SLA was one of my two top choices. The unique thing about applying to SLA is that we each had to do an interview. For my interview, I played cello and talked about it for the fifteen minutes. I think this is a very cool way of accepting students, because the school then has a real idea of what the student is like as a person, not just on paper.
-Student |
It is evident that most students, parents, and staff are extremely pleased with their experience at Science Leadership Academy. Many parents and community members are invested in volunteering and fundraising to sustain the prestigious legacy of the school. Each year, SLA hosts EduCon, a huge education convention that brings in a lot funding and support for the school.
SLA is one of the few well respected public high schools in Philadelphia. That's initially why it was on our list. I am an educator and I share a lot of the same philosophies that SLA has. That's why it was my first choice. My daughter liked the size and the educational approach. She came from an elementary school that was fairly progressive and once she visited SLA it seemed like a natural fit. The process is tremendously grueling for children. I wish it wasn't like this. Too much stress and pressure.
-Parent |
Some students and parents are also a bit weary of SLA’s intense focus on project based learning. Though deviating from traditional learning can be beneficial, students run the risk of missing out on some valuable skills and test taking practices.
Students at SLA are remarkably poised and able to speak to the public. They are excited about their school and their learning. They have great pride in their work. I think this has everything to do with working on projects in depth and going through the 5 steps. The limitations that I worry about are that in losing rigor in reading classical texts or having a demanding writing curriculum there are fundamental gaps in the children's education.
- Parent |
Though SLA is a fairly diverse school and emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, parents and students notice that some racial groups often segregate themselves from others in a way that is not necessarily prejudice or exclusive, but is quite noticeable. One parent explains that, “it is easy to look at SLA from the outside and believe that it is a perfect place, but just like any other school, we also struggle with financial, academic, and social issues.” But overall, the young school that opened just 9 years ago has made a conscious effort to cater to the needs of their students and their community as it continues to grow and make a difference under progressive and innovative leadership.
The one thing that I would change about SLA is not to be as isolated of a project based learning school. I think it is definitely good to still incorporate some testing. If there is one critique that I have heard from alumni is that there is too many projects and not enough tests so when they got to college they fell behind a little since they were not used to all of the testing that college has.
- Student |