THE ACADEMY@ PALUMBO
CEEB Code: 393242
1100 Catharine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (215)351-7618 Fax: (215)351-7685
www.philasd.org/schools/palumbo
Griffin Pride: Nothing less than Success!
SuSuce
Ms. Kiana L. Thompson, Principal
Griffin Pride: Nothing less than Success!
2015-2016 SCHOOL PROFILE
SCHOOL BACKGROUND
CURRICULUM
Founded in 2006, the Academy @ Palumbo Liberal Arts
High School is a selective, college preparatory magnet high
school in the School District of Philadelphia. The Academy’s
purpose is to create a diverse community of college bound
scholars who are responsible, ethical, and caring citizens. In
addition, the cultural arts are stressed. The Academy school
mascot is the Griffin, the mythical winged creature with the
head of the eagle and body of a lion. Our school colors are
Black, Teal and Silver.
All students at The Academy @ Palumbo take college
preparatory classes. Additionally, each student is
required to complete a Senior Project prior to graduation.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY
2015/2016 SCHOOL YEAR
Seniors:
Juniors:
Sophomores:
Freshman:
Total:
173
208
244
261
886
STUDENT BODY: Racial, ethnic and socioeconomic
diversity abounds at The Academy @ Palumbo.
47.4%
25.5 %
16.8 %
7.0 %
.4 %
2.2 %
4.2 %
2.8 %
African American
Asian
Caucasian
Latino
American Indian
Other
Special Education
English Language Learners
The requirements for entrance are: applicants must score in
the 88th Percentile on the reading and math portions of
standardized testing and must have major subject marks of
A or B with the exception of one C on the most recent yearend report. Applicants must also have a low rate of
absenteeism and excellent behavior. An essay is required
with your application.
Teaching Staff:
Full-time faculty: 44
Master’s level or higher: 100%
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:
English
4.0
Mathematics
3.0
Science
3.0
Social Studies
4.0
Health
0.5
Physical Education
1.0
Arts/Humanities
2.0
World Languages
2.0
Electives
4.0
Total
23.5
Courses Offered:
English 1 *
Art 1 *
English 2 * + Eng 2*
Art 2 *
English 3 * + Honors Eng3 *
Sculpture *
English 4 *
Philosophy
Creative Writing
Concert Choir
Journalism
Mixed Choir
Algebra 1 *
Intro to Music
Algebra 2 *
Music Theory
Geometry * + Honors Geo *
Drama
Pre-Calculus *
Orchestra
Statistics
Spanish 1*
SAT Preparation
Spanish 2 *
World History *
Spanish 3 *
African American History *
Chinese 1 *
American History *
Chinese 2 *
Social Science *
Physical Education
Biology *
Health
Chemistry *
Fitness
Environmental Science
Psychology *
Physics *
Forensics
* Denotes Advanced level courses
ENTERING STUDENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2015
Number of applicants
3400
Number accepted
920
Number matriculating
272
Number of feeder schools
86
-includes public, private, parochial and charter
String, Brass and Woodwind lessons are available through
the Music classes.
Advanced Placement Courses Offered:
English Literature
US History
Statistics
European History
Calculus AB
US Government & Politics
Chemistry
Psychology
Physics B
Spanish Language
Studio Art
Biology
Computer Science
GRADING AND RANKING
Academy @ Palumbo assigns letter grades using a
weighted 4.0 system. All courses which are Advanced
Honors, or Advanced Placement are weighted accordingly.
A = 90 - 100
4.0
B = 80 - 89
3.0
C = 70 - 79
2.0
D = 65 - 69
1.0
F = 64 AND BELOW
Advanced Honors AP
4.1
4.15
4.2
3.1
3.15
3.2
2.1
2.15
2.2
1.1
1.15
1.2
Class rank is cumulative from 9th through 12th grade. It is
calculated at the end of each year and is weighted.
COLLEGE TESTS
All 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students take the PSAT during
the fall of 2010. All current juniors are encouraged to take
the SAT as well as the ACT in the spring. The CEEB Code
is 393242.
Class of 2014 Statistics:
Mean SAT score for College Bound Seniors:
Critical Reading: 486
Math: 488
Writing Skills: 476
The Class of 2015 were accepted to over 100 different
colleges and universities across the country, including:
University of Pennsylvania
UC Berkeley
Swarthmore College
Wesleyan University
Franklin & Marshall University University of Virginia
Penn State University
UC Irvine
Howard University
Temple University
Loyola University – NO
Old Dominion Univ
Drexel University
Villanova University
St. Joseph’s University
UNC Charlotte
Hofstra University
Rochester Inst of Tech
Syracuse University
University of Pittsburgh
Gwynedd Mercy University
University Of MD College Park
And nine out of fourteen PA State Universities
ATHLETICS
The Academy offers a full range of competitive sports
opportunities both at The Academy and through a
partnership with local high schools. We offer:
Boys Varsity Volleyball
Girls Varsity & JV Volleyball
Boys Varsity Soccer
Varsity Cheerleading
Varsity Football
Boys Varsity Basketball
Girls Varsity Basketball
Girls Varsity Badminton
Boys and Girls Track & Field
Varsity Wrestling
Cross Country (CAPA)
Swimming (Masterman)
Girls Soccer (Furness)
Girls Varsity Softball (CAPA HS)
Golf (Furness)
Indoor Track (E&S)
Boys Varsity Baseball (Furness HS)
Girls & Boys Varsity Lacrosse (Southern)
SPECIAL FEATURES
Mean ACT Composite: 22
The Class of 2014 had one Advanced Placement (AP)
Scholar with Honors as designated by the College Board.
This designation is for students who score at least a 3.25
or higher on all of their AP exams. The Class also had five
AP Scholars; a designation for students who score at least
a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.
College Acceptances
95% of the Class of 2015 were ACCEPTED to four and
two year post secondary institutions.
% ATTENDING:
Four year colleges/universities:
Two year colleges/universities/trade:
Entering Workforce:
Military:
74%
15%
7%
4%
College Preparation: One hundred percent of the
students receive comprehensive and intensive academic
preparation for higher learning. SAT prep classes in math
are also offered.
Community Service: Students are required to complete
30 community service hours each year.
Community Partnerships:
The National Liberty Museum, The African American
Museum, The Museum of American Jewish History, Prime
Movers Journalism, The University of Pennsylvania School
of Law, Southeast Asian Mutual Assistant Associations
Coalition (SEAMAAC), Moonstone Preschool, Hawthorne
Coalition, Villanova University, City Life Church and
Women of Tomorrow
POINTS OF PRIDE
● 2015 Gates Millennium Scholar
● 2015/16 Recipients of WHYY Flash Media Lab Grant
● 2014/15 Girls Public League Volleyball Champ
● 2015 Cole Hamels Foundation Grant Recipients
● 2013 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow National Award
Winners
Griffin Pride: Nothing Less than Success!