Gratz Prep Middle - Mastery Schools

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR

The Apply Philly Charter website will be inaccessible from January 22 through February 25 for school year 2025-2026 applicants. If you’d like to consult with one of our enrollment specialists about options for your student during this period and be reminded via email, call, or text when the website reopens so that you can complete an application, please complete the form linked below.

GET HELP FROM AN ENROLLMENT SPECIALIST

If you are looking for a seat for your child for the current school year you can still apply via Apply Philly Charter by selecting school year 2024-2025 on your application during the January 22 through February 25 shutdown.  Please note: Applications for school year 2025-2026 will not be accepted via the 2024-2025 pathway as they must be submitted for the correct school year in order to be eligible.

Your Neighborhood School in North Philadelphia!

Welcome to Prep Middle, serving students in seventh and eighth grade in North Philadelphia!

Our rigorous academics ensure students are fully prepared for high school and our sports & extracurricular programs allow students to lead and succeed outside of the classroom. We are ranked in the top 10 schools in Pennsylvania for reading growth.

Students enjoy a strong sense of community and belonging in a safe environment, supported by caring and committed teachers. At Prep Middle, all students learn and thrive. With love and high expectations, we help them find their own paths to success.

Prep Middle students have the chance to attend Simon Gratz High School to complete their K-12 experience at Mastery Schools.

275

Students

7-8

Grades

Our School

Academic Excellence

Our academically rigorous program prepares all students for success after graduation.

  • High school prep program tailored to the individual needs of students at all levels in a small setting
  • 2 math & 2 reading classes, with a focus on writing
  • Graduates admitted to the top high schools in the city
  • Robust extracurricular programming: including photography, soccer club, football, basketball, volleyball, track & field, flag football, and anime

Special Education Programming

We provide comprehensive special education programming to meet the individualized needs of each child, including:

  • Individualized Education Plans
  • Academic Interventions
  • Low Incidence Programs  (Autistic Support, Multiple Disabilities, Life Skills)
  • Emotional Support
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Psychological and Social Services

Additional Course Offerings

  • Honors English Language Arts
  • Honors Science
  • Honors Algebra I
  • Honors Technology & Coding
  • Art Design
  • Physical Education
  • Robotics

Prep Middle students can participate in various extracurricular activities and athletic programs, including:

  • Volleyball
  • Soccer
  • Cross country
  • Cheerleading
  • Basketball
  • Track and field
  • Bowling
  • Flag football
  • Anime club
  • Gaming club
  • Cooking club
  • Cosmetology

Admission to Prep Middle School is first come, first served to students living in the Gratz High School attendance zone and students currently attending:  

  • Bethune 
  • Cleveland  
  • Clymer  
  • Duckrey  
  • Kenderton  
  • Steel  

Students from schools not listed above and outside the Gratz attendance zone may also apply for the lottery, however they can only enroll if seats are available.  

Life at Prep Middle

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Our Principal

Kate McNulty

Kate McNulty serves as the proud principal of Gratz Prep Middle. Before joining the school's leadership team, McNulty spent three years at the Mastery Schools' central office as the Senior Director of School Culture. With more than a decade of experience in education, she has served in various roles, including teacher, school leader, and network leader. She began her teaching…
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School Leadership Team

Matthew Bell, Assistant Principal of Instruction 

Desean Carter, Dean

Andrew Finney, Dean

Phillip Smith, Assistant Principal of Specialized Services 

Nija Williams, Assistant Principal of Operations 

Who to Contact

Staff Directory

"There's a charter school called Mastery in Philadelphia. And in just two years, three of the schools that Mastery has taken over have seen reading and math levels nearly double - in some cases, triple...Now, if a school like Mastery can do it, every troubled school can do it."
-President Barack Obama