West Philadelphia High School, widely known as one of Philadelphia’s most dangerous and high-risk schools, on the state’s “Persistently Dangerous Schools” list for six years running, is seeing positive results with restorative practices less than one school year into implementation. This short video features comments from its students, teachers and administrators, who are thrilled with the positive changes in their school due to restorative practices.

“Restorative practices has given us a way to help the kids process the things in the front of their minds that make learning secondary to them. Now the kids have embraced restorative practices even more than the adults.”
—Saliyah Cruz, principal, West Philadelphia High School

“Restorative practices can work in tough urban schools. It doesn’t get any
tougher than West Philadelphia High School.”
—Lt. Colonel James Cotton, officer and teacher, Air Force Junior ROTC
West Philadelphia High School