Pittsburgh Presbytery - Mission Agencies

Neighborhood Academy

UNITED WAY #221578

709 Aiken Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412-362-2001

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

The Neighborhood Academy (The Academy) is an independent college preparatory high-school serving low income families and students in grades 8-12. We are a non-sectarian community that celebrates worship, provides guidance in spiritual development, and emphasizes moral reflection and service to others. The Academy commits to a philosophy that includes the practice of civility, disciplined academic work in the humanities and the sciences, athletic competition, and artistic expression. Finally, The Academy covenants with students and their families for the holistic development of each student.

MISSION

Our mission is to break the cycle of generational poverty by preparing low-income youth for higher education. The Academy is dedicated to developing the minds, bodies and spirits of our students so that they might become fully productive members of our society. By so doing our students will break the cycle of generational poverty that has held them captive and deprived society of the full value of their lives.

A GLIMPSE OF OUR SCHOOL:

Focus on low-income, urban youth
College-preparatory curriculum that emphasizes reading, writing, and math, critical thinking, ethical reflection and technology
Extended School Day: 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. with mandatory evening study hours and dinner
Individual and group counseling for students and families
Growing towards 100 students in grades 8 - 12
Parent participation and volunteering encouraged
Small classes with ten or fewer students per teacher
Faith-based, non-sectarian
Three meals and a snack per day
Extensive arts and athletic programming
Transportation to/from school provided via public transport or chartered vans
College counseling including tours, overnight visits, and assistance with applications and financial aid
Sliding scale tuition contribution required
Community service as part of the curriculum and focus on school culture of participation
Required six-week summer session
Intentional focused support for our graduates throughout their college years and beyond

Our students come from a total of 20 neighborhoods throughout Allegheny County. Statistics on our student body from the 2006-2007 school year include the following:

99% African-American
Nearly 70% live in a single parent household
80% have a taxable family income of less than $20,000
89% have a taxable family income of less than $25,000
82% live in families with a recent history of domestic violence
87% live in families with a recent history of drug/alcohol abuse
44% have a history of incarceration in the family

HISTORY

The Neighborhood Academy began in 1993 as an innovative summer school program for at-risk youth. Drawing upon her work with the Larimer Avenue Youth Club, a youth ministry that met urban youth in their own neighborhoods, founder Josephine Moore together with Reverend Thomas Johnson, designed The Neighborhood Academy Summer School - an intensive five-week skill-building program for seventh through eleventh graders. In response to the success of the summer school, The Neighborhood Academy opened its doors as a full year day school to its first class of eighth and ninth graders on September 12, 2001. To date we have graduated 32 students and have a 100% college acceptance rate!

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Our graduates attend the following schools:

Akron University
Baldwin Wallace College
Carlow College
Chatham College
Community College of Allegheny College
Edinboro University
Hampton University
Indiana University of PA
LaRoche College
Oral Roberts University
Lock Haven University
Penn State University
Seton Hill University
Slippery Rock University
Towson University
University of Pittsburgh
West Virginia University

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Donate Group TIME

Arrange an individual or group tour of the school

Arrange a speaking engagement for our school representatives to speak to groups within your congregation

Send a group of volunteers to answer phones, mailings, or other administrative tasks

Make dinner, dessert or lunch. (We provide three meals a day for our students.) Click here for more information.

Donate Individual TALENTS

Lead a morning worship service

Proctor evening study hall from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Provide one-on-one tutoring to students

Lead a workshop or class around a specific skill, special interest or hobby

Help to coach an athletic team; i.e., golf, basketball, volleyball, cross country

Donate Church RESOURCES

Provide a student scholarship ($20,000 per year)

Let us know about your grant making opportunities

Direct the proceeds from a luncheon or other event to the school

Conduct a school supply drive

Conduct a school uniform clothing drive

Donate an item from our Wish List

Collect a special offering for the school

Arrange for our Head of School, Rev. Tom Johnson, to lead or participate in a worship service

VISIT US ON THE WEB

www.theneighborhoodacademy.org