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Science Leadership Academy
Science Leadership Academy, nominated by Getting Smart, is a high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Governance Public District School
Grades High
Students 509
Locale Urban
Principal Chris Lehmann
Demographics
Percentage of students*
4%
English Learners
57%
Free/Reduced Lunch
14%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 30%
American Indian/Alaska Native —
Asian 10%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 16%
White 35%
2+ Races —
Why Science Leadership Academy was nominated
Science Leadership Academy is an inquiry-driven, STEM-focused, project-based school formed as a partnership between the School District of Philadelphia and The Franklin Institute. The school attracts students from all metro zip codes, including more than 60 middle schools. The project-based curriculum asks students to consider, ìHow do we learn?î ìWhat can we create?î ìWhat does it mean to lead?î Students meet with an an advisor twice weekly for an hour. Advisors monitor academic progress, help plan projects, internships and support the college application process. Every student completes a capstone project that involves giving back to the community. Some conduct research, some provide a service, and some create art.
Student experience design
We want a student experience where students are able to tap into their own agency and own their learning in meaningful ways. Moreover, we want students to understand how their agency and others' agency must be able to co-exist to create true understanding and community so that students are able to feel that they are ready to be fully active citizens of their world.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Student Advisories |
5+ years
|
|
Assessments For Deeper Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Internships |
5+ years
|
|
Project-based Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Performance Based Assessment |
5+ years
|
All Practices
AI Literacy
AI For Teacher Productivity
Anti-racist Practices
Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning
Assessments For Career Readiness
Blended Learning
Career Advising & Support
Career Exploration
Co-leadership
College Advising & Support
Community And Workforce Partnerships
Culturally Responsive Practices
Disaggregated Data On Student Participation
Higher Education Partnerships
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Industry-recognized Credentials
Educators Have Industry Experience
Industry-aligned Learning Pathways
Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies
Individual Learning Paths
Mental Health Services
1:1 Mentoring
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics
Industry Networking
No Tracked Classes
Peer To Peer Support
Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need
Restorative Practices
SEL Curriculum
SEL Integration School-wide
Service Learning
Student-led Conferences
Students Access Their Own Data
Student-led Goal Setting
Students Develop Projects
Trauma-informed Practices
Tutoring
Career Prep
key reasons for innovating
Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools
Improve academic achievement
Increase student agency
Date Updated: 4/1/2026
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.