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Change honorific form to full name without honorifics. First name from https://mccall.philasd.org/about-us/faculty-and-staff/
 
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| motto =
| motto =
| location =
| location =
| country = {{flag|USA}}
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{coord|39.944583|-75.152595|type:edu_globe:earth_region:US-PA|display=title}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|39.944583|-75.152595|type:edu_globe:earth_region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Philadelphia#USA Pennsylvania#USA
| established = 1911
| established = 1911
| opened =
| opened =
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| district = [[School District of Philadelphia]]
| district = [[School District of Philadelphia]]
| grades = K-8th
| grades = K-8th
| superintendent =
| principal = Antoinette Powell
| principal = Stephanie McKenna
| enrollment =
| enrollment =
| faculty =
| teaching_staff =
| campus_type =
| campus_type =
| campus_size =
| campus_size =
| team_name =
| nickname =
| newspaper =
| newspaper =
| colors =
| colors =
⚫
| website = {{URL|https://mccall.philasd.org/}}
| communities = [[Society Hill]], [[Chinatown, Philadelphia|Chinatown]], and [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]]
| feeders =
⚫
| website = [https://www.philasd.org/mccall/ philasd.org/mccall]
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}

'''General George A. McCall School''' is a public [[K–8 school]] in the [[Society Hill]] section of [[Center City, Philadelphia]]. The McCall School, located at 325 S. 7th Street, serves Society Hill, [[Chinatown, Philadelphia|Chinatown]],<ref name=KadabaEffort>Kadaba, Lini S. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151018141242/http://articles.philly.com/1998-10-06/news/25763651_1_bilingual-education-english-only-classes-bilingual-education-classes An Effort To Speak To More Students The School District Is Extending The Reach Of Its Bilingual Programs.]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dNsUvpoM Archive]). ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''. October 6, 1998. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3309206A3C927&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article info]. B01 City & Region. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.</ref> and [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]].<ref>"[https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2340.pdf Gen. George A. McCall Elementary School Geographic Boundaries]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/629RgjN0g Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref> The school, a part of the [[School District of Philadelphia]], is named after [[George A. McCall]]. On September 28, 2017 McCall was named a National Blue Ribbon School <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philasd.org/blog/2017/09/28/mccall%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bschool%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bnamed%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bnational%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bblue%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bribbon%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bschool/|title=McCall School Named National Blue Ribbon School – The School District of Philadelphia|website=www.philasd.org}}</ref>.
'''General George A. McCall School''' is a public [[K–8 school]] in the [[Society Hill]] section of [[Center City, Philadelphia]]. The McCall School, located at 325 S. 7th Street, serves Society Hill, [[Chinatown, Philadelphia|Chinatown]],<ref name=KadabaEffort>Kadaba, Lini S. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151018141242/http://articles.philly.com/1998-10-06/news/25763651_1_bilingual-education-english-only-classes-bilingual-education-classes An Effort To Speak To More Students The School District Is Extending The Reach Of Its Bilingual Programs.]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081507/http://articles.philly.com/1998-10-06/news/25763651_1_bilingual-education-english-only-classes-bilingual-education-classes Archive]). ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''. October 6, 1998. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3309206A3C927&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article info]. B01 City & Region. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.</ref> and [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]].<ref>"[https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2340.pdf Gen. George A. McCall Elementary School Geographic Boundaries]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120328083501/https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2340.pdf Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref> The school, a part of the [[School District of Philadelphia]], is named after [[George A. McCall]]. On September 28, 2017 McCall was named a [[National Blue Ribbon School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philasd.org/blog/2017/09/28/mccall%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bschool%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bnamed%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bnational%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bblue%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bribbon%E2%80%8B-%E2%80%8Bschool/|title=McCall School Named National Blue Ribbon School – The School District of Philadelphia|website=www.philasd.org}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The official opening of McCall occurred on February 1911; the construction of the building had been awarded on October 26, 1909.<ref>"[http://meetingmccall.com/home/2009/2/1/a-little-bit-of-history.html A Little Bit of History]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dMavyFyK Archive]). McCall Home and School Association. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref> It relieved [[Horace Binney School]], and the first principal of McCall, Louis Nusbaum, was previously Binney's principal.<ref name=PhilaPlace>"[http://m.philaplace.org/story/1042/ The Gen. George A. McCall School]." PhilaPlace, [[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]]. Retrieved on February 26, 2017.</ref>
The official opening of McCall occurred on February 1911; the construction of the building had been awarded on October 26, 1909.<ref>"[http://meetingmccall.com/home/2009/2/1/a-little-bit-of-history.html A Little Bit of History]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208132706/http://meetingmccall.com/home/2009/2/1/a-little-bit-of-history.html Archive]). McCall Home and School Association. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref> It relieved [[Horace Binney School]], and the first principal of McCall, Louis Nusbaum, was previously Binney's principal.<ref name=PhilaPlace>"[http://m.philaplace.org/story/1042/ The Gen. George A. McCall School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226131356/http://m.philaplace.org/story/1042/ |date=2017-02-26 }}." PhilaPlace, [[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]]. Retrieved on February 26, 2017.</ref>


McCall, in the 1920s and 1930s, was known for its "Continuation School", a program for students aged 14 and up, until age 16, where they attend school once per week while finding work. At the time compulsory school attendance was until age 14.<ref name=PhilaPlace/>
McCall, in the 1920s and 1930s, was known for its "Continuation School", a program for students aged 14 and up, until age 16, where they attend school once per week while finding work. At the time compulsory school attendance was until age 14.<ref name=PhilaPlace/>
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In the 1950s McCall introduced a program of [[English as a second language]] for students, the first of its kind offered by a U.S. public school. In 1953 the students in its ESL program numbered over 200 and originated from over 20 countries.<ref name=PhilaPlace/>
In the 1950s McCall introduced a program of [[English as a second language]] for students, the first of its kind offered by a U.S. public school. In 1953 the students in its ESL program numbered over 200 and originated from over 20 countries.<ref name=PhilaPlace/>


''[[Black Enterprise]]'' stated that circa 1964<!--Twelve years ago from 1976 would be 1964--> McCall "was mostly Black, neglected and hardly deserved to be called an institution of learning."<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144>"Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). ''[[Black Enterprise]]''. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 44. In: Volume 7. [[E. G. Graves Publishing Company]], 1976. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=E4kOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Twelve+years+ago,+its+McCall+School%22&dq=%22Twelve+years+ago,+its+McCall+School%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y 144]. See [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=%22Twelve+years+ago%2C+its+McCall+School%22 Search view #1], [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q="Less+than+15+years+ago,+Society+Hill" Search view #2]</ref> This reflected the state of the neighborhood which the same magazine described back then as "one of the city's most depressing slums".<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144/> Around that period wealthier residents began sending their children to other schools.<ref name=PhilaPlace/> By 1976 the neighborhood gentrified and became heavily white.<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144/>
''[[Black Enterprise]]'' stated that circa 1964<!--Twelve years ago from 1976 would be 1964--> McCall "was mostly Black, neglected and hardly deserved to be called an institution of learning."<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144>"Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). ''[[Black Enterprise]]''. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 44. In: Volume 7. [[E. G. Graves Publishing Company]], 1976. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=E4kOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Twelve+years+ago,+its+McCall+School%22 144]. See [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=%22Twelve+years+ago%2C+its+McCall+School%22 Search view #1], [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q="Less+than+15+years+ago,+Society+Hill" Search view #2]</ref> This reflected the state of the neighborhood which the same magazine described back then as "one of the city's most depressing slums".<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144/> Around that period wealthier residents began sending their children to other schools.<ref name=PhilaPlace/> By 1976 the neighborhood gentrified and became heavily white.<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144/>


In the mid-1960s it received an auditorium and gymnasium,<ref name=PhilaPlace/> and prior to 1976 it received a renovation. By then the neighborhood became mostly white and wealthy.<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144/> By 1976 the school became one of the highest-ranked schools in Philadelphia; the student body of McCall reflected the wealthier and white majority demographics.<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144174>"Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). ''[[Black Enterprise]]''. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 44 and 74. In: Volume 7. [[E. G. Graves Publishing Company]], 1976. p. [https://books.google.com/books?redir_esc=y&id=E4kOAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22Less+than+15+years+ago%2C+Society+Hill%22&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=McCall 144 and 174]. See [https://www.google.ca/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=%22McCall+today+teaches+mostly%22 Search view #1], [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=%22Less+than+15+years+ago%2C+Society+Hill%22#tbm=bks&q=%22upper-middle-income+whites+and+ranks+as%22&* Search view #2]</ref> According to ''Black Enterprise'', the demographic and academic transformation of McCall was a demonstration of the phrase "The better the neighborhood, the better the schools."<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144/>
In the mid-1960s it received an auditorium and gymnasium,<ref name=PhilaPlace/> and prior to 1976 it received a renovation. By then the neighborhood became mostly white and wealthy.<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144/> By 1976 the school became one of the highest-ranked schools in Philadelphia; the student body of McCall reflected the wealthier and white majority demographics.<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144174>"Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). ''[[Black Enterprise]]''. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 44 and 74. In: Volume 7. [[E. G. Graves Publishing Company]], 1976. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=E4kOAQAAMAAJ&q=McCall 144 and 174]. See [https://www.google.ca/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=%22McCall+today+teaches+mostly%22 Search view #1], [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=%22Less+than+15+years+ago%2C+Society+Hill%22#tbm=bks&q=%22upper-middle-income+whites+and+ranks+as%22&* Search view #2]</ref> According to ''Black Enterprise'', the demographic and academic transformation of McCall was a demonstration of the phrase "The better the neighborhood, the better the schools."<ref name=BlackEntVol7p144/>


By September 1998 the school, which had 650 students, established a bilingual English-Chinese program to serve [[Chinese Americans|Chinese American]] students, and that month it began hiring teachers fluent in both languages to teach core subjects. At the time 25% of the students were Chinese, and the number of Chinese students had doubled in the previous two-year period.<ref name=KadabaEffort/> Russell Scott Smith of ''[[Edutopia]]'' wrote that in 2004<!--When Bingham's son enrolled-->, compared with other schools in Philadelphia, "McCall already had a fairly good reputation for academic rigor and safety" and that by 2009 it had improved even more.<ref name=SmithEdutopia>Smith, Russell Scott. "[http://www.edutopia.org/parents-activism-urban-public-schools Affluent Parents Return to Inner-City Schools for Educational Opportunities]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dMVWC1J3 Archive]). ''[[Edutopia]]''. August 26, 2009. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref> In 2012 Kristen A. Graham of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' stated that McCall was one of "the district's stronger neighborhood schools".<ref name=Grahamraisefunds>Graham, Kristen A. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150920015258/http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-12/news/32633423_1_summer-school-budget-cuts-mother-bethel Organizers raise funds to offer free summer school]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dNEBHYZd Archive]). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. July 12, 2012. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref>
By September 1998 the school, which had 650 students, established a bilingual English-Chinese program to serve [[Chinese Americans|Chinese American]] students, and that month it began hiring teachers fluent in both languages to teach core subjects. At the time 25% of the students were Chinese, and the number of Chinese students had doubled in the previous two-year period.<ref name=KadabaEffort/> Russell Scott Smith of ''[[Edutopia]]'' wrote that in 2004<!--When Bingham's son enrolled-->, compared with other schools in Philadelphia, "McCall already had a fairly good reputation for academic rigor and safety" and that by 2009 it had improved even more.<ref name=SmithEdutopia>Smith, Russell Scott. "[http://www.edutopia.org/parents-activism-urban-public-schools Affluent Parents Return to Inner-City Schools for Educational Opportunities]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208114812/http://www.edutopia.org/parents-activism-urban-public-schools Archive]). ''[[Edutopia]]''. August 26, 2009. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref> In 2012 Kristen A. Graham of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' stated that McCall was one of "the district's stronger neighborhood schools".<ref name=Grahamraisefunds>Graham, Kristen A. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150920015258/http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-12/news/32633423_1_summer-school-budget-cuts-mother-bethel Organizers raise funds to offer free summer school]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208052126/http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-12/news/32633423_1_summer-school-budget-cuts-mother-bethel Archive]). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. July 12, 2012. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref>


==Operations==
==Operations==
The school's [[Parent-Teacher Association|parent-teacher organization]] is the McCall Home and School Association.<ref name=SmithEdutopia/>
The school's [[parent–teacher association]] is the McCall Home and School Association.<ref name=SmithEdutopia/>


==Student body==
==Student body==
As of 2009 the racial percentages of McCall's student body were 55% Asian, 27% black, 11% white, 4% from other racial backgrounds, and 1.7% Hispanic and Latino.<ref name=SmithEdutopia/> In 2012 about 50% of the student body was below the poverty line.<ref name=Grahamraisefunds/>
As of 2009 the racial percentages of McCall's student body were 55% Asian, 27% black, 11% white, 4% from other racial backgrounds, and 1.7% Hispanic and Latino.<ref name=SmithEdutopia/> In 2012 about 50% of the student body was below the poverty line.<ref name=Grahamraisefunds/>


As of 2005 most Chinatown residents who are unable to afford tuition to send their children to private school send their children to McCall.<ref name="Charter">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20150921024424/http://articles.philly.com/2005-03-10/news/25419171_1_charter-school-chinatown-independent-public-schools Chinatown to get charter school]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dNtIXPSD?url=http://articles.philly.com/2005-03-10/news/25419171_1_charter-school-chinatown-independent-public-schools Archive]). ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''. March 10, 2005. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=108C9ABB699A555F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article info]. B01 Local News Philadelphia & its Suburbs.</ref>
As of 2005 most Chinatown residents who are unable to afford tuition to send their children to private school send their children to McCall.<ref name="Charter">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20150921024424/http://articles.philly.com/2005-03-10/news/25419171_1_charter-school-chinatown-independent-public-schools Chinatown to get charter school]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208045132/http://articles.philly.com/2005-03-10/news/25419171_1_charter-school-chinatown-independent-public-schools Archive]). ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''. March 10, 2005. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=108C9ABB699A555F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article info]. B01 Local News Philadelphia & its Suburbs.</ref>

In 1975, the student enrollment was 713, with white students being 49%, black students being 45%, and Asian students being 6%.<ref>{{cite news|title=The McCall school case: example of busing's folly|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|place=[[Philadelphia]]|date=1975-08-02|page=6-A}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93792298/for-mccall-school/ Clipping from] [[Newspapers.com]]</ref>


==Campus==
==Campus==
In 1976 ''Black Enterprise'' stated that there is more emphasis on saving historical buildings in Philadelphia compared to other major American cities; it stated that "in any other large American city it would probably have been torn down by now."<ref name=BlackEntVol7p174>"Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). ''[[Black Enterprise]]''. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 74. In: Volume 7. [[E. G. Graves Publishing Company]], 1976. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=E4kOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22in+any+other+large+American+city+it+would+probably+have+been%22&dq=%22in+any+other+large+American+city+it+would+probably+have+been%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y 174]. See [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q="in+any+other+large+American+city+it+would+probably+have+been" #1] "McCall School was built in 1909. and in any other large American city it would probably have been torn down by now. In Philadelphia, chances are something would have been done to preserve it— as a monument to early-twentieth century[...]"</ref>
In 1976 ''Black Enterprise'' stated that there is more emphasis on saving historical buildings in Philadelphia compared to other major American cities; it stated that "in any other large American city it would probably have been torn down by now."<ref name=BlackEntVol7p174>"Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). ''[[Black Enterprise]]''. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 74. In: Volume 7. [[E. G. Graves Publishing Company]], 1976. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=E4kOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22in+any+other+large+American+city+it+would+probably+have+been%22 174]. See [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q="in+any+other+large+American+city+it+would+probably+have+been" #1] "McCall School was built in 1909. and in any other large American city it would probably have been torn down by now. In Philadelphia, chances are something would have been done to preserve it— as a monument to early-twentieth century[...]"</ref>


The school received a "cybrary" in 2007{{mdash}}a library facility with 22 computers and materials in [[Mandarin Chinese]] financed by fundraisers and bake sales.<ref>Graham, Kristen A. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151208054559/http://articles.philly.com/2007-01-08/news/25221715_1_interactive-library-mccall-elementary-schools It clicks! Psyched about an elementary school's 'cybrary']" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dMW95ghZ Archive]). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. January 8, 2007. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref>
The school received a "cybrary" in 2007{{mdash}}a library facility with 22 computers and materials in [[Mandarin Chinese]] financed by fundraisers and bake sales.<ref>Graham, Kristen A. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151208054559/http://articles.philly.com/2007-01-08/news/25221715_1_interactive-library-mccall-elementary-schools It clicks! Psyched about an elementary school's 'cybrary']" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208054559/http://articles.philly.com/2007-01-08/news/25221715_1_interactive-library-mccall-elementary-schools Archive]). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. January 8, 2007. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref>


==School uniforms==
==School uniforms==
Its mandatory [[school uniform]] policy went into effect in 2001 when the school district required all schools to have strict dress codes.<ref>Giordano, Rita. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151208060820/http://articles.philly.com/2001-09-07/news/25314354_1_mandatory-dress-dress-code-uniform-requirement Shift to mandatory dress policy fairly seamless in Phila. schools Students are nattily attired. Parents are just tired.]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dMWcAkez Archive]). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. September 7, 2001. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref>
Its mandatory [[school uniform]] policy went into effect in 2001 when the school district required all schools to have strict dress codes.<ref>Giordano, Rita. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151208060820/http://articles.philly.com/2001-09-07/news/25314354_1_mandatory-dress-dress-code-uniform-requirement Shift to mandatory dress policy fairly seamless in Phila. schools Students are nattily attired. Parents are just tired.]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208060820/http://articles.philly.com/2001-09-07/news/25314354_1_mandatory-dress-dress-code-uniform-requirement Archive]). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. September 7, 2001. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref>


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
In 1993 the school district began a school bus route between Chinatown and McCall.<ref name="Jacksonbus">Jackson, Leigh. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074735/http://articles.philly.com/1994-05-28/news/25829142_1_program-cuts-school-budget-school-board SCHOOL BOARD TACK: SLASH, UNSLASH]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dMV3CTPY Archive]). ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''. May 28, 1994. 06 Local. Retrieved on November 8, 2011. - [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DN&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI|DN&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB2A16D2BE13C59&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article info]</ref> The school is {{convert|1.4|mi|km}} away from the furthest point of Chinatown.<ref>Jackson, Leigh. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150912013358/http://articles.philly.com/1993-03-15/news/25951938_1_chinatown-penndot-route Mccall Parents Want Bus From Chinatown, Kids Walk A Gantlet]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6dNzyAiDJ Archive]). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. March 15, 1993. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.</ref> The district was not required to install the route, but parents advocated for the route because they believed that traffic at Market Street and Washington Square endangered their children. When the district proposed to eliminate the route in 1994, parents complained.<ref name="Jacksonbus"/>
In 1993 the school district began a school bus route between Chinatown and McCall.<ref name="Jacksonbus">Jackson, Leigh. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074735/http://articles.philly.com/1994-05-28/news/25829142_1_program-cuts-school-budget-school-board SCHOOL BOARD TACK: SLASH, UNSLASH]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074735/http://articles.philly.com/1994-05-28/news/25829142_1_program-cuts-school-budget-school-board Archive]). ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''. May 28, 1994. 06 Local. Retrieved on November 8, 2011. - [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DN&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI|DN&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB2A16D2BE13C59&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Article info]</ref> The school is {{convert|1.4|mi|km}} away from the furthest point of Chinatown.<ref>Jackson, Leigh. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150912013358/http://articles.philly.com/1993-03-15/news/25951938_1_chinatown-penndot-route Mccall Parents Want Bus From Chinatown, Kids Walk A Gantlet]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151208070944/http://articles.philly.com/1993-03-15/news/25951938_1_chinatown-penndot-route Archive]). ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''. March 15, 1993. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.</ref> The district was not required to install the route, but parents advocated for the route because they believed that traffic at Market Street and Washington Square endangered their children. When the district proposed to eliminate the route in 1994, parents complained.<ref name="Jacksonbus"/>


==Feeder patterns==
==Feeder patterns==
Students zoned to McCall are also zoned to [[Benjamin Franklin High School (Philadelphia)|Benjamin Franklin High School]].<ref name=2017admissions>"[http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/uploads/3u/OZ/3uOZaCxa60P-JNsu42DbPg/HS-Directory-2017.pdf High School Directory Fall 2017 Admissions]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6m44bXWvm Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. p. 30/70. Retrieved on November 16, 2016.</ref> and [[Furness High School]] depending on their High School catchment boundary..<ref>"[https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2160.pdf Horace Furness High School Geographic Boundaries]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/629HPUIlQ Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref>
All persons zoned to McCall are also zoned to [[Benjamin Franklin High School (Philadelphia)|Benjamin Franklin High School]].<ref name=2017admissions>"[http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/uploads/3u/OZ/3uOZaCxa60P-JNsu42DbPg/HS-Directory-2017.pdf High School Directory Fall 2017 Admissions]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20161107165127/http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/uploads/3u/OZ/3uOZaCxa60P-JNsu42DbPg/HS-Directory-2017.pdf Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. p. 30/70. Retrieved on November 16, 2016.</ref> Previously [[Furness High School]] was the zoned high school for McCall zone residents.<ref>"[https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2160.pdf Horace Furness High School Geographic Boundaries]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120328083726/https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2160.pdf Archive]). [[School District of Philadelphia]]. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.</ref>

⚫
==Further reading==
⚫
* Preston, George. "McCall Celebrates {{sic|it's}} 75th year anniversary." The [[Free Library Of Philadelphia]]''. (1984): 86. Print<!--https://scienceleadership.org/media/open/1922-->


==Notes==
==Notes==
* [[Society Hill, Philadelphia#Primary_education|Some content originated from]] [[Society Hill]]
* [[Society Hill, Philadelphia#Primary education|Some content originated from]] [[Society Hill]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

⚫
==Further reading==
⚫
* Preston, George. "McCall Celebrates it's{{sic}} 75th year anniversary." [[The Free Library Of Philadelphia]]''. (1984): 86. Print<!--https://scienceleadership.org/media/open/1922-->


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commonscat}}
*{{official|https://www.philasd.org/mccall/}}
*{{official|https://mccall.philasd.org/}}
**{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/m/mccall/|title=General George A. McCall School}}
**{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/m/mccall/|title=General George A. McCall School}}
**{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/mccall/|title=General George A. McCall School}}
**{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/mccall/|title=General George A. McCall School}}
*[https://mccallschool.org/ School and Home Association]
*[https://mccallschool.org/ School and Home Association]
*[https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/66053 George A. McCall School] - [[Athenaeum of Philadelphia]]
*[https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/66053 George A. McCall School] – [[Athenaeum of Philadelphia]]
{{Society Hill}}
{{Society Hill}}
{{Schools in Philadelphia}}
{{Schools in Philadelphia}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:McCall, George A. School}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCall, George A. School}}
[[Category:Public K-8 schools in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Public K–8 schools in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Society Hill, Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Society Hill, Philadelphia]]
[[Category:School District of Philadelphia]]
[[Category:School District of Philadelphia]]

Latest revision as of 02:54, 24 May 2024

General George A. McCall School
Location
Map
United States
Coordinates39°56′40″N 75°09′09″W / 39.944583°N 75.152595°W / 39.944583; -75.152595
Information
TypeK-8 school
Established1911
School districtSchool District of Philadelphia
PrincipalAntoinette Powell
GradesK-8th
Websitemccall.philasd.org

General George A. McCall School is a public K–8 school in the Society Hill section of Center City, Philadelphia. The McCall School, located at 325 S. 7th Street, serves Society Hill, Chinatown,[1] and Old City.[2] The school, a part of the School District of Philadelphia, is named after George A. McCall. On September 28, 2017 McCall was named a National Blue Ribbon School.[3]

History

[edit]

The official opening of McCall occurred on February 1911; the construction of the building had been awarded on October 26, 1909.[4] It relieved Horace Binney School, and the first principal of McCall, Louis Nusbaum, was previously Binney's principal.[5]

McCall, in the 1920s and 1930s, was known for its "Continuation School", a program for students aged 14 and up, until age 16, where they attend school once per week while finding work. At the time compulsory school attendance was until age 14.[5]

In the 1950s McCall introduced a program of English as a second language for students, the first of its kind offered by a U.S. public school. In 1953 the students in its ESL program numbered over 200 and originated from over 20 countries.[5]

Black Enterprise stated that circa 1964 McCall "was mostly Black, neglected and hardly deserved to be called an institution of learning."[6] This reflected the state of the neighborhood which the same magazine described back then as "one of the city's most depressing slums".[6] Around that period wealthier residents began sending their children to other schools.[5] By 1976 the neighborhood gentrified and became heavily white.[6]

In the mid-1960s it received an auditorium and gymnasium,[5] and prior to 1976 it received a renovation. By then the neighborhood became mostly white and wealthy.[6] By 1976 the school became one of the highest-ranked schools in Philadelphia; the student body of McCall reflected the wealthier and white majority demographics.[7] According to Black Enterprise, the demographic and academic transformation of McCall was a demonstration of the phrase "The better the neighborhood, the better the schools."[6]

By September 1998 the school, which had 650 students, established a bilingual English-Chinese program to serve Chinese American students, and that month it began hiring teachers fluent in both languages to teach core subjects. At the time 25% of the students were Chinese, and the number of Chinese students had doubled in the previous two-year period.[1] Russell Scott Smith of Edutopia wrote that in 2004, compared with other schools in Philadelphia, "McCall already had a fairly good reputation for academic rigor and safety" and that by 2009 it had improved even more.[8] In 2012 Kristen A. Graham of The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that McCall was one of "the district's stronger neighborhood schools".[9]

Operations

[edit]

The school's parent–teacher association is the McCall Home and School Association.[8]

Student body

[edit]

As of 2009 the racial percentages of McCall's student body were 55% Asian, 27% black, 11% white, 4% from other racial backgrounds, and 1.7% Hispanic and Latino.[8] In 2012 about 50% of the student body was below the poverty line.[9]

As of 2005 most Chinatown residents who are unable to afford tuition to send their children to private school send their children to McCall.[10]

In 1975, the student enrollment was 713, with white students being 49%, black students being 45%, and Asian students being 6%.[11]

Campus

[edit]

In 1976 Black Enterprise stated that there is more emphasis on saving historical buildings in Philadelphia compared to other major American cities; it stated that "in any other large American city it would probably have been torn down by now."[12]

The school received a "cybrary" in 2007—a library facility with 22 computers and materials in Mandarin Chinese financed by fundraisers and bake sales.[13]

School uniforms

[edit]

Its mandatory school uniform policy went into effect in 2001 when the school district required all schools to have strict dress codes.[14]

Transportation

[edit]

In 1993 the school district began a school bus route between Chinatown and McCall.[15] The school is 1.4 miles (2.3 km) away from the furthest point of Chinatown.[16] The district was not required to install the route, but parents advocated for the route because they believed that traffic at Market Street and Washington Square endangered their children. When the district proposed to eliminate the route in 1994, parents complained.[15]

Feeder patterns

[edit]

All persons zoned to McCall are also zoned to Benjamin Franklin High School.[17] Previously Furness High School was the zoned high school for McCall zone residents.[18]

Further reading

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Kadaba, Lini S. "An Effort To Speak To More Students The School District Is Extending The Reach Of Its Bilingual Programs." (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 6, 1998. Article info. B01 City & Region. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  2. ^ "Gen. George A. McCall Elementary School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "McCall School Named National Blue Ribbon School – The School District of Philadelphia". www.philasd.org.
  4. ^ "A Little Bit of History" (Archive). McCall Home and School Association. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e "The Gen. George A. McCall School Archived 2017-02-26 at the Wayback Machine." PhilaPlace, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Retrieved on February 26, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). Black Enterprise. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 44. In: Volume 7. E. G. Graves Publishing Company, 1976. p. 144. See Search view #1, "Less+than+15+years+ago,+Society+Hill" Search view #2
  7. ^ "Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). Black Enterprise. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 44 and 74. In: Volume 7. E. G. Graves Publishing Company, 1976. p. 144 and 174. See Search view #1, Search view #2
  8. ^ a b c Smith, Russell Scott. "Affluent Parents Return to Inner-City Schools for Educational Opportunities" (Archive). Edutopia. August 26, 2009. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Graham, Kristen A. "Organizers raise funds to offer free summer school" (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 12, 2012. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.
  10. ^ "Chinatown to get charter school" (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 10, 2005. Article info. B01 Local News Philadelphia & its Suburbs.
  11. ^ "The McCall school case: example of busing's folly". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. 1975-08-02. p. 6-A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com
  12. ^ "Blacks in Philadelphia." (November 1976). Black Enterprise. Start p. 36. CITED: p. 74. In: Volume 7. E. G. Graves Publishing Company, 1976. p. 174. See "in+any+other+large+American+city+it+would+probably+have+been" #1 "McCall School was built in 1909. and in any other large American city it would probably have been torn down by now. In Philadelphia, chances are something would have been done to preserve it— as a monument to early-twentieth century[...]"
  13. ^ Graham, Kristen A. "It clicks! Psyched about an elementary school's 'cybrary'" (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 8, 2007. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.
  14. ^ Giordano, Rita. "Shift to mandatory dress policy fairly seamless in Phila. schools Students are nattily attired. Parents are just tired." (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 7, 2001. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Jackson, Leigh. "SCHOOL BOARD TACK: SLASH, UNSLASH" (Archive). Philadelphia Daily News. May 28, 1994. 06 Local. Retrieved on November 8, 2011. - Article info
  16. ^ Jackson, Leigh. "Mccall Parents Want Bus From Chinatown, Kids Walk A Gantlet" (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 15, 1993. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
  17. ^ "High School Directory Fall 2017 Admissions" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. p. 30/70. Retrieved on November 16, 2016.
  18. ^ "Horace Furness High School Geographic Boundaries" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved on November 28, 2015.
[edit]
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