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Saul High School prepares for Lankenau merger as staff and students seek details

Saul High School prepares for Lankenau merger as staff and students seek details

Rule Changes Philadelphia, PA local

Philadelphia's facilities plan will combine Saul's urban farm campus with Lankenau's environmental science program next school year.

Today: Saul staff and students say questions remain

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

W.B. Saul High School runs a campus of more than 100 acres in Upper Roxborough, with barns, greenhouses and an orchard. Next school year, it is slated to absorb Lankenau High School, an environmental sciences magnet that the district is closing.

Saul teachers and students say the district has not answered basic questions about staffing, class schedules, space and whether Saul's hands-on majors will survive the merger. The district says transition committees will be announced soon.

Why it matters

If the merger proceeds without a detailed transition plan, Saul's hands-on farm and environmental programs could lose the schedule and space they depend on.

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Key Indicators

100+
Acres on Saul's campus
The urban farm includes barns, greenhouses, an orchard and aquaponic labs.
400+
Students at Saul
Saul's enrollment is just over 400.
200+
Students at Lankenau
Lankenau's current enrollment is more than 200.
6
Recent district visits
District leaders visited both schools six times, according to a spokesperson.

Voices

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People Involved

CP
Christina Puntel
Spanish teacher at W.B. Saul High School
Opposes merger; says transition planning is lacking
CC
Colin Chrestay
English teacher and advisor to The Cultivator
Helping student journalists gather questions about merger
MB
Monique Braxton
Spokesperson, School District of Philadelphia
Says merger is moving forward

Organizations Involved

School District of Philadelphia
School District of Philadelphia
Public school district
Approved facilities plan; says merger moving forward

The district operates Saul and Lankenau and approved the facilities master plan in April.
SH
W.B. Saul High School
Public high school
Slated to absorb Lankenau next school year

An urban farm school in Upper Roxborough with more than 100 acres and over 400 students.
LH
Lankenau High School
Public high school
Slated to close and merge into Saul

An environmental sciences magnet school with more than 200 students.
The Cultivator
The Cultivator
Student newspaper
Collecting questions about merger

Saul's student newspaper, which has been gathering questions from students and teachers about the merger.

Timeline

April 2026 October 2026

2 events Latest: Today

  1. Saul staff and students say questions remain

    Today Statement

    Teachers and students say the district has not addressed concerns about staffing, schedule, space and programs; district says transition committees are coming.

  2. District approves facilities master plan

    Policy

    Plan includes closing Lankenau and merging it into Saul as a career and technical education honors program.

Scenarios

1

Merger proceeds for 2027-28 school year

Likely Resolves by Sep 1, 2027

Discussed by: School District of Philadelphia spokesperson Monique Braxton

The district has said the decision is moving forward and plans transition committees. If it holds, Lankenau closes and Saul absorbs its students under a combined program.

2

District delays merger after community pressure

Possible Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: Saul teachers and Lankenau community

Teachers at Saul have said they support Lankenau's fight and do not believe the decision is final. A delay would require the district to revise the facilities plan or keep Lankenau open longer.

3

Transition plan preserves Saul's schedule and majors

Possible Resolves by Mar 1, 2027

Discussed by: Saul staff and student journalists

Saul teachers and students want the district to keep the block schedule and the animal science, food processing science and horticulture majors. A published transition plan could settle those questions.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

Recent school year

Science Leadership Academy at Beeber and Parkway West merger

When Philadelphia moved to merge Parkway West High School into SLA Beeber, principals Christopher Johnson and Will Brown started meeting with staff and families before the transition. They wanted both school communities to understand each other's environments.

Then

The principals worked to plan for displaced students and staff and to make the transition smoother.

Now

Superintendent Tony Watlington said successful transitions depend on people and their lived experiences, not just a plan.

Why this matters now

The example shows that early, joint planning can address the uncertainty Saul and Lankenau communities now describe.

Sources

(2)
WHYY School District of Philadelphia