How to Apply
APPLY TODAY for the 2025-2026 school year
Mastery operates 18 schools in Philadelphia. Once you’ve decided which school/s you’re interested in, you can apply for enrollment using one of the approaches listed below.
Please note: Students must be five years of age on or before September 1, 2025, to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year.
Mastery schools will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis until all seats are filled.
1. Apply online: Applying to Mastery schools is easy and convenient through the new Apply Philly Charter website. Simply sign in or create an account and complete your application.
2. Apply with the help of a Mastery enrollment specialist: Have questions about our schools or need help navigating the process? Complete and submit this form, and one of our enrollment specialists will reach out within 48 hours to answer questions and support you to submit an application.
3. Apply by phone: If you don’t have an email address, access to the internet, or don’t speak one of the languages offered on Apply Philly Charter, you can apply over the phone by calling 1-800-891-3999.
4. Apply in person: Contact the front desk at the school you wish to enroll your child to schedule a time to complete an application on-site.
Please note: If you are looking for a seat for your child for the current school year (2024-2025), you may still apply online today using Apply Philly Charter. Just click on the “Apply for Current Year” button to start your application once you’ve logged in.
Questions? If you have questions or experience issues, please email the enrollment support team at [email protected].
Key Dates
- September 20, 2024: Application period opens
- January 21, 2025: Priority deadline for inclusion in the Apply Philly Charter lottery
- January 22, 2025 – February 25, 2025: Apply Philly Charter pauses acceptance of school year 2025-2026 applications. Applications for the current school year (2024-2025) can still be submitted during this period.
- February 7, 2025: Families are notified about lottery results
- February 26, 2025: Apply Philly Charter reopens to accept applications for school year 2025-2026 on a rolling basis until all seats are filled.
About Our Schools
At Mastery Schools, students receive an outstanding education, the opportunity to participate in sports and extracurricular programs, and support to pursue their dreams and succeed after graduation. Our schools are free, public charter schools serving grades K-12.
We have both neighborhood schools and schools with citywide admission. Across all schools, we give preference to students with siblings currently attending the school they are applying to.
Use our school finder to determine the Mastery schools your child is eligible to attend and learn more about the schools below.
Primary
Clymer Elementary serves students in the Hartranft/Fairhill area who live in the school’s attendance zone within the 19133 zip code. The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19133 zip code. Learn more.
Frederick Douglass Elementary serves students in North Philadelphia who live in the school’s attendance zone within the 19121 zip code. The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19121 zip code. Learn more.
Grover Cleveland Elementary serves students in the Nicetown/Tioga area who live in the school’s attendance zone within the 19140 zip code. The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19140 zip code. Learn more.
Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Hardy Williams Elementary. Learn more.
Harrity Elementary serves students in Southwest Philadelphia who live in the school’s attendance zone within the 19143 zip code. The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19143 zip code. Learn more.
Mann Elementary serves students in West Philadelphia who live in the school’s attendance zone within the 19131 zip code. The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19131 zip code. Learn more.
Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Mastery Prep Elementary. First preference, however, is given to students living in the 19140 zip code. This is so we can serve as a neighborhood school, per our charter. Learn more.
Pastorius-Richardson Elementary serves students in the Germantown community who live in the school’s attendance zones within the zip codes of 19144 and 19138. The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19144 and 19138 zip codes. Learn more.
Smedley Elementary serves students in the Frankford area who live in the school’s attendance zone within the 19124 zip code. The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19124 zip code. Learn more.
Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Thomas Elementary. First preference, however, is given to students living within the 19148 zip code, followed by students living within zip codes 19145, 19146, and 19147, followed by all other applicants. This is so we can serve as a neighborhood school, per our charter. Learn more.
John Wister Elementary serves students in the Germantown community who live in the school’s attendance zone within the 19144 zip code. The school cannot enroll students living outside of its attendance zone, even if they reside within the listed 19144 zip code. Learn more.
Secondary
Admission to Gratz Prep Middle is offered first come, first served to students living in the Simon Gratz High School attendance zone and students from the following elementary schools: Bethune, Cleveland, Clymer, Duckrey, Kenderton, or Steel. Students from schools not listed here outside of the Simon Gratz High School attendance zone may also apply for the lottery. However, they can only enroll if seats are available. Learn more.
Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Hardy Williams Academy. However, preference is given to current students at Harrity Elementary. Learn more.
Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Lenfest Campus. However, preference is given to current students at Smedley Elementary. Learn more.
Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Pickett Campus. However, preference is given to current students at John B. Kelly and Wister elementary schools and students living in the 19144 zip code. Learn more.
Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Shoemaker Campus. However, preference is given to current students at Mann and Bluford elementary schools. Learn more.
There is guaranteed enrollment at Simon Gratz High for students living in the Simon Gratz High School attendance zone and students attending the following elementary schools: Bethune, Cleveland, Clymer, Duckrey, Kenderton, or Steel. Students from schools not listed here and outside the Simon Gratz High School attendance zone may also apply for the lottery. However, they can only enroll if seats are available. Learn more.
Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Thomas Campus. First preference, however, is given to students living within the 19148 zip code, followed by students living within zip codes 19145, 19146, and 19147, followed by all other applicants. This is so we can serve as a neighborhood school, per our charter. Learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
All students living in Philadelphia are eligible to enter lotteries for admission to the following Mastery schools: Hardy Williams Elementary, Hardy Williams High School, Lenfest Campus, Mastery Prep Elementary, Pickett Campus, Shoemaker Campus, Gratz Prep Middle, Simon Gratz High School, Thomas Campus, and Thomas Elementary.
Admission to Mastery neighborhood schools is granted on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to students who live within the school’s attendance zone. Neighborhood schools include Clymer Elementary, Frederick Douglass Elementary, Grover Cleveland Elementary, Harrity Elementary, Mann Elementary, Pastorius-Richardson Elementary, Smedley Elementary, and Wister Elementary. Please use our school finder to identify your neighborhood preference zone where you will get priority when you apply.
Across all schools, we give preference to students with siblings currently attending the school they are applying to.
Students do not have to take an entrance exam or meet academic requirements to attend Mastery schools.
Mastery serves students in grades K-12.
No. All of our schools are free public schools.
Like all other public schools in Philadelphia, we do not provide bus transportation to kindergarten students. Students in grades 1-12 receive a free SEPTA Fare Card to commute to school if they live more than 1.5 miles away from the school they are attending. Door-to-door bus service is also available for IEP students who require it. Students at elementary schools serving children from across the city (Mastery Prep Elementary, Hardy Williams Elementary, and Mann Elementary) may qualify for bus transportation if they are in grades 1-6 and live more than 1.5 miles away from the school. Families should contact the school they are interested in attending for more information and confirmation of services.
All Mastery schools provide free breakfast and lunch.
This varies by school. Please contact the school that you are interested in for details.
Arrival and dismissal times vary by school, but all schools start between 7:30 AM and 8:05 AM and end between 3:10 PM and 3:15 PM. Please contact the school that you are interested in for more specific details.
Mastery schools offer over 200 extracurricular activities and enrichment programs, including basketball, cheerleading, student government, and robotics. Activities vary by campus. Please contact the school you are interested in for more details about offerings.
We believe school uniforms promote pride and community while fostering professionalism and presentation skills in students. Uniforms must be worn neatly, in the appropriate size, and cover undergarments. Please contact the school you are interested in for more details about uniform requirements and vouchers.
If you have additional questions or experience any issues as you try to enroll, please contact the Mastery school you’re applying to directly via phone or email or email our enrollment support team at [email protected].
