Located on Ridge Avenue in the heart of the Roxborough section of Philadelphia, The Academies at Roxborough High School offers programs and learning opportunities that promote academic achievement and personal growth for all students. Under the visionary leadership of Principal Dana Jenkins, a 2015 Lindback Award winner for Distinguished Principal Leadership, the school is poised to reach new heights.
The Academies at Roxborough High School is a comprehensive high school serving the Roxborough, Manayunk and Germantown sections of Philadelphia that also attracts students from all over the city for its academy model, career technical education (CTE) programs, and academic offerings.
Currently, Roxborough has three academies: The Freshman Academy, The Academy of the Sciences, and The Academy of the Arts. Students select an academy and a CTE program in which they will remain until they graduate, and they can choose a specialized pathway of study like Web Design, Cinematography, International Business and Biotechnology. During their senior year, students in each of these programs can earn industry certification, and the school is adding dual enrollment opportunities to for students to earn college credit. This year, with the support of Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award winner Derek Stevenson, students in the Cinematography pathway won several awards at a state competition for their film, “Deliverance,” and will enter a national competition featuring the three best student-made films from each state.
The Academies at Roxborough High School provides its students with an exceptional educational experience that extends beyond basic academics, preparing them to succeed in college, career and in life. This is a particularly exciting time for Roxborough, as the leadership and staff plans for a full implementation of wall-to-wall academies. In Principal Jenkins’ words, “We have accomplished so much in the past few years, but rather than rest on our laurels we will instead work towards becoming the new first tier choice among Philadelphia high schools. The future is now, and we are ready to take it.”
Contribution: Mark Scott, English Teacher & Instructional Coach