A Philadelphia charter school has slammed a student's TikTok videos that showed how his teenage peers were unable to read or understand simple sentences.
Preparatory Charter High School in South Philadelphia said the videos, which racked up millions of views and invited ridicule on its students, were out of context and did not reflect its education standards.
In the clips titled 'Can You Read?', students were given a piece of paper with a basic sentence on it, but many were unable to read the words or explain what it meant.
One video used the sentence, 'She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat gauche' - with many students failing on the words 'silhouette' and 'extraordinary.'
'She wore a soooo.. clothes that were... who is this for?' one student said as she struggled to read.
After the first video went viral, the student @whatthevek posted a second version, using the sentence, 'The colonel asked the choir to accommodate the governor's schedule.'
The footage went viral on social media, as shocked viewers said they couldn't believe the literacy rates of Philadelphia teenagers and leading to claims that the student who shared the clips was expelled, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In response, Prep Charter said in a statement that the student was not being punished for the videos, and insisted that its students are more literate than the footage showed.
A Philadelphia charter school slammed a student's TikTok videos showing his peers unable to read or understand simple sentences, insisting it was 'out of context'
Preparatory Charter High School students were seen in videos which racked up millions of views struggling to read the sentences, 'She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat gauche' and, 'The colonel asked the choir to accommodate the governor's schedule'
In its statement, Prep Charter said the footage 'does not accurately reflect our school community or the values we strive to uphold every day.'
'While some students may have agreed to be filmed, the way the footage was presented lacks important context and has led to a portrayal that is misleading and unfair,' the school said.
'he video titled ‘Can You Read?’ does not represent the character, effort, or abilities of our students as a whole.'
According to state data cited by the Inquirer, Prep Charter enrolls roughly 600 students, and over 70 percent are from economically disadvantaged households.
In Pennsylvania state assessments in the 2024/2025 school year, just 46.5% of the school's students scored proficient in English language arts tests.
The school's state test scores also showed just 19 percent of its students were proficient in math.
The videos drew backlash across social media, with many viewers despairing for the future of America's education system
Prep Charter said in a statement that the student was not being punished for the videos, and insisted that its students are more literate than the footage showed
In Pennsylvania state assessments in the 2024/2025 school year, just 46.5% of the school's students scored proficient in English, and just 19 percent of its students were proficient in math. Pictured: The school's principal Jo Ann Moore
The videos drew backlash across social media, with many viewers despairing for the future of America's education system.
One X user who said they work in a high school said they often see students struggling to read basic sentences.
'Students cannot sound out words,' they wrote. 'If they see a word they don’t recognize they will just start guessing other random words that start with the same letter.'
'I'm Dutch, and I can read that effortlessly,' another commenter said.
'If that's where the bar is at for youths in the USA... doesn't bode well for the future.'