Hardy Williams High - 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.

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 Community School in Southwest Philadelphia

Welcome to Hardy Williams High, a free public charter school serving students in seventh through twelfth grades in Southwest Philadelphia.

Our school was recognized by the School District of Philadelphia for three consecutive years of academic growth! (SY 2018-2019)  All of our sophomores participate in an internship program to explore different careers, and our upperclassmen can take AP classes and participate in a dual enrollment program to earn college credits while they are still in high school.

Students have access to various sports and extracurricular activities to help them explore their passions.

At Hardy Williams High, all students learn and thrive. With love and high expectations, we support them in finding their own paths to success.

Hardy Williams High in the News

Hardy Williams High selected as Bloomberg Philanthropies Health Education Initiative Philadelphia launch site

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Mastery Schools, CHOP expose students to healthcare careers through enriching field trips

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625

Students

7-12

Grades

Our School

Our academically rigorous program prepares students for success after graduation

We offer:

  • Varied Courses
      • Range of courses from introductory to college level
      • AP classes give students the opportunity to earn college credits
  • College and Career Prep
    • Sophomores complete an 18-week internship
    • Seniors go on college visits, take a senior seminar course, get assistance applying for scholarships & loans and support with the college application process
    • Students graduate with a plan to enter college, the workforce or a pathway of their choice
  • 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

Hardy Williams High students can participate in various extracurricular activities and athletic programs, including:

  • Band
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Choir
  • Cross Country
  • Dance
  • Debate
  • Drama
  • Field Hockey
  • Film Club
  • Football
  • Glee Club
  • National Honor Society
  • Newspaper
  • Poetry Slam
  • Robotics
  • Step Team
  • Student Council
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball

Hardy Williams High is part of the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) within the District XII Public League. Our middle school teams play in a variety of leagues across the city.

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. 

Our Principal

Justin Meltzer

Justin Meltzer serves as the proud principal of Hardy Williams High. His teaching career began at the school, where he taught seventh and eighth grade English in 2011. When the school expanded to teach eleventh grade, Meltzer began teaching AP Language. After five years teaching at Hardy Williams High, he joined the leadership team as the assistant principal of instruction…
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School Leadership Team

Jeannine Custis, Assistant Principal of Operations

Tracey Felder, Assistant Principal of Postsecondary Programs

Meredith Guillot, Assistant Principal of Specialized Services

Kelly Meyers, Assistant Principal of Instruction

Attiya Toney, Assistant Principal of School Culture

Nicholas Wilson, Assistant Principal of Instruction

Tasia Wright, Lead Case Manager

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