New Art-Oriented High School in Philadelphia Praised

Publication: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Date: January 12, 2010

Summary: Led by principal Jessica Brown, who is also a Philadelphia Writing Project teacher-consultant, the new Arts Academy at Rush High School is receiving high marks for its academic focus, arts bent, and emphasis on technology and other 21st-century skills.

Excerpt from Article

Brown received 1,000 applications for 150 spots in next year's freshman class.

"We're not the traditional arts school," said Brown, a Philadelphia native whose parents were both city schoolteachers. "We have a robust arts program, but we're a rigorous college-prep school."

When the building was converted into a high school, arts studios were a priority, but so were science labs.

"We know many kids are into science and math, and we want to build them up as well," Brown said. "We don't want to pigeonhole kids, because now they have to be prepared for anything."