Independence Mission Schools provides a transformative Catholic education to children of all faiths in low-income neighborhoods across the city of Philadelphia.
One of the poorest urban centers in the nation, Philadelphia has 400,000 residents living in poverty. Among students attending an Independence Mission School, 36% live in poverty, nearly double the rate of children across the nation. That’s a staggering number.
Each day we open our doors to nearly 5,000 students, many carrying with them the challenges of life below the poverty line — food insecurity, home insecurity, violence and fundamental learning deficits. These circumstances could seem like insurmountable odds for these young learners. Yet they are resilient and come to us energized and full of promise.
Unlocking this potential starts with a culture of love that values and embraces each child. The promise of God’s love, shown by our faculty and staff, is at the very core of the Catholic education our schools deliver. This atmosphere sets our students, from Pre-K to Grade 8, on the path to a promising future confident in their own worth so they can be ready to succeed both in and out of the classroom.
