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Welcome to Philadelphia Performing Arts:
A String Theory Charter School

Founded in 2000, Philadelphia Performing Arts is the largest 
tuition-free, K-12 charter school in the city of Philadelphia.

With a premium on both academic and performance excellence, our students learn how to perform on stage, and in life.  At Philadelphia Performing Arts, our arts-infused curriculum begins in Kindergarten and remains an integral part of student life throughout elementary, middle, and high school. We believe every student must be nurtured as an individual. In addition to academics, we offer our students opportunities to study specialized subject areas in the arts and sciences that are meaningful to them though our Majors Program. Our inclusive school culture encourages students to explore their creativity, develop confidence, and reach their highest potential. As a String Theory School, we take pride in growing the next generation of creative leaders.

What Makes Us Great

Philadelphia Performing Arts: Top 10 Pennsylvania Charter Elementary School

Philadelphia Performing Arts has the largest charter in Philadelphia and is one of the only K-12 schools in the city. We are also the only school with an arts-integrated curriculum designed for elementary school children.

Apple Distinguished School

Philadelphia Performing Arts, Vine Street Campus, is recognized by Apple as an Apple Distinguished School. 

A Mission Dedicated to the Arts and Innovation

We believe in the profound positive impact that exposure to the arts has on a child's creativity, confidence, self-discipline, and greater understanding of the world. Starting in Kindergarten, our students have seven additional arts classes woven into their daily schedules each week. Once a student enters fifth grade they begin their own artistic and academic journey in our unique Majors Program.

Authentic Learrning Experiences

From performing at professional venues to working at our student-run coffee shop, Café Vine, to internships with our Incubator Fellows, our students have access to a variety of exciting real world experiences.

Learn more: Incubator Fellowship

Philadelphia Performing Arts: Recognized as a Top Public High School

Our high school is located at our Vine Street Campus, a state-of-the-art 265,000-square-foot facility. This building promotes project-based learning and interdisciplinary instruction with a motion capture studio, a 200-seat theater, two ballet studios, four science labs, four music studios, two fine arts studios, an engineering and robotics lab, a culinary test kitchen, a recording studio, and a student-run cafe. Our middle school is also housed at Vine Street Campus.

Featured News Stories

 Softball Team and Seniors Annamae Uhl and Alaina Petrone in the South Philly Review

Great article featuring our winning softball team and highlighting the importance of team "chemistry" in sports. In the piece, journalist Mark Zimmaro writes, "It’s basic science, and it’s also a basic winning formula in softball...the senior battery of pitcher Annamae Uhl and catcher Alaina Petrone always focuses on the positive energy each game. No matter the circumstances, Uhl knows she has a good friend just 43 feet away." Read the article in the South Philly Review here

Photo by Mark Zimmaro

Inquirercom-StringTheoryCollege (PDF)

Exciting news from String Theory Schools!

The Philadelphia Inquirer recently featured Philadelphia Performing Arts in a major story highlighting the launch of String Theory College: "This Philly charter is starting its own college so kids can graduate with high school diplomas and college credits — for free."

A USC professor describes the initiative as "a spectacular thing" with the potential to "teach the rest of the nation something." One senior shares why she's excited: "I like to challenge myself and do things that other people see as hard. And I like that it's free—it helps with college costs."

From kindergarten through college, String Theory Schools provides an unparalleled educational continuum in the heart of Philadelphia. Read the full article to learn more about this transformative opportunity for Philadelphia families.