First Philadelphia

First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School is a kindergarten through twelfth grade school located in the Bridesburg neighborhood of Philadelphia.

First Philadelphia opened its doors in August 2002 with the stated mission of providing a well-balanced literacy-based education, contributing to the formation of life-long learners and leaders of the global community. Our Vision for First Philadelphia is to provide a safe, student-centered educational community where students, staff and families respect and support one another as we strive to develop well-rounded students and citizens.

In August of 2004, the school opened a new, state-of-the-art facility in its present location at 4300 Tacony Street. In 2009, the building was renovated to include additional classrooms, a 700 seat theater space with a mezzanine level and a full stage with orchestra pit and a custom sound and lighting system. These renovations have enabled us to infuse art and music into the curriculum K-12 enhancing the educational experience for our students. After a successful charter renewal in 2012, First Philadelphia was granted additional seats to expand enrollment. We increased our K-8 sections and admitted high school students for the first time. In February of 2015, an additional building was added to the main campus. This addition brought the entire K-12 together onto one campus.

First Philadelphia provides all students the opportunity to achieve through a program grounded in literacy and the arts. We believe all children can learn given the right tools, environment, family and community support, and motivation. We believe it is the right of every student to be solidly prepared for high school, college and career. We believe in family literacy, providing the opportunity for students to study world languages, and creating pathways for students to delve into the international language of music.

First Philadelphia’s strong emphasis on literacy begins in Kindergarten. In grades K-6 students are exposed to a course of study that richly infuses reading and writing across the curriculum. This is enhanced through a focus on music and the arts beginning in Kindergarten. First Philadelphia has made the decision to intentionally integrate music and arts throughout our curriculum (K-12) as research proves such an emphasis engages students in the classroom, increases graduation rates, improves early cognitive development, math and reading skills, and develops critical thinking and leadership skills.

As students reach grades 7-12, the literacy program is further enhanced through an introduction to digital and media arts, thus enabling students to learn the skills necessary to creatively express themselves through multimedia formats. Our 1:1 chrome book program enhances technology opportunities for our students.

One other distinguishing feature of First Philadelphia is its unique intersession program offered prior to winter break. This one week program expands the curriculum, providing teachers the opportunities to engage with students in exciting, theme-centered, project based learning, as well as academic enrichment activities.

While our students learn each day in state-of-the-art buildings, complete with cutting-edge science labs, classrooms each of which is equipped with promethean board technology, music and art rooms, two full-scale gymnasiums, two literacy and media centers, a 700 seat theatre whose lighting and design is modeled after the Kimmel Center, it is not the buildings that make First Philadelphia unique. It is the success brought to fruition by an excellent educational program enriched by the arts, a dedicated staff and a supportive school community where students can be safe and dream big.