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The Neighborhood Academy acknowledges the heavy and complex burdens that poor young people bring to school. Consequently we offer a program designed to remove barriers and help students acquire the skills needed for success in school and in life.
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A Rigorous Curriculum: The Academy is a licensed, academic school registered with the State of Pennsylvania. Our college-preparatory curriculum focuses on reading, writing, math and critical thinking, as well as the lab sciences, Spanish, and visual art. Our network of community partnerships enables us to take our students on a regular basis to local cultural and civic events, including the opera, the symphony, and the theater. |
| Faith-Based, but Non-Sectarian: One of the unique features of the Academy is its commitment to serving the spiritual life of our youth and their families. Our curriculum includes the academic study of philosophy, ethics and world religions at every grade level. While the school does not evangelize or advance any particular faith, we do promote the study of, and respect for, all the world’s great religions. We believe that spiritual development is an essential part of healthy adolescence. We begin every school day with a non-sectarian worship service and encourage our students’ participation in the faith community of their choice. |
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Partnership with Parents: Parents and caregivers are invited and encouraged to be actively involved in the education of their children in a number of ways. Our faculty maintains close and ongoing communication with parents about grades and behavior. We provide information on topics such as health, parenting, finances, and college preparation. Parents are encouraged to volunteer with special projects, to chaperone trips and to assist with office tasks. Finally, parents are asked to share the cost of their child’s education by contributing a minimum of $50 a month towards tuition. |
| After-School Athletics and Arts Programming:
Our unique educational model is based on a “whole person” approach
to education. Critical to this model is what we refer to as a
“culture of participation” which presents our students with an
opportunity to experience success. We find that success in one area
gives our students a satisfaction and confidence that most of them
have not previously experienced. This leads to higher
self-expectations and thus, more success. For that reason, the
after-school component of our curriculum is fundamental to the
academic and personal growth of our students. It is the “Arts
Connection” and the “Athletics Connection” components that reinforce
our “culture of participation” in the broadest possible terms. |
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