Your Family Resources

Penn is home to a vibrant community of over 2,000 students and scholars with families. More than 20% of graduate and professional students live with their spouse or partner, and many find that their social life naturally revolves around family activities. Some students and scholars choose to live on campus, where shared experiences help foster a close-knit and supportive community. Whether on or off campus, Penn provides opportunities to connect with others in similar situations, making it easier to navigate academic and family life in Philadelphia.

Resources

There are many things to consider when bringing your family. Below are some helpful resources to assist you in this process. 

The Family Resource Center at Penn

Penn’s Family Resource Center is a hub for information, resources, childcare benefits, activities and advocacy for students and post-docs with children. The Family Center provides a forum for student parents to connect and develop supportive networks and offers a welcoming and family-friendly environment for Penn students, post-docs, caregivers, and children.  

Visit the Family Center website for more information about activities, childcare benefits, and resources for students with children. 

Campus Lactation Rooms 
PhD Grant Program
PhD Family Leave Policies 

Support Groups

The University has a wide variety of resources on campus that are free for all Penn students and post-docs 

Daycare

In the U.S., it is common for both parents to pursue work or studies while arranging childcare for their young children, either through day-care centers or in-home babysitters. In the University area, several day-care centers provide care and supervision during the day, offering families convenient options to balance their academic and professional commitments.

Become a member at Penn’s Family Resource Center and take advantage of childcare benefits. 
 
If you are looking for a childcare center, make sure that it is licensed by the state, has a low staff/child ratio, and provides an environment that encourages learning and personal development. The cost for full-time day care (usually 8:00 A.M. until 5:30 or 6:00 P.M.) varies widely but is likely to cost $200 or more per week for full-time care. Call each day care provider for current rates. Information about day-care programs in the University area is available through: 

Babysitters 

A babysitter is someone who comes to your home to take care of your children for a limited time. The typical pay for this work varies but is likely to be approximately $10 per hour or more. If you employ a babysitter on a regular basis, it may be suitable to pay by check but otherwise it is customary to pay in cash. In choosing a babysitter, you should be sure that the person you hire is mature and responsible enough to respond to an emergency like sickness or fire. Be sure to ask for references before hiring a babysitter 

International Families and Public Assistance

International students and scholars with families may sometimes face financial challenges, a reality that American students and scholars with families also experience. While certain financial benefits and assistance programs exist, they are generally limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Planning ahead and exploring available resources can help navigate financial responsibilities while studying and living in the U.S. 
 
Administrators of public assistance programs often do not have expertise to assess eligibility based on immigration status and may encourage you to apply for benefits. Please remember that acceptance of public assistance is a serious violation of status.  

*Accepting any public benefits could jeopardize your non-immigrant status and could result in your having great difficulty in remaining or re-entering the US. 
 
Examples of public assistance programs not available to non-immigrants include: 

Education

There are basically two types of schools in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas: public schools, which are free, and private schools, which charge a tuition fee. Some private schools have a religious affiliation. Within the school system there are three levels of education: 

Public Schools

Philadelphia’s public schools are available to any child living in the city, but the quality and accessibility vary. Students are generally required to attend the public school in their neighborhood, unless they pay tuition to attend another school. The School District of Philadelphia also includes charter and magnet schools. 

To enroll a child in a public school, you need to bring the following items: 

In addition to neighborhood schools, there are also special schools called “magnet schools.” Magnet schools attract students from all areas of the city, based on superior academic performance, or a special talent such as the performing arts. Students living anywhere in the city may be admitted to these schools if they pass special entrance examinations or otherwise meet the special admission requirements. Magnet schools in the public system include: 

Central High School 
Ogontz and Olney Aves.		Girls High School
Broad and Olney Aves.
Masterman School (Grades 5-12)
17th and Spring Garden Sts.		Girard Academic Music Program (Grades 5-12)
21th and Ritner Sts.

*For information on schools outside the Philadelphia area, call the respective school districts.​​​​​​

Private Schools

For information about private schools in the Philadelphia area, consult with:

Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools
Tel: 610-527-0130
Fax: 610- 527-4332
Email

There are two main religiously-affiliated private school systems in Philadelphia: Catholic and Quaker.

The Catholic school system (also called Diocesan) is run by an order of Roman Catholic nuns, priests or brothers whose mission is education. The standard of education in these schools is generally good to excellent, and the tuition is moderate. Students are not required to belong to the Catholic faith, but religious education may be required.

Archdiocese of Philadelphia 
215-587-3700 
Email 

The Society of Friends (popularly known as Quakers) also has several good schools in Philadelphia that are known as “Friends schools”. In addition to meeting a high standard of education, they provide some religious teaching according to Quaker traditions. The tuition at these schools tends to be high.

Friends Council on Education
1507 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: 215-241-7245
Fax: 215-241-7299
Email