Home
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 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.
Philadelphia Performing Arts, Vine Street Campus, is recognized by Apple as an Apple Distinguished School.
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.
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
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.
Student and Family Resources
Featured News Stories
Despite being forced to flee Ukraine, Performing Arts Senior David Kozyrkov never gave up on his passion for music. David's unwavering dedication to music and hard work have now earned him a spot at the Berklee College of Music, the school of his dreams. His story is truly an inspiration to anyone facing obstacles on their path to achieving their goals.
Café Vine is the student run coffee shop located on the first floor of the Vine Street Campus. A favorite of students and staff alike, Café Vine not only serves as a fun, hands-on internship for high school students, it also supplies fantastic pastries and coffee to faculty, staff, and students throughout the school day. After years of success, and the addition of a New Pastry and Baking Program that adds an exciting new dimension of student involvement, Café Vine is now opened to the public. The café is operated by students over the summer who work as paid interns. The public can purchase beverages and pastries through a take out window and outdoor seating is available. Check out some of these great features by local news stations then stop by on a weekday morning for a coffee and croissant!