mISSION STATEMENT
The Walter Biddle Saul High School for Agricultural Sciences is a special admit magnet school within the Philadelphia School District. According to the school's district website, their mission as " [. . .] a diverse learning community is to develop in students an understanding of and appreciation for the career and leadership opportunities that are available to them in the many fields of agriculture. It is also [their] commitment to cultivate each student's individual abilities to prepare him or her for a lifetime of productive academic, vocational, and civic endeavors."
aDMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
The admission requirements for Saul are multi-faceted. Again, according to the school's district site, their policy is as follows:
- Grades: A's and B's with the possible exception of one C in major subjects on the most recent final report card. Incoming 9th graders must attend a 4-week summer program.
- PSSA: Advanced, proficient or near-proficient scores in both reading and mathematics. Other tests: 70th percentile or higher
- Attendance: Exemplary attendance & punctuality
- Behavior: No negative disciplinary reports over the past 3 years
- Optional: Teacher recommendation(s)
- Optional: Writing Sample: Prospective students may submit a handwritten writing sample with their application addressing the topic of why they would like to attend Saul.
oVERVIEW OF SCHOOL
mAJORS
Once a member of the Saul community, students are expected to choose one of four available "majors" related to agriculture: Agricultural and Food Products Processing, Animal Science, Applied Horticulture, or Natural Resources Management and Policy (District site).
lAND USE
As is evidenced by the map to the left, the city of Philadelphia owns the land where the main part of Saul's campus resides. The area on the opposite side of Henry Avenue is marked here, in 1962 simply as Fairmount Park, and not demarcated further.
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Currently, the section of this park land where the Henry Got Crops CSA is located is leased long-term by Saul from the Philadelphia Parks Department for a negligible fee. The Weaver's Way Co-op also is forced to lease the land from the city. However, the school and farm have a legal agreement in place to ensure that their goals are mutually aligned, and they have a great understanding about the importance of granting students complete access to everything the land and farm have to offer.
click below to explore more about Saul
Image: Erika Mitkus
Image: Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.philageohistory.org
Mission Statement information: Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.philageohistory.org
Admissions and Overview information: Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.philageohistory.org
All Land Use information: Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.philageohistory.org
Image: Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.philageohistory.org
Mission Statement information: Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.philageohistory.org
Admissions and Overview information: Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.philageohistory.org
All Land Use information: Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.philageohistory.org