Secondary Schools
Charter High School for Architecture and Design
CHAD is a public, independent tuition-free 9-12 high school, founded by the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects as its Legacy 2000 Project. Its Board of Trustees consists of architects, designers, community leaders, parents, and educators. There is an honorary board consisting of nationally recognized leaders in design, education and business.[more]
Freire Charter School
Freire offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum assuring each graduate choices for advanced education. Beginning in 9th grade, students take four consecutive years of Spanish. Freire provides one educator for every ten students. There are 20 students in a class, well below the average traditional public school. On-site tutoring services are available for all students and are mandatory for 8th grade.[more]
Friends Select School
An excellent academic program, a diverse community, talented faculty and the timeless values of Quakerism create unmatched opportunity for students at Friends Select, a 480-student college preparatory day school. Students experience rigorous academic programs and competitive college placement, and acquire confidence, creativity and independent thinking.[more]
John W. Hallahan Catholic Girl's High School
John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School (Grades 9-12), an Archdiocesan high school, is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Hallahan follows a block schedule. The curriculum is college preparatory with both required and elective courses. [more]
Masterman School (Julia R. Masterman School)
The Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School was established in September 1958 for elementary school students in grades 5 and 6. A junior high school program was initiated in 1959, and a senior high school was added in 1976. In 1990 Masterman was reorganized as a middle school (grades 5-8) and a high school (grades 9-12). [more]
Philadelphia Electric and Technology Charter High School
The mission of the Philadelphia Electric and Technology Charter High School (P.E.T.School) is to develop students who would be employable in the emerging high-tech industries, while providing them a strong foundation in the core academic subjects: mathematics, sciences, language arts, social studies, and world languages. [more]
Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts
Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) is the only magnet high school for the arts and academics in the Philadelphia School District. Not merely a magnet program, CAPA is a complete magnet school devoted to furthering both academic abilities and creative and performing talents. [more]
Roman Catholic High School
Founded by Thomas E. Cahill in 1890 as the first free Catholic high school for boys in the nation, Roman Catholic continues its tradition of excellence as it strives to offer a comprehensive academic curriculum within a disciplined Catholic environment. [more]
Charter High School for Architecture and Design
675 Sanson Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-351-2900
FAX 215-351-9458
Type of School
Public
Grade Levels
9-12
Principal
Gregory Amiriantz
Web
www.chadphila.org
CHAD is a public, independent tuition-free 9-12 high school, founded by the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects as its Legacy 2000 Project. Its Board of Trustees consists of architects, designers, community leaders, parents, and educators. There is an honorary board consisting of nationally recognized leaders in design, education and business.
CHAD is the first charter high school for architecture and design in the nation. The school provides a challenging, academic, college-prep curriculum thoroughly infused with art, architecture and design studios each day. Design is central to the curriculum, and used as the instrument to help students develop: 1) creative problem-solving skills, 2) visual and spatial literacy and competencies, and 3) an appreciation for and understanding of the physical environment and its impact on our quality of life.
Features of CHAD include: 1) the city as a classroom; 2) access to new and emerging design technology; 3) a variety of service-learning opportunities; 4) exposure to the design professions including the building and construction trades; and 5) a low student-teacher ratio (15:1).
A contract among the parents, students and school includes strict codes of conduct, attendance, and uniform dress. Parents participate in the governance and daily life of the school. CHAD's average daily attendance rate is 95% (city-wide it is 63%). There is no social promotion; students progress through the school based on performance, not age. CHAD's passing grade is 70 (versus 65 city-wide). CHAD provides a psychologically and physically safe environment.
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Freire Charter School
2027 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-557-8555
Type of School
Charter
Grade Levels
8- 12
Co-Director
Kelly Davenport
Freire offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum assuring each graduate choices for advanced education. Beginning in 9th grade, students take four consecutive years of Spanish. Freire provides one educator for every ten students. There are 20 students in a class, well below the average traditional public school. On-site tutoring services are available for all students and are mandatory for 8th grade.
Freire students participate in the community and volunteer as good neighbors and responsible citizens. Community service placement is required for students to increase awareness of workplace expectations and responsible citizenship. Internships begin in 9th grade.
All Freire students have individual mentors assigned and managed by Big Brother/Big Sisters. Freire trains students as peer mediators in a program to encourage teens to work through conflict with a peer.
Freire provides a safe orderly learning environment. A pact between teachers, students and parents provides for zero tolerance of physical or verbal abuse and a mechanism to dismiss disruptive students from the school.
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Friends Select School
17th Street and The Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone: 215-561-5900
FAX: 215-864-2979
Type of School
Independent, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Grade Levels
Pre K -12
Head of School
Rose Hagan
Web
www.friends-select.org
An excellent academic program, a diverse community, talented faculty and the timeless values of Quakerism create unmatched opportunity for students at Friends Select, a 480-student college preparatory day school. Students experience rigorous academic programs and competitive college placement, and acquire confidence, creativity and independent thinking.
Excellent extended day, vacation care, and summer programs are available for families, most of whom live or work in the city. Conveniently located on the Parkway in Center City, Friends Select occupies a unique campus featuring roof-top athletic fields and tennis courts, and shares joint programs with Parkway institutions and museums.
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John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School
311 North 19th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tel. 215-563-8930
FAX 215-563-3809
Type of School
Roman Catholic
Grade Levels
9 -12
President
Dr. Lorraine Rice, Ed.D.
Web
www.jwhallahan.org
John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School (Grades 9-12), an Archdiocesan high school, is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Hallahan follows a block schedule. The curriculum is college preparatory with both required and elective courses. A strong business program is also in place for students who will choose to enter the business world.
Located at 311 North 19th Street in the heart of Center City, Hallahan is proud of its rich heritage and traditions of the past 102 years. This institution of learning is uniquely situated near business districts, luxurious hotels, the Art Museum, the Franklin Institute and the main branch of the Philadelphia Library.
The school provides co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to develop the students’ social and civic responsibilities and their appreciation of diverse cultures. Service learning is a part of the curriculum. Since there is open enrollment, students come to Hallahan from all parts of the city and beyond.
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Masterman School (Julia R. Masterman School)
17th & Spring Garden Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Telephone: 215-299-4661
Type of School
Public
Grade Levels
5-12
Principal
Barbara Bravo
Web
http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/m/masterman
The Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School was established in September 1958 for elementary school students in grades 5 and 6. A junior high school program was initiated in 1959, and a senior high school was added in 1976. In 1990 Masterman was reorganized as a middle school (grades 5-8) and a high school (grades 9-12).
Students are admitted from all areas of Philadelphia based on academic performance, and staff members are selected based on professional expertise. The mission of the school is the pursuit of excellence in both teaching and learning. The senior high school is a small college preparatory school for selected students of superior ability.
Masterman is in the Central area of the School District of Philadelphia. There are 1,150 students enrolled in grades 5 through 12, in 36 homerooms. Masterman is in the heart of Philadelphia and is easy to get to on public transit.
Recently, Masterman was awarded a Blue Ribbon for educational excellence on the national level.
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Philadelphia Electric and Technology High School
1420-22 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-514-1823
FAX 215-514-1834
Type of School
Public
Grade Levels
9-10
Principal
Michael Nemitz
Web
www.pettech.org
The mission of the Philadelphia Electric and Technology Charter High School (P.E.T.School) is to develop students who would be employable in the emerging high-tech industries, while providing them a strong foundation in the core academic subjects: mathematics, sciences, language arts, social studies, and world languages.
The school teaches and emphasizes the emerging high tech skills necessary for the construction, telecommunication and related industries that are at the forefront of the information age. Students also participate in work related training partnerships with business and labor organizations.
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Philadelphia High School for the Creative
and Performing Arts
901 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-952-2462
FAX – 952-6472
Type of School
Public
Grade Levels
9-12
Principal
Johnny C. Whaley Jr.
Web
www.philsch.k12.pa.us/schools/capa/
Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) is the only magnet high school for the arts and academics in the Philadelphia School District. Not merely a magnet program, CAPA is a complete magnet school devoted to furthering both academic abilities and creative and performing talents.
CAPA offers comprehensive advanced instruction in the following major areas: Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Visual Arts and Vocal Arts. Students also complete an intensive college preparatory academic program. CAPA students are rostered for three periods a day in their art major area and four periods a day in academic subjects.
Every year, approximately 95 to 99 percent of the graduates go on to college. In the last several years over three million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to CAPA students.
CAPA is a special admissions school. To apply you must use the School District of Philadelphia High School Admission Form, available at any Philadelphia school.
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Roman Catholic High School
301 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-627-1270
FAX 215-627-4979
Type of School
Private Roman Catholic
Grade Levels
9 -12
President
Rev. Paul C. Brandt
Web
http://www.romancatholichs.com/
Founded by Thomas E. Cahill in 1890 as the first free Catholic high school for boys in the nation, Roman Catholic continues its tradition of excellence as it strives to offer a comprehensive academic curriculum within a disciplined Catholic environment.
Enriched by its cultural, racial, and religious diversity, Roman Catholic provides a community where each young man can learn to appreciate and respect the uniqueness of others, while becoming a man of personal integrity. Roman Catholic High School brings the Gospel message to its students by maintaining a Catholic community which embodies the Christian spirit of service to all.
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