Mission

Our mission is to effectively serve urban youth in search of a positive school experience in a supportive environment. CAP is dedicated to offering a quality education while also responding to the non-academic student issues that can have a significant impact on academic and overall emotional/social functioning.

Our Upper School students come from widely divergent backgrounds, including having been truant, dropped out of school, repeatedly failed or under-performed academically, as well as, a growing number of students promoted up from the middle and lower schools. Many students come to CAP searching for a school on a human scale that provides a family atmosphere.

Our Middle and Lower School students come from many backgrounds and families, but all the CAP families are looking for that special school that fits. CAP strives to respond to students whose needs have not been met by large public schools that lack important student support services and enrichment activities.

Teachers, staff, and administration are responsive to students' needs academic, social and emotional:

• Students are challenged to explore their personal and academic potential, and to internalize personal responsibility for choices and actions.
• Teachers are supported in their efforts to be academically creative with students, and all CAP staff work to foster the development of trusting and respectful relationships with and between students.
• All staff strive to create a school environment that supports positive attitudes and is free from violence, abuse and intimidation.

The environment at CAP is one of strict adherence to rules, academic focus, and careful, exact wearing of the school uniform. Cooperation with and enforcement of the school rules is an integral part of the 26-year success of the school. CAP students and families respect each other, the school's rules and policies and the distinctive uniform.

As a charter school, Community Academy is part of a menu of choices including Philadelphia School District traditional public schools, magnet schools, alternative programs, and other options provided under federal and state laws. Parents and Guardians should make themselves familiar with the CAP program and approach before enrolling in the school.