Communications Technology High School

(Redirected from George Wolf School)

Communications Technology High School was a public high school serving grades 9–12 located at 8110 Lyons Avenue in the Hedgerow neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school, which was located next to George Pepper Middle School, was part of the School District of Philadelphia's Comprehensive High School Region; in its later years, it operated as a campus of John Bartram High School, which is still in operation. In 2013, amid the rapid growth of publicly-funded charter schools in Philadelphia, the City shut down Communications Technology High School, along with 22 other district-run schools, to cut costs and consolidate the district's remaining students on fewer campuses.[2] Students enrolled at Communications Technology at the time were automatically re-enrolled at the main campus of John Bartram High School.[3]

Communications Technology High School
George Wolf School, June 2010
Address
Map
8110 Lyons Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19153, United States
Coordinates39°53′55″N 75°14′46″W / 39.8986°N 75.2460°W / 39.8986; -75.2460
Information
TypeComprehensive
Established1988
Closed2013
School districtThe School District of Philadelphia
PrincipalColette Langston (final)
Grades9–12
Color(s)   Sky Blue and Gold Yellow
WebsiteWebsite
George Wolf School
Communications Technology High School is located in Philadelphia
Communications Technology High School
Communications Technology High School is located in Pennsylvania
Communications Technology High School
Communications Technology High School is located in the United States
Communications Technology High School
Area2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
Built1926–1927
ArchitectCatharine, Irwin T.
Architectural styleLate Gothic Revival
MPSPhiladelphia Public Schools TR
NRHP reference No.88002243[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 18, 1988

History

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Communications Technology High School was originally known as the George Wolf School, named for the 19th century Pennsylvania governor nicknamed the "father" of the state's public schools. Construction began on the school building, designed by noted Philadelphia schools architect Irwin T. Catharine, in 1926, and the project was completed the following year. The building's three yellow brick stories, which are arranged in nine bays with projecting end bays and a raised basement, are built in the Late Gothic Revival-style; the design features an arched main center entrance surrounded by stone, a two-story projecting stone bay window, and a crenellated parapet.[4] The school opened to students on November 18, 1927.[5] Its building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[1]

The school's name was later changed to Communications Academy, as the school was made a part of John Bartram High School. In 2005, the name was changed again to Communications Technology High School. As of 2018, the City of Philadelphia planned to convert the former high school to a community center, while the adjacent Pepper Middle School building was slated for demolition. In 2024, It was announced that Universal Vare Charter School would move in to the building.

School uniforms

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Communications Technology High School students were required to wear school uniforms, which consisted of either light blue golf shirts with the school's yellow patch name on the right side of the chest with navy blue or black khaki bottoms and skirts.

Transportation

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SEPTA's Route 36 Trolley and Routes 37, 108, and 400-series busses served the area near the school during its operation.

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Matheson, Kathy (March 7, 2013). "4 Philadelphia schools saved, 23 closing after SRC vote". Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "Communications Technology High School". Great Schools Philly. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "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 2017-03-21. Note: This includes Jefferson M. Moak (May 1987). "Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form: George Wolf School" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  5. ^ "George Wolf School -- project/Building chronology".
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