Life at Mastery : In the News
Career Day Caters To Specific Audience At North Philadelphia Elementary School
Wednesday, February 24 2016.By Mike Dougherty
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — To celebrate the 100th day of school, administrators at the Frederick Douglass Mastery Charter Elementary School invited more than 100 men of...
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Phila. Charter School Participating in National Program
Friday, February 12 2016.By Wilford Shamlin III
Two officials from the U.S. Department of Education visited Mastery Charter School’s Shoemaker campus Thursday.
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SRC Approves Transfer of Young Scholars Douglass Charter to Mastery
Friday, May 29 2015.
On Thursday, the School Reform Commission approved a new K-4 KIPP charter school for West Philadelphia to open in 2016 and voted to transfer management of Young Scholars...
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SRC must expand number of Phila. charters now
Tuesday, February 3 2015.By Mike Turzai
During a visit to Mastery Charter School's Shoemaker Campus in West Philadelphia, a bipartisan delegation from the Pennsylvania House of...
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Chartering charters' future in Philadelphia
Monday, February 2 2015.By Bill Chenevert
The Philadelphia School District, by way of the School Reform Commission, is considering 40 new applications for charter schools.
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Mastery moves toward understanding trauma
Monday, December 1 2014.By Connie Langland
Teachers and staff are learning new approaches to handling classroom disruptions and student misbehavior.
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SIGN THE PETITION: Bring the Mastery experience to more Philadelphia children!
Friday, November 7 2014.
Yes! I Believe Philadelphia’s Students Deserve Quality Choice Options
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Mastery opens doors to its first Camden students
Wednesday, August 27 2014.By Phil Dunn, Courier-Post
One of Camden's highly controversial Renaissance schools opened Wednesday with little fanfare, but lots of smiles.
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Mastery 3.0: Moving beyond turnarounds
Thursday, June 26 2014.By Dale Mezzacappa
Concerned that not enough students at Mastery charter schools are enrolling, persisting, and succeeding in college, the organization is revamping its curriculum and...
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Hugs, memories, a library
Monday, June 9 2014.By Jeff Gammage, Inquirer Staff Writer
The library has one wall painted bright yellow, because that was Jamie Soukup Reid's favorite color, and six chess sets, because she loved and taught the challenges of the...
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Mastery students celebrate 'College Signing Day'
Wednesday, June 4 2014.By Casey Fabris, Inquirer Staff Writer
Students roared for the Pickett Campus. They shouted for the Shoemaker Campus, cheered for Simon Gratz High School, and yelled for the Thomas Campus.
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Mastery Charter Schools seniors take part in College Signing Day
Wednesday, June 4 2014.By REGINA MEDINA, Daily News Staff Writer
KEANU DAVIS didn't like going to school during his freshman year at Simon Gratz High School, and the numbers prove it: He was absent 30 times and arrived late 80 more times,...
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Mastery seniors pledge to complete college
Tuesday, June 3 2014.By KEVIN MCCORRY
Mastery Charter schools held its second annual college signing day Tuesday.
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Mastery Charter senior secures Georgetown scholarship
Thursday, May 29 2014.By Samaria Bailey
A Mastery Charter High School senior was able to secure a completely free college education at one of the nation’s most historic schools, Georgetown University, this...
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Students win free rides to college
Sunday, May 25 2014.By PATRICIA MADEJ
FOR 18-YEAR-OLD Reginald Nelson of Nicetown, winning a Gates Millennium Scholarship allowed him to secure his place in Bucknell University's graduating class of 2018.
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Students put feelings about their rough neighborhoods on video
Tuesday, May 13 2014.By Susan Snyder, Inquirer Staff Writer
When it was time to describe his neighborhood, Nasir Garland-Harding looked into the camera and told it straight.
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He navigated high school and homelessness
Tuesday, May 13 2014.By Holly Otterbein, for The Daily News
BY DAY, Malachi Armstrong attended a Philadelphia high school whose motto was "excellence, no excuses." By night, he was homeless and far away from adults with high...
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Mastery Charter Schools Holds College Fair For Its 10th-11th Graders
Wednesday, May 7 2014.By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A chain of charter schools in Philadelphia today brought in dozens of college reps from near and far to promote a college-bound culture for its...
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Putting the play back in K(indergarten)
Thursday, May 1 2014.By Philly Parenting a blog by Jen Bradley
One of the most recent viral stories revolves around a letter from a principal in Elwood, New York to parents of kindergarten children.
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Philadelphia principal has President Obama’s ear
Thursday, April 24 2014.By Tommy Rowan
Sharif El-Mekki brought a principal’s empathy along with a twist of Philly attitude to Washington D.C.
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University City program connects high school students with internships
Monday, April 21 2014.By CLAIRE COHEN
Students are paid for working 12 hours a week through a University City District grant For Daijon Gibbs, a University City District summer program helped him discover...
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School library honors a teacher who loved reading
Tuesday, March 11 2014.By Jeff Gammage, Inquirer Staff Writer
She got married in a hall that was once a library reading room, surrounded by rows of books.
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Mastery Charter Schools is a win for Camden
Thursday, March 6 2014.By Laura Waters
"All is flux, nothing stays still," said Plato, but you'd never know that in Camden. It's still the worst school system in New Jersey despite decades of strategic plans and...
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2 operators get nod on Renaissance schools in Camden
Friday, January 31 2014.By Julia Terruso, Inquirer Staff Writer
Two charter school operators, including one with an extensive network in Philadelphia, moved closer Thursday to being allowed to open charter-like "Renaissance" schools in...
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Two New Charter Networks Win Endorsement To Operate In Camden
Friday, January 31 2014.By John Mooney
Superintendent announces choice of two well-regarded, established organizations to operate up to eight new schools
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Two renaissance projects advance in Camden
Friday, January 31 2014.By Phil Dunn, Courier-Post
A renaissance is coming to Camden, literally. School Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard announced his support Thursday for two new renaissance schools, charter-type...
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Grover Cleveland Mastery making progress, giving students ownership
Friday, January 31 2014.By Solomon Leach, Daily News Staff Writer
FOR EIGHTH-grader Germaine Fitchett, the difference between Grover Cleveland Mastery Charter pre- and post-Renaissance is like night and day.
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Report: Philly's school 'Renaissance' a mixed bag
Friday, January 31 2014.By Solomon Leach, Daily News Staff Writer
THE SCHOOL District of Philadelphia's latest attempt to turn around "underperforming" schools has yielded dramatic improvements in some cases, while many schools are still...
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Charter Schools In Philadelphia: Educating Without A Blueprint
Friday, December 20 2013.By Matt Stanley
This is final story in a three-part report on Philadelphia schools in crisis. Shayna Terrell is in a good mood: It's report card night at the Simon Gratz...
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Mastery principal chosen as Dept. of Education ambassador
Sunday, December 15 2013.By Wilford Shamlin III
Sharif El-Mekki has been selected to serve as one of three new Principal Ambassador Fellows who will provide “feedback, insight, and direction” to U.S. Secretary of...
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Philly principal goes to work for Obama
Tuesday, December 10 2013.By Tommy Rowan
A Philadelphia educator is receiving national attention — the positive kind. Sharif El-Mekki, principal of Mastery Charter School’s Shoemaker campus in...
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At a Charter School in Germantown, Realistic Looks at Career Choices
Wednesday, November 20 2013.By Mike DeNardo
Some Philadelphia school students were getting a chance today to learn about careers from actual professionals.
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Mural honoring late state Rep. David P. Richardson Jr. 'rededicated' outside Germantown school
Friday, October 25 2013.By BRIAN HICKEY
Family members, friends and residents touched by the work of the late state Rep. David P. Richardson Jr. gathered outside East Germantown's Pastorius K-8 school on Wednesday...
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Mastery North Controls Sloppy Game
Friday, October 11 2013.By AARON CARTER
UNDER A DREARY, smoke-colored canopy yesterday afternoon, Mastery North outlasted Murrell Dobbins Tech, 15-0, on a muddy field that led to difficult traction and largely...
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Philadelphia-Based Charter Network Tries Again to Cross River into Camden
Tuesday, October 8 2013.By JOHN MOONEY
State takeover of troubled city’s public district bolsters Mastery school’s prospects.
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Hardy Williams Mastery Charter School Honored
Monday, July 8 2013.
Earlier this pastspring, the Hardy Williams Academy Mastery Charter School (HWAMCS) was recognized as a Top 10 school in Pennsylvaniaby PennCan, a statewide non-profit...
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Philly Student Aims to Fund College a Dollar at a Time
Thursday, June 27 2013.By Helen Ubinas
MARQUISE CORNISH'S grandmother keeps a photo of him on her kitchen cabinet. In it, the now 18-year-old Cornish is a smiling preschooler who got himself up, dressed - usually...
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Educators & edu-crats: And the award goes to ...
Thursday, June 27 2013.
THE SCHOOL year has just ended, and it's a good time to take stock of those who have done good things to help kids and parents, and those who are my edu-crats of the year....
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Karen Heller: An Academic Turnaround
Monday, June 17 2013.By Karen Heller, Inquirer Columnist
Seeking a respite from the relentless drumbeat of dire city school news, I headed to far South Philadelphia, in the shadow of the stadiums.
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To get more and better programming, principals are instrumental
Friday, June 14 2013.By Dan Hardy
Through grants, partnerships, and lots of coordination, some schools offer students a more complete package.
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Alumnus Named Outstanding Teacher of the Year by Mayor of Philadelphia
Tuesday, June 11 2013.By Jon C. Reidel
Zachary Wright ’05 was named 2012-13 Outstanding Teacher of the Year by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter for his work in creating a partnership between the University of...
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Philadelphia Charter Operators Developing Post-Graduation Strategies For Students With Disabilities
Tuesday, June 4 2013.By Mike DeNardo
How do charter schools ensure that high school students with learning disabilities make a smooth transition to a job or college?
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Al Dia: Mastery Charter School Celebrates High Achievement
Tuesday, June 4 2013.By Isabel Garcia and Jaime Joseph
Hardy Williams Academy ranked third in PennCAN’s 2013 Top 10 schools. The Mastery Charter School celebrated the achievement Thursday evening in the school’s gym with...
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A New Kind of College 'Signing Day'
Tuesday, May 21 2013.By Vernon Clark, Inquirer Staff Writer
With cheerleaders, mascots, and thunderous applause, thousands of students from Mastery Charter Schools gathered for a giant pep rally Monday, but the event had nothing to do...
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Charter Students Celebrate Collegiate Futures at Liacouras Center
Monday, May 20 2013.By Matt Hulmes
Close to 7,000 students, families, and teachers of Mastery Charter Schools celebrated the future of 450 high school seniors today at Temple’s Liacouras Center for the first...
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Mastery Charter Graduates Revel in College Choices
Monday, May 20 2013.By Aaron Moselle and Zack Seward
Cheering fans, cheerleaders and mascots filled Temple University's Liacouras Center Monday afternoon. None of them were there for a game.
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PHOTOS: Mastery Charter Schools’ hosted a college signing day
Monday, May 20 2013.By Tommy Rowan
Mastery Charter Schools’ hosted a college signing day yesterday at Temple University’s Liacouras Center to celebrate its senior students’ commitment to a college or...
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Mastery Grads Stride Towards Success
Monday, May 20 2013.By Damon C. Williams
Mastery Charter Schools — the nonprofit charter school operator who has long partnered with the School District of Philadelphia and currently manages 12 schools in the region...
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Celebrating Success: Star Turn, A Generation Later
Sunday, May 19 2013.By Jenice Armstrong, Daily News Columnist
KEVIN Beaford Sr. made a name for himself as a basketball star at Bok Technical High School during the late 1970s, but his early promise faded, and he never wanted his...
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Mastery Charter Schools Holds Third Annual College Fair
Wednesday, May 15 2013.
On Wednesday, May 15 th , Mastery’s 10 th and 11 th grade students will have an opportunity to learn about over 80 post-secondary opportunities...
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N'borhood Scholar Awarded Prestigious Scholarship
Tuesday, May 7 2013.By West Side Weekly
Mastery Charter Schools is proud to announce that Keiya Rankin was one of two Mastery students who was awarded nationally competitive scholarships. Keiya Rankin, a senior at...
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on the ground: circus arts thrive in germantown
Tuesday, April 30 2013.By ALAINA MABASO
Through an unassuming door near the corner of Greene and West Rittenhouse Streets in Germantown, there is a sunny gymnasium that resembles a giant birdcage.
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Mastery Charter School Holds All Mastery Poetry Slam
Friday, April 26 2013.
On Friday April 26, 2013, from 4-7 pm, Mastery Charter Schools will hold an all Mastery Poetry Slam competition in celebration of National Poetry Month.
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Mastery Charter Schools Thomas Campus Recognized Nationally as Top High School By U.S. News and World Report
Thursday, April 25 2013.By Sheila Ballen
Philadelphia (April, 25 2013) – Mastery Charter Schools is proud to announce that Mastery Charter Schools Thomas Campus earned a silver medal award in U.S....
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TWO MASTERY CHARTER SCHOOLS’ STUDENTS AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
Tuesday, April 23 2013.By Sheila Ballen
Philadelphia (April 22, 2013) – Mastery Charter Schools is proud to announce that two Mastery students were awarded nationally competitive...
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Crowd Urges SRC to Approve Charter Renewals, Expansions
Wednesday, April 17 2013.By Martha Woodall
By Martha Woodall, Inquirer Staff Writer- Waving placards and chanting, more than 250 charter school students,...
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Rally Urges Expansion of Philadelphia Charter Schools
Tuesday, April 16 2013.By Benjamin Herold
by Benjamin Herold for NewsWorks , a Notebook news partner - Saying that thousands of children are being denied quality...
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Charter schools rally for renewal and expansion
Monday, April 15 2013.By Tommy Rowan
Charter Schools need to expand, supporters cried outside of the city’s school district headquarters.
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Text Messages Can Increase Enrollment of Low-Income Students
Friday, April 12 2013.By Beckie Supiano
Admissions offices have fought for years against what they call the “summer melt,” in which a...
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GNPAL Holds Third-Annual Step Show
Wednesday, April 10 2013.By Gerry Dungan
High school youth teams participated in the Greater Norristown Police Athletic League event, carrying on the tradition, joy and pride of Black Fraternities and Sororities.
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With Balloons and Cheers, Philadelphia School Gets Kids Hyped For PSSA Testing
Tuesday, April 9 2013.By By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Springtime is PSSA (
Mastery Charter School Smedley Elementary to Hold PSSA Pep Rally with Sixers Flight Squad and Sixers Dream Team
Tuesday, April 9 2013.
On Tuesday April 9, 2013 at 10:30 am, Mastery Charter School Smedley Elementary will hold a pep rally in anticipation of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). ...
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Charter-school operators take their pitches directly to Pastorius Elementary
Tuesday, April 9 2013.By By Aaron Moselle, @awmoselle
In a week, Pastorius Elementary's School Advisory Council will make a very important recommendation: which charter school operator would it like to turn-around the struggling...
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Simon Gratz removed from Persistently Dangerous Schools List
Tuesday, April 2 2013.
We are delighted to announce that Simon Gratz High School has been removed as a Persistently Dangerous School.
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Mastery's Renaissance Schools PSSA Data Released
Tuesday, April 2 2013.
Mastery Charter Schools is proud to announce our PSSA results for the 2011-2012 school year.
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At Gratz, Mastery takes on challenges of 9th-grade transition
Monday, April 1 2013.By Dale Mezzacappa
In its 2nd year at the school, the charter operator is making adjustments.
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Paying attention to 9th graders
Monday, April 1 2013.By Dale Mezzacappa
Graduation rates keep climbing, but many students still founder in the first year of high school.
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GreatPhillySchools releases list of top NW Philadelphia schools
Friday, March 29 2013.By Rosella LaFevre for NewsWorks, @MtAiryChestnut
Northwest Philadelphia parents now have another resource they can use to help them decide the best school for their kids.
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Candidates named to take over 3 Philly schools
Wednesday, March 27 2013.By By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer
Some familiar names will vie to run struggling city public schools being handed over to charter organizations, officials said Monday.
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In Philly, the struggle to make high school work pits sentiment vs. data
Tuesday, March 5 2013.By By Benjamin Herold
For almost an hour, Frank Thorne stood in line, waiting to denounce Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite.
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In North Philly, keeping a high school open requires wooing neighbors back
Tuesday, March 5 2013.By by Benjamin Herold, for NewsWorks
For almost an hour, Frank Thorne stood in line, waiting to denounce Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite.
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Part of the Education Solution
Thursday, September 27 2012.By Scott Gordon
By Scott Gordon In 2010, the School District of Philadelphia announced its Renaissance charter initiative, a bold plan to turn around persistently low-performing...
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Philadelphia’s List of ‘Persistently Dangerous’ Schools Gets Pared Down
Wednesday, September 5 2012.By CBS Local
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — There are fewer Philadelphia schools on the state’s “persistently dangerous” list this year.
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School year begins for a Phila. Mastery school
Friday, August 24 2012.
PHILADELPHIA - August 22, 2012 (WPVI) -- The school year began Wednesday for a North Philadelphia elementary school. Grover Cleveland Elementary...
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Philadelphia Mastery charter school initiative takes on troubled sites
Sunday, June 10 2012.By Mary Niederberger
PHILADELPHIA -- To walk the halls of Mastery Charter Schools' Harrity Elementary in southwest Philadelphia, where 94 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price...
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Philadelphia Charters Get Results
Wednesday, May 23 2012.By Sharon Broussard, The Plain Dealer
Mastery Charter Schools has earned bragging rights for taking over several of the Philadelphia public schools' most violent and low-performing schools and turning them...
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Over 100 Gratz HS Seniors Heading to College
Friday, May 18 2012.
PHILADELPHIA - May 18, 2012 (WPVI)- Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia has made a remarkable turnaround. For years, it was one of...
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Research study gives good marks to Phila.'s school turnaround effort
Wednesday, February 22 2012.By Kristen A. Graham
February 22, 2012|By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer Philadelphia's nationally watched school turnaround effort gets high marks from a research study to be...
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Mastery Charter Schools To Share Their Teacher Development and Coaching Model at Institute to be held in Philadelphia
Wednesday, December 14 2011.
Mastery will share its nationally recognized teacher effectiveness program with district and charter leaders from Philadelphia and across the country
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Report cites Philadelphia's lead role in fixing underperforming high schools
Monday, August 15 2011.By Martha Woodall, Inquirer Staff Writer
Arne Duncan, U.S. secretary of education, has encouraged school districts to adopt bold strategies to improve the nation's worst-performing high schools, including converting...
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Open for business, looking to expand
Tuesday, September 28 2010.
Just four months after naming of providers, Renaissance Schools are serving 7,000. posted by Benjamin Herold
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Remarks by the President on Education Reform at the National Urban League Centennial Conference
Thursday, July 29 2010.
The White House , Office of the Press Secretary Posted: July 29, 2010
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President praises Philly's Mastery Charter Schools
Thursday, July 29 2010.By Jeff Shields
President Obama singled out the city's Mastery Charter Schools in a speech to the National Urban League on Thursday. In outlining his Race to the Top initiative and his...
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Turnaround charter getting high marks for college prep
Sunday, May 23 2010.
The Philadelphia Inquirer , By Martha Woodall Posted: Sun, May 23, 2010
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Mastery's formula for successful schools
Sunday, May 2 2010.By Paul Davies
The charter operator shows that improving education doesn't require super powers.
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Mastery goes to Washington
Tuesday, May 12 2009.
America's Competitiveness through High School Reform: Scott Gordon Committee on Education & Labor Posted: May 12, 2009
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Philadelphia Charter Schools Honored
Friday, March 6 2009.
Philadelphia Inquirer , By Martha Woodall Posted: March 6, 2009
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Mastery volunteers spend Columbus Day Beautifying Pickett
Friday, October 10 2008.
Formally Pickett Middle School located in Germantown, now Mastery Charter School’s Pickett Campus, is receiving a face lift. On Monday, October 13, parents, students,...
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School Celebrates Hard-Won Sucsess
Sunday, June 24 2007.
Mastery's Shoemaker campus marks a turnaround. The Philadelphia Inquirer , By Martha Woodall Posted: June 24....
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A Better Fit at Shoemaker
Monday, March 19 2007.
A lesson learned: W. Philadelphia charter making the score The Philadelphia Inquirer , By Martha Woodall
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It's not just academic skills
Saturday, January 27 2007.
At Shoemaker, a key strategy is teaching students "social emotional learning." The Philadelphia Inquirer , By Martha Woodall
Success is put to the test
Sunday, October 1 2006.
Model program has Shoemaker off to "1,000 percent better" start. The Philadelphia Inquirer , By Martha Woodall Posted: Sunday,...
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Charter School Finds Proof in College Plans
Friday, June 3 2005.
Since starting out in temporary quarter on North Broad Street four years ago, Mastery Charter High School has emerges as a success story among the city's high school charters.
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