THE WORKSHOP SCHOOL

The Workshop School is a Title I public high school that is part of the Philadelphia City SD school district, located in Philadelphia, PA with about 239 students offering grade levels from 9th Grade to 12th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 14 teachers, The Workshop School has a student/teacher ratio of about 17:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

The Workshop School, located in West Philadelphia, is a unique public high school that fundamentally reimagines the traditional classroom experience by centering education around project-based learning. Rather than focusing on rote memorization or standardized testing, the school challenges students to solve real-world problems. Students spend their time working in collaborative "workshops" where they design, build, and refine solutions for complex tasks—such as engineering electric vehicles, creating sustainable community projects, or developing small businesses—effectively turning the school into a hub of innovation and practical skill development.

At the heart of The Workshop School’s mission is the belief that students learn best when they are given agency, treated as professionals, and held to high expectations. The curriculum is intentionally interdisciplinary, allowing students to integrate science, math, history, and literacy into their hands-on projects. By fostering a culture of "iterative design," the school encourages students to embrace failure as a necessary step toward improvement. This approach not only equips graduates with technical proficiencies but also cultivates essential soft skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and resilience, preparing them for both collegiate success and the modern workforce.

For more information, contact The Workshop School at (215) 605-6850 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.