One Team. One Mission. 25 Years
In 2001, Mastery Schools first opened its doors with the belief that every student deserves an excellent education. Today, that belief has become the ambitious mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and to pursue their dreams.
Now, with 23 schools across Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey, thousands of successful graduates, and a legacy of possibility that stretches across the region, the anniversary presents the opportunity to honor our legacy and look ahead to the future.
This milestone is a celebration of every teacher who is relentless in the pursuit of student success, every leader who pushed students and staff to reach their potential, every family who trusted their children with Mastery, and every student who rose to the challenge. Together as one team, we have achieved great things over 25 years, and we know even greater victories lie ahead, above all in support of student achievement.
Alumni Voices
From our classrooms to careers across the country, Mastery alumni carry the mission forward. Below, learn how alumni across the network are succeeding and pursuing their dreams.
Alumni Stories
Mastery 25 for 25 Spotlight: Rahmayne Jackson-Bey
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Mastery 25 for 25 Spotlight: Mya McQueen
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Mastery 25 For 25 Spotlight: Angelica Andino-Oyola
Learn MoreDonate to the Mastery Fund
For 25 years, Mastery Schools has been empowering students to succeed and pursue their dreams, but supporting them in reaching their full potential isn’t possible through public funding alone. Philanthropic gifts to the Mastery Fund fill the vital gap that traditional funding leaves behind, securing life-changing opportunities for our students. From advanced academic enrichment and unique extracurriculars to study-abroad experiences and state-of-the-art campus upgrades, your support turns student dreams into reality. Donate today to help us ensure our students are equipped to thrive for the next 25 years and beyond.
A Quarter-Century of Impact
Explore the milestones, moments, and memories that shaped Mastery Schools.
Simon Gratz High School celebrates 100 years of history with special events and programming.
Thomas Elementary’s first kindergarten class graduates from Thomas Campus.
Lenfest Campus launches the Lenfest Future Educators Academy, in partnership with the Center for Black Educator Development, to help diversify the teacher pipeline.
The Health Institute at Hardy, in partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, launches at Hardy Williams High School.
Mastery Schools of Camden expands bilingual offerings to native Spanish-speaking students.
Mastery Schools receives $3.7 million from the Department of Education to transform classroom libraries and enhance literacy.
Hardy Williams High School is selected as the Philadelphia launch site for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Health Education Initiative.
Mastery Schools launches Plan 2029, a five-year strategic plan designed to propel the network forward and ensure the fulfillment of the mission.
Molina Elementary reunites upper and lower school grades to serve students in grades K-8 in a renovated Vine Street campus.
Mastery Schools raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000.
The state-of-the-art Mastery North Athletic Complex opens at Pickett Campus to support athletics programming.
Mastery Schools Founder Scott Gordon announces planned retirement after 23 years.
In response to the need for remote learning support, Mastery ensures every student has full access to technology, laptops, and home internet to support ongoing learning at home.
Mastery Schools responds to the coronavirus pandemic, providing COVID-safe in-person learning, weekly COVID testing, and upgrading facilities with ventilation to improve air quality and circulation.
Mastery High School of Camden has its first graduating class, the Class of 2020.
Mastery Schools opens Mastery Prep Elementary, serving over 200 students in grades K-2.
Francis D. Pastorius Elementary is renamed Pastorius-Richardson Elementary in honor of Representative David P. Richardson, Jr.
Mastery High School of Camden adds 11th grade and opens in a new building, becoming the first high school in North Camden.
North Camden Elementary and Cramer Hill Elementary merge and move into a new state-of-the-art building, serving students in grades K-8.
Mastery Schools is selected to operate another Renaissance school: Frederick Douglass Elementary
Gratz Prep Middle School opens in Simon Gratz High School, serving students in 7th and 8th grades.
Mastery Schools is selected to turn around Francis D. Pastorius Elementary School.
Mastery Schools is chosen to manage two more Renaissance Schools: Simon Gratz High School and Clymer Elementary
79 students in the Lenfest Campus Class of 2005 become Mastery’s first graduating class.
High Tech High is renamed Mastery Schools and moves to a newly renovated building in Old City, marking the opening of Lenfest Campus.
Mastery Schools CEO Scott Gordon opens High Tech High with 100 ninth-grade students.