charda jones's List: politics

Not part of the School District of Philadelphia, the school was segregated well after Brown v. Board of Education up until it was ordered to desegregate by the Supreme Court. Perhaps the key to the ruling was that Girard, following his will, was administered by the Board of City Trusts, and that public institution could not maintain that historical entrance requirement. The first African American student was admitted in 1968.

As the 20th century progressed and women achieved full and equal rights and status including the right to vote, "orphans" became erroneous as a term of reference for Girard students, who, up to the 1960s changes, were fatherless by means of death.