Philadelphia Neighborhoods | “All of These Kids Are My Kids”: Overbrook Community Members Speak Out Ahead of School District Meeting

With an enrollment of 215, Overbrook Elementary is a small, close-knit community where its students walk to and from school every day. With the potential closure of Overbrook Elementary, there are 4 other elementary schools in the area where the students may be reassigned to: Lewis C. Cassidy Plus Academics, Guion S. Bluford Elementary School, John Barry Elementary School, and Edward Heston School. Each of these schools ranges from a 0.6-mile walk to a 1.5-mile walk from Overbrook Elementary. According to data collected by 6abc Action News, there were 312 assaults within the Philadelphia School District in 2024. With the district experiencing violence in the area, the idea of switching over to the schools outside of Overbrook has raised more fear in the community.