Julia R. Masterman School
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The Julia Reynolds Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School is a secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a magnet school.
Masterman is ranked highly in the School District of Philadelphia, and is considered one of the best college-preparatory public schools in the tri-county area. The school is routinely ranked a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. In 2006, Newsweek rated Masterman as the 74th best public school in the country, which was the highest rank of any public school in Pennsylvania. [1]
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[edit] History
The Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School was established in September 1958 for elementary school students in grades 5 and 6. A junior high school program was initiated in 1959, and a senior high school was added in 1976. In 1990 Masterman was re-organized as a middle school (grades 5-8) and a high school (grades 9-12). Masterman is located in the former Philadelphia High School for Girls building.
Students are admitted from all areas of Philadelphia based on academic performance, and staff members are selected based on "professional" expertise. The mission of the school is the pursuit of excellence in both teaching and learning. The senior high school is a preparatory school for select students of superior ability. There is a dress code, which requires students in both the middle and high schools to wear solid-colored clothing.[2]
The school was named for Julia Reynolds Masterman. Masterman was instrumental in establishing the Philadelphia Home and School Council and served as its first president. The Masterman family still participates in school events and contributes awards at commencement.
[edit] Sports Awards
2006 Philadelphia Public League Girls Volleyball City Champions[citation needed]
2006 Philadelphia Public League Boys Tennis City Champions.[citation needed]
[edit] Extra Curricular Activities
Masterman offers a range of co-educational, interscholastic sports on both the varsity and junior varsity level including basketball, cross-country, soccer, tennis, track and volleyball and participates on unified teams with other schools in gymnastics and swimming. Masterman offers many co-curricular activities including orchestra and jazz band, choir and other vocal and instrumental ensembles, student government, webteam, dramatics, yearbook, newspaper, an award winning literary magazine, a nationally-ranked chess team, a championship mock trial team, a debate team, competition in academic contests, science fairs, and many clubs. Many of these activities are only available for high school students. [3]
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Kevin Bacon, actor and musician
- Will Smith, musician and actor, attended 7th grade
- Angela Nissel, writer, middle school
- Jennifer Shahade, chess player, high school
