Francis Scott Key School

For other primary schools named after Francis Scott Key, see Key Elementary School.
Francis Scott Key School
Francis Scott Key School, May 2010
Francis Scott Key School is located in Philadelphia
Francis Scott Key School
Francis Scott Key School is located in Pennsylvania
Francis Scott Key School
Francis Scott Key School is located in the United States
Francis Scott Key School
Location2226-2250 S. Eighth St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°55′16″N 75°09′37″W / 39.9210°N 75.1604°W / 39.9210; -75.1604
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1889
Built byO`Neill, Charles, Jr.
ArchitectAnshutz, Joseph W.
Architectural styleLate Victorian
MPSPhiladelphia Public Schools TR
NRHP reference No.86003296[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 1, 1986

Francis Scott Key School is a public elementary school located in the Central South Philadelphia neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the School District of Philadelphia.

The historic school building was built in 1889, and is a three-story, eight-bay, brick building on a limestone base in the Late Victorian-style. It features a decorative brick corbel, small pedimented dormer, and three great flaring capped chimneys.[2] It was named for American lawyer, author, and amateur poet Francis Scott Key (1779–1843).

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[1]

Areas assigned to Key are assigned to Southwark School for grades 7-8.[3] Students zoned to Southwark and to Key are also zoned to South Philadelphia High School.[4]

History

In 1988 over 75% of Key's students were under the poverty line.[5]

Prior to 1989 Key was a K-8 school. In 1989 the district decided to move grades 6-8 to Southwark School in order to relieve overcrowding at area elementary schools, and in turn the high school program Southwark Motivation, on the third floor of Southwark, was to be moved to South Philadelphia High.[6]

On June 10, 2015 an emergency notification was sent regarding asbestos found at Key.[7] District spokesperson Fernando Gallard stated that the district had discovered the asbestos before the notification, sent by Philadelphia city controller Alan Butkovitz to officials, was sent out, and that the problem had been fixed.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania". CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2012-07-06. Note: This includes G. Thomas (August 1980). "Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form: Francis Scott Key School" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  3. ^ "Francis Scott Key Elementary Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "South Philadelphia High School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  5. ^ Mezzacappa, Dale. "A Fresh Attempt To Foster Skills Of Poor Students" (Archive). Philadelphia Inquirer. July 24, 1988. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  6. ^ Mezzacappa, Dale. "Crowding Prompts Changes At South Phila. Schools" (Archive). Philadelphia Inquirer. February 9, 1989. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  7. ^ Medina, Regina. "Butkovitz: School buildings are substandard" (Archive). Philadelphia Inquirer. July 3, 2015. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  8. ^ Graham, Kristen A. and Dylan Purcell. "Controller: City schools a health threat" (Archive). Philadelphia Inquirer. July 3, 2015. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.