Maritime Academy Charter School is a successful public charter school currently operating at two locations in Philadelphia; 2275 Bridge Street in the Tacony Section and 2700 Huntingdon Street in the Port Richmond Section. Founded in 2002, Maritime Academy Charter School has expanded from its original 500 students, located at 30thand Market Streets to its current 820 maritime cadets in its current locations.
Objective- MACS provides a nurturing environment which develops a strong sense of community, self-confidence and the recognition and appreciation of cultural differences throughout our school. We strive to achieve academic progress and achievement with each child through an appreciation of our nation’s maritime history and heritage. We accomplish this mission through access to the global transportation industry as it relates to the Ports of the Delaware River and Bay.
Community Involvement and Support– Maritime Academy Charter School enjoys the widespread support of its students, parents and families, along with the broad and diverse Philadelphia seaport industries.
Enrollment- Maritime Academy’s student population is one of the most diverse in the city, consistent with the decades old Commonwealth Court order for the School District to desegregate its student population. Data from existing wait-lists at the Academy undergird the belief that Maritime Academy Charter School enjoys a supportive community with parents eager to enroll their children in the school with the mission and vision to provide a rigorous academic program where students learn maritime content such as nautical science and maritime business while achieving to high standards in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and the Arts.
Curriculum- Maritime Academy Charter School has a proven, successful track record over the past 19 years and was identified by US News and World Reports in 2012 and 2013 as one of the nation’s best schools. Maritime Academy cadets have shown consistent academic proficiency growth from year to year, particularly in grades 4 - 8.
Since so few Philadelphia children and youth are familiar with maritime concepts, grades K-12 are an especially important time to develop knowledge and experiences to prepare cadets for high school where they can qualify for careers in maritime industries and post high school education as maritime majors at the college level, including the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, SUNY Maritime College, and the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education at Piney Point, MD.