For years, the Mastery Charter Network built its reputation as a college-for-all system of schools in Philadelphia and Camden.
Now, thanks to nearly $20 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies and a partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Mastery is about to turn one of its schools, Mastery Hardy Williams High School in Southwest Philadelphia, into a workforce development hub. It’s part of a $250 million investment that Bloomberg is making to create 10 such high schools nationwide.
Beginning in 2025, Hardy Williams High students will be prepared for careers at CHOP — from patient-facing roles such as medical assistants to operations jobs such as information technology workers, and hospital administration positions — then walk right into full-time jobs in the hospital system as soon as they graduate.
Along the way, they’ll have access to hands-on CHOP resources and paid internships, and will have career supports once they graduate.
The partnership matches with the revised mission of Mastery, the Philadelphia-based network of 14,000 students in 24 schools.
“There are multiple entry points that students and families can choose on the pathway to a family-sustaining wage, a career,” said Saliyah Cruz, Mastery’s chief equity officer.