BUILDING 21 ALLENTOWN

Building 21 Allentown is a Title I public secondary school that is part of the Allentown City SD school district, located in Allentown, PA with about 406 students offering grade levels from 9th Grade to 11th 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 25 teachers, Building 21 Allentown has a student/teacher ratio of about 16:1. 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.

Building 21 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a non-traditional, innovative public high school that operates as part of the Allentown School District. Designed as a personalized learning environment, the school focuses on competency-based education rather than the traditional seat-time model. This means that students progress through their curriculum by demonstrating mastery of skills and content, allowing for a more flexible pace that caters to individual student needs, interests, and academic readiness.

The school’s culture emphasizes student agency, collaboration, and real-world application. By moving away from standardized testing and rigid lecture-based instruction, Building 21 encourages students to engage in project-based learning and interdisciplinary studies. The environment is designed to be inclusive and supportive, aiming to prepare students not just for college, but for careers and civic engagement in a rapidly changing world by fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills within a close-knit, community-focused setting.

For more information, contact Building 21 Allentown at (484) 765-4400 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.