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Homeschool benefits and savings in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation runs more than 60 free outdoor public pools each summer, with public swim from 1 to 4 p.m. daily at every open pool and free swim lessons for children at select sites. Any child can swim; the city lists no school enrollment requirement, so homeschooled children use the pools like everyone else. Other options include museum and arts admission and college classes and scholarships.

By , founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed .

Benefits in Philadelphia

  1. City pools and youth swim lessons
  2. Museum ACCESS admission waiver
  3. Museum youth admission waiver
  4. Science museum ACCESS admission discount
  5. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation program fee waiver
  6. Community College of Philadelphia Advance at College

City pools and youth swim lessons

Who qualifies

  1. Swims at an open city pool

    The pools are free public pools. The city lists no residency or school requirement, so a homeschooled child swims on the same terms as any other child.

  2. Takes lessons at a participating site

    Free swim lessons for children are offered at select pools, not every pool, so find a site that lists them before you go.

  3. Or attends a Parks and Recreation camp

    Every open pool offers swim lessons to campers enrolled in Parks and Recreation programs.

  4. Has a signed youth registration form

    Many Parks and Recreation activities for youth under 18 need a Youth Participant Registration form signed by a parent or guardian, returned to the site where your child takes part.

What the pools offer

The terms come from the City of Philadelphia's 2026 pool opening schedule and its Find a swimming pool and culture and recreation pages.

Outdoor pool admission
Free
Indoor public pools
Free, year-round
Public swim at open outdoor pools
1-4 p.m. daily
Swim lessons for children
Free at select sites
Outdoor pools with a lift for wheelchair users
12
Neighborhood pools closed in 2026
7

Hours beyond the 1-4 p.m. public swim depend on staffing at each pool, so check the pool's page in the Parks and Recreation Finder before you go.

How to use the pools

  1. Before summer

    Find a pool

    Search for pools in the Parks and Recreation Finder at phila.gov/parks-rec-finder; each pool has its own page with its opening date.

  2. Late June

    Pools open on a rolling schedule

    Outdoor pools typically start opening in late June. In 2026 the first pools opened June 12, and the city added opening dates each week.

  3. At the pool

    Swim during public hours

    Come between 1 and 4 p.m. for public swim, follow the posted pool rules, and wear proper swimwear.

  4. Summer

    Sign up for free lessons

    Ask at a pool that offers free children's lessons, or enroll your child in a Parks and Recreation camp, where every pool offers lessons.

  5. Fall through spring

    Use an indoor pool

    The city lists its indoor public pools as free and open year-round, so ask Parks and Recreation which indoor pool is nearest.

What it includes

Included

Not included

Who to contact about city pools

Parks and Recreation runs the city pools and answers questions about pool openings, hours, and swim lessons.

parksandrecreation@phila.gov 215-683-3600 Find a swimming pool

Museum ACCESS admission waiver

Who qualifies

  1. Holds an ACCESS or EBT card

    The museum accepts a Pennsylvania ACCESS card or an EBT card. Bring the card itself to the admissions desk.

  2. Shows a photo ID

    The cardholder shows a photo ID with the card. The museum does not list any other paperwork.

  3. Children need no card

    Visitors 18 and under are free on their own, but each child still needs a ticket, which you can get at the admissions desk.

Free and reduced admission

The museum's community engagement page and visitor FAQ list these free and reduced admission options.

ACCESS or EBT cardholder with photo ID
Free
Children and teens 18 and under
Free
First Sunday of each month
Pay what you wish
Military families, Armed Forces Day to Labor Day
Free
Personal attendant for a visitor with a disability
Free (one per visitor)

The page does not say how many adults one ACCESS or EBT card admits, so ask Visitor Services before you bring a second adult.

How to use it

  1. Before you go

    Check the hours

    The main building is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday until 8:45 p.m. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

  2. At the museum

    Go to the admissions desk

    Show your ACCESS or EBT card and a photo ID to get your free ticket, and ask for free youth tickets for your children.

  3. Inside

    Join a free public tour

    Public tours run throughout the day, are free with admission, and need no reservation.

  4. Each visit

    Bring the card again

    The benefit is tied to showing the card with photo ID, so bring both every time you visit.

What it includes

Included

Not included

The museum notes that special exhibitions may carry extra fees, so ask at the desk whether a ticketed exhibition is included with your free admission.

Who to contact about admission

Visitor Services answers questions about tickets, free admission, and changing a visit.

VisitorServices@philamuseum.org 215-763-8100 Community engagement page

Museum youth admission waiver

Who qualifies

  1. Is 18 or younger

    The museum says visitors 18 and under are always free. It lists no school, residency, or enrollment requirement, so homeschooled children qualify on age alone.

  2. Has a youth ticket

    Everyone who enters needs a ticket, including free visitors. Youth tickets can be reserved online only with a paid admission ticket, so with an ACCESS or EBT card, get your tickets at the admissions desk, where walk-up tickets are always available.

Who gets in free

The rates come from the museum's community engagement page and visitor FAQ.

Child or teen 18 and under
Free
Adult on the first Sunday of the month
Pay what you wish
Adult with a PA ACCESS or EBT card and photo ID
Free
Children of museum members
Free, unlimited visits
Free public tours with admission
No reservation needed

How to use it

  1. Before you go

    Pick a day

    The main building is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

  2. Optional

    Reserve online

    If an adult is buying a paid ticket, add the free youth tickets to the same online order.

  3. At the museum

    Get youth tickets at the desk

    Without an online order, ask for free youth tickets at any admissions desk. Walk-up tickets are always available.

  4. Inside

    Join a public tour

    Free public tours for all ages run throughout the day, covering museum highlights and special exhibitions.

What it includes

Included

Not included

Who to contact about admission

Visitor Services answers questions about tickets, youth admission, and changing a visit.

VisitorServices@philamuseum.org 215-763-8100 Visitor FAQ

Science museum ACCESS admission discount

Who qualifies

  1. Has a PA ACCESS card

    Pennsylvania residents with a state-issued ACCESS or EBT card qualify automatically for $2 admission at participating sites, including The Franklin Institute.

  2. Brings photo ID

    Show the ACCESS card with a valid photo ID when you buy admission or tickets.

  3. Visits with four or fewer

    The discount covers the cardholder and up to three additional people.

What the discount saves

The Franklin Institute's tickets page lists general admission from $23 per person and $2 per person with a PA ACCESS card.

One person with ACCESS
$2
Four people with ACCESS
$8
One person, general admission
From $23
Four people, general admission
From $92
Membership, unlimited visits
From $95

Art-Reach, which runs the ACCESS program, says pricing and availability may vary for special events, exhibitions, and programs, so ask Guest Services what $2 covers on your date.

How to use the discount

  1. Before you go

    Check your card and ID

    Bring your Pennsylvania ACCESS card and a valid photo ID for the cardholder.

  2. To buy tickets

    Call or buy at the museum

    Call or buy at the museum. Online purchase needs a promo code, and Art-Reach lists none for The Franklin Institute.

  3. On the day

    Pay $2 each

    Pay $2 a person for you and up to three more people.

What it includes

Included

Not included

Who to contact about ACCESS tickets

Guest Services sells tickets and answers questions about admission and discounts.

guestservices@fi.edu 215-448-1200 Tickets and discounts

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation program fee waiver

Who qualifies

  1. Signs up for a fee-based program

    The waiver applies to the cost of a specific Parks and Recreation program, which you name on the form along with its season or year.

  2. Explains the need

    The form has a section called Basis of Your Request where you describe why your family needs the fee reduced. It does not list an income chart or required documents.

  3. Signed by a parent or guardian

    A parent or guardian fills in contact details and signs. The form asks for your child's school and grade; for a homeschooled child, write that your child is homeschooled and give the grade.

  4. Approved by staff

    Parks and Recreation staff record the submission date, sign the form, and note a reason if they do not approve it.

What the waiver saves you

The two waiver levels come from the city's Program Fee Waiver Request form, which asks for either 100% or 50% of the program cost.

Full waiver (100% of program cost)
$0
Half waiver (50% of program cost)
Half the fee
Programs covered by one form
One program
Youth Participant Registration form
Also needed for many programs

The form does not say who qualifies or what proof helps, so ask the staff at your recreation center what they want to see before you submit it.

From applying to keeping it

  1. Before you apply

    Pick the program

    Find the activity in the Parks and Recreation Finder and note its name, site, and season.

  2. When you register

    Fill out both forms

    Complete the Youth Participant Registration form, which is for children under 18, and the Program Fee Waiver Request, choosing a full or half waiver.

  3. At the site

    Return the forms

    Bring the signed forms to the Parks and Recreation facility where your child will take part.

  4. After review

    Get a decision

    Staff approve or deny the request and write a reason if it is not approved.

  5. Each new program

    Request again

    Each form covers one program and season, so submit a new request for the next program.

What it pays for

Covered

Not covered

The waiver reduces the fee for the one program and season you name on the form.

Who to contact

Parks and Recreation runs the city's recreation programs and reviews fee waiver requests.

parksandrecreation@phila.gov 215-683-3600 Activities registration forms

Community College of Philadelphia Advance at College

Who qualifies

  1. Lives in Philadelphia

    Early Scholars free funding is for Philadelphia residents. Students outside the city do not get this funding.

  2. In grade 11 or 12

    Advance at College is for 11th and 12th graders, and students under 21 pursuing a GED or high school equivalency credential also qualify for Early Scholars. Eligibility ends once your student graduates.

  3. Shows a transcript or age

    A homeschooled student qualifies with a transcript from a PDE-recognized diploma-granting organization, or by age (15 for late summer, 16 for fall to spring) shown with a birth certificate, passport, or government ID.

  4. Ready for college courses

    Your student must show ability in English, math, or both through the college's placement process.

What it is worth

Community College of Philadelphia charges Philadelphia residents $174 per credit for fall 2026, plus a $4 general college fee and a $30 technology fee per credit.

One 3-credit course, tuition
$522
One 3-credit course, tuition and fees
$624
12 credits in a year, tuition
$2,088
12 credits in a year, tuition and fees
$2,496
Two years at 12 credits a year
$4,992

The page says books are free for Early Scholars but also says textbooks are not included for students paying out of pocket, so confirm book coverage with the Early Scholars coordinator.

From applying to keeping it

  1. Before you apply

    Create an account

    Create a college account, choose non-matriculated as the academic program, Dual Enrollment as the student type, and Advance@College as the high school program. The application asks for a Social Security number, with instructions if your student has none.

  2. With the application

    Sign the consent form

    Return the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and consent form signed by your student, a parent, and the counselor or principal, plus the homeschool transcript or proof of age.

  3. By December 22, 2026

    Be accepted for spring

    That is the application acceptance deadline for spring 15-week courses, which start January 19, 2027. The course registration deadline is January 5, 2027.

  4. After acceptance

    Placement and courses

    Complete placement, then watch your email, including spam, for course selection and the Early Scholars Intent form.

  5. Each year

    Use up to 12 credits

    Advance at College covers up to two academic years, grades 11 and 12. Returning students who already completed the FERPA form and placement do not reapply.

What it pays for

Covered

Not covered

The Octavius Catto Scholarship, a partnership with the City of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, pays for Early Scholars.

Good to know

Who to contact

The Advance at College office answers questions about applications, homeschool eligibility, and placement; Early Scholars coordinator Christina Dixon handles the free funding.

advanceatcollege@ccp.edu Information session sign-up

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Pennsylvania

You must file a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration with the superintendent before starting and by August 1 in subsequent years. Include educational objectives and required health and immunization documentation or exemptions. Certify that the supervisor, adults living in the home, and persons with legal custody have no conviction for the listed statutory offenses in the preceding five years.

Pennsylvania sets these rules:

Read the Pennsylvania homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Pennsylvania

Questions parents ask

Are any Philadelphia city pools open now that summer is over?
Yes, indoor pools. The city lists free indoor public pools that stay open year-round; call Parks and Recreation to find the closest one and its hours.
Can I reserve our free ACCESS tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art online?
No.
Can my child visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art without a ticket?
No. Every visitor needs a ticket, even a free one. If you are not buying an adult ticket online, pick up your child's free ticket at an admissions desk.
Can I buy Franklin Institute ACCESS tickets online?
No. Art-Reach lists no online promo code for The Franklin Institute, so call 215-448-1200 or buy at the museum.
Is there an income limit for a Philadelphia Parks fee waiver?
Not on the current form. You explain your situation in the Basis of Your Request section, and staff decide whether to approve it.

Turn support into your child’s next lesson

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