Hardy Williams High - Mastery Charter School

Your Community School in Southwest Philadelphia

Welcome to Hardy Williams High, recognized by the School District of Philadelphia for 3 consecutive years of academic growth! (SPR 2018-19)

We’re a free, public charter school serving 625 students in grades 7-12.

We are one of just a few schools in Philadelphia with a STEM Honors program that starts in 7th grade. 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 tons of sports and extracurricular activities including band, football, track & field and eSports.

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

Stop by and visit us any time!

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
      • STEM Honors program
  • 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 students have tons of sports, clubs and extracurricular activities to choose from, 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

Visit our Athletics website at https://masterycharter.org/athletics

We’re a member 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.

 

Athletics Calendar

  • The STEM Honors program offered at Hardy Williams High prepares students for college and the workforce through a rigorous program rooted in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills and concepts.
  • Students learn critical and creative thinking skills, communication and collaboration, and real-world problem-solving.
  • The program uses Project Lead the Way, a hands-on design curriculum, and is aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.
  • Students in grades 7-12 can apply to participate in the program.
  • Students who are accepted to the program participate in various opportunities that accelerate their learning, such as engaging summer programs, dual enrollment, and STEM enrichment activities.

Hardy High uniform shirts are available to purchase at the Hardy High front desk from 8am-4pm, Monday through Friday. Shirts are $15 apiece.

  • Students in grades 7 and 8 have a navy blue polo shirt with the official Hardy High logo.
  • Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 have a light blue polo shirt with the official Hardy High logo
  • Students in grade 12 have a royal blue or black polo shirt with the official Hardy High logo, but may also choose to wear their light blue shirt from previous years if they choose not to purchase a new shirt

Students in all grades wear solid black color pants or skirts and closed toe, flat soled shoes or sneakers.

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 Team

Justin Meltzer, Principal

[email protected]

Justin Meltzer is the proud principal of Hardy Williams High, located in Southwest Philadelphia. He started his career teaching 7th and 8th grade English at Hardy High back in 2011. Once the school expanded to include 11th graders, he also taught AP Language. After teaching at Hardy High from 2011-2016, he joined the leadership team where he served as the assistant principal of instruction until 2022, focusing on English and History. Mr. Meltzer earned his Bachelor of Arts at Brandeis University where he dual-majored in economics and business and minored in philosophy. He earned his master’s degree in education at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Meltzer’s vision for the school is to create opportunities for all students while inspiring them to be the best versions of themselves. His goals include pursuing equity and elevating student voice and staff voice so that they acquire more ownership in shaping the community.

Our staff is available to support you and your child throughout their school experience. We are available to meet with families and answer questions via the email addresses listed here.

 

In the News

Four Mastery Schools Awarded for Academic Growth

Read Article

"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