Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year
The School District of Philadelphia is excited to announce the 6th Annual Back-to-School Celebration & Bus Tour! We cannot wait to hit the streets and help families prepare for the first day of the 2026-2027 school year – Monday, August 24, 2026.
Join us at one of our events on August 3, August 7, August 11, or August 15 where you’ll be able to:
- * enjoy snacks and frozen treats
- * participate in fun games and raffles
- * chat with our Street Team Ambassadors to get the back-to-school information you need
- * register your child for PreKindergarten through 12th grade
- * sign up for a Parent Portal account
- * find out about School District of Philadelphia job openings
- * get a free backpack and school supplies
- * receive critical information from dozens of our partner organizations from around the city
- * at select locations, have your child receive, at low cost, immunizations and school physicals required to attend school.
Find the full Bus Tour schedule, latest back-to-school updates, immunization opportunities, and other important information at philasd.org/ringthebell. Click the Let’s Talk button on the website if you have additional questions.
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year
We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. As we embark on a new academic year, we are delighted to extend a warm welcome to all our students, both returning and new, along with their families to Henry W. Lawton Elementary School. It is with great anticipation and excitement that we begin this journey together, with a shared commitment to educational excellence and personal growth.
Read more from your new Principal, Michelle Todd-Coleman, HERE!
What You Need to Know Now!
School-wide Information:
- School officially begins at 9:00 a.m.
- The gates will open at 9:00 a.m. to begin admission/supervision and students will have until 9:10 to get to their classroom.
- Your child will be marked late if they arrive after that time.
- Breakfast will be provided to all students as they enter and will be eaten in class.
- Dismissal will begin at 3:20 p.m. for Kindergarten and Special Education programs. Students in grades 1st through 5th will be dismissed at 3:30 p.m. daily.
- All students will be dismissed from the doors that they enter from. Please be sure that all pick up information is current by advising teachers and the Main Office of any changes.
- Please ensure that all child care agencies are fully aware of dismissal times, procedures and expectations.
- All students should be picked up promptly by 3:30 PM. We do not have staff/programs to supervise students who are picked up late. Students that have not been picked up on-time will be brought back into the building and must be picked up at the front door as the “C” door will be closing promptly. Any family that does not adhere to the pick up time will be required to meet with the principal to discuss further actions.
Lawton’s Student & Family Handbook
Academics:
The goal is to ensure that every child is challenged and experiences academic success. This cannot be done by the teacher alone; parents also play a significant role in reaching this goal. We are looking forward to working with you to prepare students to imagine and realize any future they desire. For additional information about curriculum and instruction, visit: Curriculum and Instruction – The School District of Philadelphia
Code of Conduct 2026 – 2027 HERE
Attendance:
- Daily attendance directly impacts your child’s success. Learn about Lawton’s attendance policies HERE.
For more information visit: Attendance & Truancy
Please complete the following Google form for absent notes by clicking the following link: Absent Note Form
Title 1 Parent Information:
The 2026-2027 Lawton School Plan is coming soon
Access the district’s academic calendar to obtain important information for the academic school year.
Henry W. Lawton School 2025-2026 School Plan. School Plan Link
Henry W. Lawton School 2025-2026 School Plan. Monthly Data Snapshot Link
Request for School Plan Translation. Translation Request Link
If you need to contact your child’s teacher, please send them a message via Class DoJo, Google Classroom, email, or phone call.
Lawton School Counselor: Ms. Bender
Families are invited to contact our certified counselor, Ms. Nicketia Bender (215) 400-3340 or via ClassDojo to discuss their child’s academic, personal, and social growth which may potentially affect their child’s success in school.
