Asbestos forced Simon Gratz High School and Prep Middle School to close on Wednesday. PHILADELPHIA - Simon Gratz High School in Strawberry Mansion will reopen to students on Thursday, after it abruptly closed due to asbestos.
In a letter to families, Mastery Charter Schools CEO Scott Gordon said "all findings that needed to be remediated in order for the school to reopen are now complete" and added that air quality samples came back negative for asbestos.
Officials closed the school closed over a week ago when inspectors from the School District of Philadelphia found damaged asbestos on the campus of Simon Gratz High School, which also houses Simon Gratz Preparatory Middle School.
Officials say the three-year reinspection of the district-owned building was in accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.