Science Leadership Academy
Science Leadership Academy (SLA) is a public magnet high school in Center City Philadelphia, founded in 2006 as a partnership between the School District of Philadelphia and The Franklin Institute. The school emphasizes inquiry-driven, project-based learning within a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focus, serving approximately 500 students selected through a lottery process. SLA's innovative approach has gained national attention as a model for twenty-first century education, with founder Chris Lehmann's vision influencing school reform discussions beyond Philadelphia.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Science Leadership Academy opened in 2006 under founding principal Chris Lehmann, whose educational philosophy emphasized inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection as core values. The partnership with The Franklin Institute provided not only the school's name but also access to museum resources and science education expertise. SLA represented an attempt to reimagine high school education around student-centered, project-based approaches rather than traditional lecture and testing formats.[1]
The school's success generated significant attention within education reform communities, with Lehmann becoming a nationally recognized voice for progressive education and technology integration. SLA's model influenced other schools and contributed to broader discussions about secondary education's purposes and methods. A second campus, SLA@Beeber, opened in 2013, extending the model to another Philadelphia neighborhood.[1]
Academic Programs
[edit | edit source]SLA organizes learning around inquiry-based projects that integrate multiple disciplines rather than separating subjects into isolated courses. Students pursue investigations that require research, collaboration, and public presentation of findings. This approach develops skills—critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity—that standardized testing cannot easily measure but that employers and colleges increasingly value.[1]
The school's technology integration treats digital tools as essential components of contemporary learning rather than supplements to traditional instruction. One-to-one laptop programs, online collaboration, and digital portfolios reflect understanding that technology changes how people learn and work. This integration prepares students for digitally mediated work and learning environments they will encounter after graduation.[1]
Franklin Institute Partnership
[edit | edit source]The partnership with The Franklin Institute provides resources that few high schools can access. Students use museum exhibits and collections as learning resources; Franklin Institute staff contribute expertise to school programs; and the museum's emphasis on hands-on science learning aligns with SLA's pedagogical approach. This partnership demonstrates how cultural institutions can contribute to formal education beyond typical field trip arrangements.[1]
The school's initial location adjacent to The Franklin Institute on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway reinforced the partnership, though the school has since moved. Despite physical separation, the relationship continues providing resources and identity that distinguish SLA from typical public schools. The partnership model has attracted interest from other cities considering museum-school collaborations.[1]
Admissions
[edit | edit source]SLA selects students through lottery rather than academic screening, distinguishing it from selective-admission magnet schools like Central or Masterman. Any Philadelphia public school student can apply, with selection by random lottery among applicants. This open-admission model reflects SLA's belief that innovative education should be available to diverse students rather than reserved for those who already demonstrate academic success.[1]
The lottery system creates diverse student body that includes students who might struggle in traditional schools alongside high achievers. This diversity tests SLA's pedagogical approach against varied student needs, demonstrating that inquiry-based education can serve students across preparation levels. The school's success with diverse students strengthens arguments for expanding similar approaches beyond magnet school contexts.[1]
See Also
[edit | edit source]- The Franklin Institute
- School District of Philadelphia
- Magnet Schools
- STEM Education
- Project-Based Learning