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Photo credit: Great Philly Schools, https://www.greatphillyschools.org/schools/0011N00001GzoTnQAJ/frankford-high-school
For more than two years, students, faculty and staff of Frankford High School in Philadelphia were unable to enter their school’s building. Asbestos found in the school raised concerns enough to indefinitely close the building.
Three classes graduated, and one spent more than half its high school years learning virtually or in another school building. Two more started their Frankford High years without ever stepping foot in their educational home.
Finally, after a two-year drama and nearly $30 million in repairs, the school reopened.
NBC10 Philadelphia reported teachers entered the building two weeks ago, and students entered Monday, August 25 for the first day of classes. The school has approximately 1,000 students enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year.
Why Frankford High School Closed for Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral that can cause severe diseases, including types of cancer. One type is mesothelioma, which is a cancer that starts in the lining of the lungs, abdominal cavity or heart.
Mesothelioma is only caused by exposure to asbestos. The mineral is made of tiny fibers that can break apart and be inhaled or swallowed.
During the 20th century, asbestos was a popular addition to construction work. Offices, homes, hospitals, government buildings and schools had asbestos put in floors, walls, ceiling tiles, switchboards and more. It protected electrical wiring, insulation, pipes, siding, paint, tiles, sheetrock and more from heat damage.
Now, in the 21st century, old buildings still may have asbestos lurking inside, causing problems for owners, residents, workers and others. Asbestos in schools is one such issue.
Asbestos can be safe if kept intact and contained within walls or below floors. The issue is over time, asbestos is not kept intact or contained. This leads to the sprinkling of fibers into the air students, teachers and staff breathe every school day.
Dozens of schools across the United States have closed due to teachers, students, and maintenance staff spotting asbestos visible through ceilings, walls and more. Just in the Philadelphia School District, at least a dozen have closed since 2019. School district officials say at least 300 school buildings in the city have asbestos and require regular inspection.
In June, the U.S. Department of Justice announced criminal charges against the district for failing to inspect schools. The district avoided prosecution by agreeing to inspect at-risk schools every six months for concerns.
How Long Frankford High Stayed Closed
What makes Frankford High School’s asbestos saga so intriguing is how long it took to repair the building to a safe enough level to reopen.
Frankford High, which is 115 years old, closed in April 2023 after asbestos was visible from the walls and ceiling. The 2023 senior class graduated with the school closed. As did the 2024 class of seniors. The 2025 senior class graduated while spending two whole school years displaced educationally.
Frankford High students learned virtually when the school closed at first. Some students attended classes temporarily at other district schools, such as Roberto Clemente Middle School or a separate part of Frankford High called “the annex”, according to a report by Chalkbeat. Other students switched schools altogether.
“It was a pretty dark time for everybody. A lot of uncertainty,” the school’s principal, Mike Calderone said to NBC10 Philadelphia. “One, if we are ever going to come back here and then as time went on we started to get the plan and solidify what was going to happen. The first year was a little rough. We figured out a lot of things the second year. And now we are back here. So it’s really a happy ending.”
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, Philadelphia School District officials say asbestos found in the building has either been removed or covered in protective casing in the wall. The latter is called “asbestos remediation”, which sometimes can be safer than removing asbestos. Removal can disturb and cause fibers to break apart and contaminate the air for workers.
School district officials had a blue ribbon cutting ceremony outside the front of the school on Monday, August 18, the date teachers returned.
Sources & Author
- Frankford High School to reopen after more than 2 years of asbestos repairs. NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved from: https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/frankford-high-school-reopen-asbestos-repairs/4255928/. Accessed: 08/19/2025.
- Philadelphia’s Frankford High School reopens after $30 million asbestos remediation project. Chalkbeat. Retrieved from: https://www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia/2025/08/18/frankford-high-school-reopens-after-asbestos-remediation/. Accessed: 08/19/2025.
Sources & Author
