The Philadelphia Academy believes that for children to perform at their highest levels, to become life-long lovers of learning, to live, work and grow with integrity, self-discipline, compassion and respect for themselves and others, they must learn and flourish in environments that honor their individuality and commonality. |
The curriculum for The Philadelphia Academy Charter School is challenging, well rounded and meets the needs of children who have to communicate, compete and some day work in an increasingly complex and technological society. | |
Program Overview |
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Communication skills are emphasized across all disciplines and classrooms. Our students have the benefits of
Literature, both classic and contemporary, is studied at all grade levels. Multi-cultural, multi-racial themes are explored through
Philadelphia Academy Charter High School will provide a reading and writing intensive program for all of its students. All students entering ninth grade will take a two credit English course emphasizing critical reading and writing skill development. Students will be expected to take 5 credits in English prior to graduation. Standards based mathematics and science programs emphasize
Student explore the techniques and discoveries of creative people in math and science at all grade levels, especially, in the school to career portion of all our programs. Minority and equity themes are explored and shared in our Young Girl's and the Sciences club. At the high school, career exploration will begin in students learning through service. Part of the emphasis will be careers in the service area such as education. High school Science students will be required to take and pass Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics before graduating. The ninth grade will concentrate on the earth through study of the environment and the scientific process. All courses in science will be aligned with Pennsylvania State Standards. |
The development of technological expertise from the kindergarten through twelfth grade level is a primary focus. Technology is integrated across the curriculum while being used for advanced studies and remediation. Our students master computer applications in our PC laboratory and Macintosh skills in the media center while increasing their research skills and communication skills in both. Short and long term project development is also a key to our media center and computer laboratory approaches. Daily classroom instruction utilizes computer techniques, facilitates internet use and follows new trends in technology to prepare students for future study or career training. Our world language program begins with exposure and intensifies in age appropriate stages. Our goal is to promote understanding, give students immersion experiences and encourage fluency in more than one language. At the high school level, language instruction for credit begins in ninth grade. All students will be required to complete two credits in a World Language program. Another two years of Language study will be available for students who wish to take it. A sophisticated arts program enables our students to develop a genuine and deep appreciation of the visual and performing arts. Every student has the opportunity to play an instrument, participate in a choral group or appear in a school production. In addition to a regular arts program, Philadelphia Academy Charter High School will offer Art courses with an emphasis on technology. Courses in Web Design, Graphic Design and Basic Programming will be offered as elective courses. Technical Arts programs such as Culinary Arts and Woodshop, will also be available as Arts electives. Physical Education is an integral part of our school program. This gives our students the opportunity to integrate fair play and sportsmanship into their physical activity. Students receive instruction in seven sports, fitness/physical training and dance. High school students will be required to take physical education every year. Students are expected to have four credits in Physical Education to meet their graduation requirement. Extracurricular sports will be offered as school sponsored activities. Students may choose to participate in these activities. Character education is a natural component of the curricular program. Our ability to communicate the primacy of ethical choice and one's moral responsibility to the dignity of the human person regardless of cultural or ethnic difference is the mainstay of what we expect our students to learn. All ninth grade students will participate in a learning through service elective. High school students will learn to become good citizens of the world through study of World Cultures, Governments, Economics History and the Study of Family. In ninth grade the Social Studies curriculum will emphasize cultures of the modern world and the role that the United States plays in global relations. Economic pressures faced by all cultures in the world will be included in each cultures study. | |