Mission

Our mission is to effectively serve urban youth searching for a positive school experience in a supportive environment. CAP is dedicated to the whole child and believes that education is not just acquiring facts and skills but having the emotional and stable capacity to apply them in the real world. CAP is dedicated to offering a quality education while also responding to non-academic student issues that can significantly impact academic and overall emotional/social functioning.

CAP believes that attention to the whole child requires an attentive, multi-layered learning style setting. CAP encourages the arts and cultural activities as fundamental to a sound education. Our school challenges each student to explore their personal and academic potential as future adult Americans in an evolving democracy and ever-changing world. In the words of Epictetus, "Only the educated are free."

Our school holds paramount the needs of our students and challenges the faculty and staff to be creative and nurturing. Our school values personal responsibility. We believe that a trusting, caring, and mutually respectful relationship must exist between adults and young people. We affirm that a safe environment, free from violence, abuse, and intimidation is possible within a framework of adult leadership.

Points Of Pride

CAP has proudly shaped the future of Philadelphia students for 45 years, delivering exceptional academic and extracurricular opportunities. Our Advanced Placement (AP) courses span diverse subjects like Art, Psychology, Politics and Government, Technology, English Literature, English Composition, Statistics, Human Geography, and Spanish, pushing students to excel at the highest levels. Culinary Arts program equips students with not only hands-on culinary expertise but also a food handler’s licensure, while our applied math and science courses build critical technical skills. We also have a dual enrollment program with Holy Family University. CAP students consistently prove themselves in competitive arenas. Additionally, our high school Envirothon team was represented at the state level, showcasing their knowledge of environmental science. CAP’s elementary school Reading Olympics teams have earned blue ribbons for eight

years at the citywide Phila Reading Olympics. While, our athletic teams earned two championships, B VB and BB, in the Penn-J League. E-Sports team stays competitive in the VS Play league. We are committed to experiential learning, offering classes that culminate in life-changing overseas trips, as well as, a partnership with NCOBS for immersive leadership and adventure-based education. From a comprehensive music and arts program to rigorous academics, CAP’s holistic approach nurtures creativity, intellect, and character in every student.

Admissions Policy

Students must submit an application; a public lottery will be held if there are more applications than available seats. Download an application from our website or pick one up from our main lobby Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Contact the school for more details.

Accreditations and Honors

CAP is the first charter school in Philadelphia. CAP has been accredited in K-12 by the MiddleStates Association of Colleges and Schools since 1995. We are also a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. In 2024, CAP was named "Best Charter Schools" in US News and World Report and named "Best Places to Work" in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Hours of Operation

Extended Programming Details

Entrance Instructions