North Central: A Gem on Judson Street

You would never find it if you weren't looking for it.

Nestled inside the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs at 1396 Judson Street there's no signs that this place even exists. But that's all beginning to change as the Community Partnership School is making a name for itself in the north central Philadelphia area.

For the past three years the school, which is made up of pre-k to fourth grade students, has prospered under President Eric Jones. Jones, who has experience with independent schools having attended one himself, knows how important it is to provide young people with a solid foundation.

"We have about 75 kids right now," Jones said. "Next year we are adding a fifth grade wing and we'll have about 90 students. We have a seven to one faculty to student ratio, and we believe it's important for the kids to succeed by having such individual attention."

While the space is small, Jones sees a bigger future for the school, regardless of the fact that it is mainly funded by donors, rather than tuition payments.

"Eventually we would like to branch out and develop into a successful grade school and middle school," Jones said. "Of course the process will be slow and we will eventually need a bigger space, but the future is bright."

Mike Mastrangelo
North Central Philadelphia
Group 22