University City High School (Philadelphia)

This article is about the school in Philadelphia. For other similarly named schools, see University City High School.
University City High School
Address
Map
3601 Filbert Street

Philadelphia
,
PA
19104

United States
Coordinates39°57′25″N 75°11′38″W / 39.9570°N 75.1940°W / 39.9570; -75.1940
Information
TypePublic
Opened1972 (1972)
Closed2013 (2013)
School districtSchool District of Philadelphia
NCES School ID421899006523
Grades9 to 12
Enrollment637 (2010–2011)
Campus size14 acres
Campus typeUrban
Color(s)Black and gold
   
Team nameJaguars
WebsiteUniversity City High School

University City High School was a public secondary school in the University City section of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, which operated from 1972 to 2013.

The school was planned for as part of a 1960s urban renewal project. It was designed as a large comprehensive high school to serve 3000 students in grades nine through twelve.[1] Twenty-five percent of the school's capacity was reserved for an elite math and science magnet program that would draw students from throughout the city.[1] The remaining seventy-five percent was for students from the school's local catchment area.[2]

In addition to the magnet program, the school's educational program included a wide range of courses from college prep to vocational education subjects like industrial arts and home economics. The school's building was designed by H2L2 and included advanced educational, vocational, and recreational facilities,[3] on a 14-acre urban campus.

Despite the best intentions of its planners, the school failed to prosper. Also, the school was not able to meet grade requirements, once its only honor role students graduated. Enrollment in 2010–2011 was 637 students.[4] That same year, it became a Promise Academy, offering extra enrichment as well as replenishing the staff to accommodate a better education for all students.

The school was one of twenty-three School District of Philadelphia schools closed in 2013 by the School Reform Commission.[5] The building was demolished in 2015 as part of a $1B redevelopment project.[6]

  1. ^ a b "Educational Specifications" (PDF). Uchtimecapsule.com. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
  2. ^ "EUniversity City High School Geographic Boundaries" (PDF). Webapps.philasd.org. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
  3. ^ "The Space '13 - University City High School Digital Time Capsule 2013". Uchstimecapsule.com. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
  4. ^ "UNIVERSITY CITY : High School (Grades 9-12) : 2010 Annual Report" (PDF). Webapps.philasd.org. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
  5. ^ Matheson, Kathy (March 7, 2013). "4 PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS SAVED, 23 CLOSING AFTER SRC VOTE". Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "Drexel plans $1 billion development at ex-high school site". 16 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-18.