Our Schools

Interested in learning more about the schools in our Innovation Network? These nontraditional, special-admission school models are part of the District’s plan to diversify its school models, in an ongoing process of exploring and growing successful and innovative school models that serve a variety of students.

SLA Center City

The Science Leadership Academy at Center City is a partnership high school between the School District of Philadelphia and The Franklin Institute. SLA is an inquiry-driven, project-based high school focused on 21st century learning that opened its doors in 2006.

SLA is built on the notion that inquiry is the very first step in the process of learning. SLA provides a vigorous, college-preparatory curriculum with a focus on science, technology, mathematics and entrepreneurship. Students at SLA learn in a project-based environment where the core values of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection are emphasized in all classes.

SLA Beeber

The Science Leadership Academy at Beeber is a second campus of The Science Leadership Academy, an inquiry-driven, project-based public school focused on 21st century learning. The Science Leadership Academy at Beeber opened its doors in 2013 as a high school, and will welcome the first class of 5th graders in 2018.

SLA Middle School

Developed in partnership with Drexel University and its commitment to inquiry-based science, SLA-MS provides a vigorous, college-preparatory curriculum with a focus on science, technology, mathematics and entrepreneurship. Students at SLA-MS learn in a project-based environment where the core values of inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation and reflection are emphasized in all classes.

Building 21
Building 21 Philadelphia is a small, non-academically selective District high school. At Building 21, the high school experience focuses on “learner as designer,” where students create their own self-paced learning pathways and choose from a variety of instructional opportunities, including blended learning, problem-based learning and experiential learning.

Traditional courses are re-organized into “studios” that are based on fields of study such as journalism, environmental science, and finance. In studios, students have the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems.

The LINC
The LINC (Learning In New Contexts) is a small, non-academically selective District high school that opened in 2014. At The LINC, the high school experience is focused on global leadership, inquiry-based learning, and community engagement. Students lead individual and team-based investigations that begin with students’ own questions about the world.

LINC students pursue “problem-based” projects while exploring local, national, and international issues. Through the process, students develop strong skill sets in research, problem-solving, and communications. Traditional courses are re-organized into 30-day learning modules. Student-led conferences and exhibitions give students the opportunity to showcase their portfolio of work each year.

The U School
The U School is a small, non-academically selective District high school that opened in 2014. At The U School, students become “urban designers” who solve real-world problems in their communities through research, planning, designing, and by testing their ideas. Through these project-based learning experiences, students gain 21st century skill-sets. Traditional courses are re-organized into interdisciplinary courses that are broken down into learning modules.

The U School readies students for college and careers by supporting students to accept challenges and opportunities through student agency, real-world problem-solving, and developing engaging, high-quality products with the purpose of demonstrating mastery. The U School’s instructional models include youth development focus, personalized learning, competency-based education and design-based learning.

The Workshop School
The mission of The Workshop School is to unleash the creative and intellectual potential of young people to solve the world’s toughest problems. It is a project-based school that puts real-world problems at the center of the curriculum. There are no academic admission requirements. Students at The Workshop School are eager to explore interests and passions, willing to collaborate, and able to persist through challenges and setbacks.

Vaux Big Picture High School
Vaux Big Picture High School opened in 2017. The philosophy behind this school is to utilize learning through internships and project-based learning. It is affiliated with Big Picture Learning (www.bigpicture.org) which focuses on a student-centered approach to education.

Vaux provides students with a highly personalized educational program that applies learning in real-world contexts, deep and sustained relationships with parents and the community, and seamless post secondary transition programs. Specific goals of Vaux include successful graduation of students who possess the academic, social, and workplace competencies to find high-quality employment they enjoy, to successfully engage in post-secondary learning opportunities, and to “give back” to their community and to the world globally and locally.

Philadelphia Virtual Academy
Philadelphia Virtual Academy is a free cyber charter school for students in grades 6-12 who are looking to obtain an accredited high school diploma online while. PVA students receive a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved curriculum taught by state-certified, highly qualified teachers.

In addition, students will have access to drop-in learning centers for academic support, and the ability to participate in District athletics and extracurricular activities.

PVA offers an excellent online homeschool experience coupled with academic supports and opportunities for face-to-face interactions.