Early years:
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Beginning in 1943, the school district began to offer an agricultural program in conjunction with regular academic class held at the Shallcross School. Numerous iterations and locations finally led to the district buying both the property West of Henry Avenue and leasing (for 99 years) the property East of Henry Avenue in Fairmount Park. Eventually, the academic and agricultural courses were both given at this current location, and the Wissahickon Farm School was thus created in 1951.
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Transition to current name: 1951-1966
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The Wissahickon Farm School underwent renovations starting in 1957. When the revamp was completed in 1961, the school's name was changed to The Philadelphia High School of Horticulture and Agriculture.
Walter Biddle Saul was a Philadelphia attorney who also served as the President of the Philadelphia Board of Education. He was consistently an important supporter of the numerous iterations of the Farm School, and in 1966, the district moved to commemorate his efforts by renaming the school The Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agriculture and Horticulture. Walter Biddle Saul was the first [. . .] person to have a public high school named after him in the city of Philadelphia. |
Recent history: 1966-
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A number of renovations and additions were conducted beginning in 1967 and 1976 which added the current agricultural building, science wing, dairy barn, meat lab, gym, equipment building and more. In addition, the district changed the name slightly in 1969 to the current Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences in order to "[. . .] reflect its expanding agricultural focus."
More recently, the Inquirer's Kristen A. Graham notes that although "for many years [Saul] concentrated mostly on traditional agricultural subjects, and though it is certainly still firmly grounded in those, a recent focus has been on boosting academics, on inquiry-based learning that opens the door to a wider range of careers." In the past few years, budget cuts have caused some areas for concern for Saul. The school is continually trying to add more student seats and expand: the student body grew 15% from 2012 to 2013. During this time, however, budget cuts forced the school to let go of seven teachers and some administrative staff.. All of these factors have lead to hard decisions such as cutting the summer freshmen preparatory program as teachers grapple with larger class sizes; 18 classes are now designated as "overcrowded" by state standards. Through all of this, however, the school remains optimistic. Saul Principal Tamera Conaway said that the school is "trying to do more with less." |
Early Years and Transition information: About Us. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/s/saul/about-us/w.b.-saul
Recent History information: About Us. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/s/saul/about-us/w.b.-saul
Graham, K. (2012, October 22). At Saul High, Talented Crop of Students. Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://articles.philly.com/2012-10-22/news/34629111_1_saul-top-student-roxborough-school
McCory, K. (2014, December 4). Despite budget cuts, students reap essential lessons at Philly's Saul farm school [photos]. Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/education/75927-despite-budget-cuts-phillys-wb-saul-school-oinks-moos-and-whinnies-ahead
Moselle, A. (2013, October 7). Influx of students and fewer teachers cause overcrowding at W.B. Saul High School. Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/nw-philadelphia-daily-newsletter/60536-influx-of-students-and-fewer-teachers-cause-overcrowding-at-wb-saul-high-school-
Conaway, T. (Director) Tamera Conaway Comments Within News Sources. Lecture conducted from , .
Recent History information: About Us. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/s/saul/about-us/w.b.-saul
Graham, K. (2012, October 22). At Saul High, Talented Crop of Students. Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://articles.philly.com/2012-10-22/news/34629111_1_saul-top-student-roxborough-school
McCory, K. (2014, December 4). Despite budget cuts, students reap essential lessons at Philly's Saul farm school [photos]. Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/education/75927-despite-budget-cuts-phillys-wb-saul-school-oinks-moos-and-whinnies-ahead
Moselle, A. (2013, October 7). Influx of students and fewer teachers cause overcrowding at W.B. Saul High School. Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/nw-philadelphia-daily-newsletter/60536-influx-of-students-and-fewer-teachers-cause-overcrowding-at-wb-saul-high-school-
Conaway, T. (Director) Tamera Conaway Comments Within News Sources. Lecture conducted from , .