instructional programming to accelerate learning through layered continuums of support.
Inside The Pennypack House School Program
Located in Northeast Philadelphia and situated in the Holmesburg Neighborhood, The Pennypack House School Program (PPHS) is the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) school for pre-trial and sentenced individuals confined to the Philadelphia County jails and their satellite facilities. In accordance with the Public School Code, the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) is the educational component provider for PPHS, operating the school program at the following locations:
| Facility | Location |
|---|---|
| Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF) | 7901 State Road | Philadelphia, PA 19136 |
| Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF ASD Mod3) Alternative and Special Detention Modular Unit | 8101 State Road | Philadelphia, PA 19136 |
| Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF) | 8151 State Road | Philadelphia, PA 19136 |
| Detention Center (DC) | 8201 State Road | Philadelphia, PA 19136 |
| Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center (PICC) | 8301 State Road | Philadelphia, PA 19136 |
Headquartered at CFCF, our student population at PPHS is comprised of youthful offenders (YOs) ages 14-17, as well as adult incarcerated persons (IPs) ages 18-22. Both special education services and English Language Development programming are made available to eligible individuals and all program participants regardless of exceptionality have the opportunity to earn transferable high school credits and/or obtain an accredited, standard high school diploma through the SDP.
During the 2024/2025 academic year, PPHS provided educational services to 225 YOs and adult IPs. Commencement Convocation Ceremonies are held at the end of each quarter at which time standard high school diplomas are conferred upon those program participants who have fulfilled the SDP Board of Education’s published graduation requirements. 48 individuals earned a standard high school diploma across the school term inclusive of the four quarters and the summer learning program.
A mission-critical unit and PDP partner, our team consists of 24 SDP employees – three administrators, eight general education teachers, seven special education teachers, two pupil personnel services professionals, and four program support staff – who come together on a daily basis to offer educational options intended to help program participants be able to maximize their second chance and improve their overall life outcomes.