About SLA

Science Leadership Academy is a partnership high school between the School District of Philadelphia and The Franklin Institute. SLA is an inquiry-driven, project-based high school focused on 21st-century learning that opened its doors on September 7, 2006.

Mission and Vision, Admissions, Faculty and Staff

55 N 22nd St · Philadelphia, PA 19103
phone - (215) 400-7830
fax - (215) 400-7831

ROCKETS TAKE BOTH OVER TOWNE IN OPENING DAY DOUBLE HEADER

Posted by Douglas Herman on
Screen Shot 2018-03-29 at 7.50.27 PM
Screen Shot 2018-03-29 at 7.50.27 PM
​After a moment of silence to honor the memory of Brandon Williams, a founding player and JV/Asst Coach, the Rockets kicked off the 2018 season by taking both games in a double-header vs Franklin Towne; 8-2 and a come from behind 3-2 nail-biter.

Lots of Rockets took the mound today, with Leo Cassel-Siskind getting the win in Game 1 (3IP 0R, 1 H, 2K, 1BB). Freshmen Vince Cammisa and Cam Simms were also sharp in relief, holding Towne to just 2R on 2H. Patience at the plate also paid off as the Rockets scored 6 runs in the 2nd off just 2 hits, and senior Ijustice Avery added 2 RBIs with laser beam drives (and of course was also HBP).

Game 2 was a tighter affair with tough Towne hitters getting a couple early off David Hammond. He minimized the damage and had a shut down final inning. Avi Cantor did it on both sides of the ball, pitching 4 scoreless innings and surrendering just 1 hit while belting 2 doubles, scoring Trey Mathews, and reaching on a error to score a run in a come from behind 3-2 win. Ijustice Avery kept hit bat hot in Game 2 as well, going 2-3 with a SAC Fly that scored the deciding run.

AND THE DEFENSE!!!!

Sparkling plays across the field by Jakob Cantor, Cam Simms, Vince Cammisa Jackson Shumard, Leo Cassel-Siskind, Alex Gomez and Ijustice Avery made for an error-free double-header.

SLA is atop A-Division with a 2-0 record. Next up: @Bishop McDevitt- Wed, 4/4 3pm start. Come out and support.

Rockets on 3, Family on 6!

Boys Ultimate Goes 6-0 at Virginia Tourney!

Posted by Chris Lehmann on
The SLA Boys Ultimate team traveled to Arlington, VA for the YULA Invitational this weekend! The boys went 6-0 against teams from up and down the East Coast to win their division! SLA started Saturday with two quick wins against Catonsville 13-2 and Yorktown B 13-1 to set up a match-up versus New York City's Stuyvesant High School. SLA and Stuyvesant have had some epic battles over the years, but Stuy was no match for SLA on this day, with SLA storming to a 13-2 victory. SLA was led by junior Eli Zimmerman's five assists and senior Nate Little's four goals. This win put SLA into the quarterfinals for Sunday with a match-up against New Jersey's West Windsor-Plainsboro North. 

Sunday morning saw the Rockets dominance continue with another 13-2 win. Junior James Adams paced the Rockets with three goals, and Zimmerman contributed another four assists, but the real hallmark of the game was how much the entire team contributed with seven different players scoring goals to push the Rockets into the semi-finals. 

The semi-finals saw SLA match up against nationally ranked Chapel Hill HS. Chapel Hill came in ranked 21st in the nation, and the Rockets came out with a strong man-to-man defense to set the tone and take a 2-0 lead. Chapel Hill hung tough, eventually tying the game at 7-7, but the Rockets reasserted themselves and went on a 5-0 scoring run to end the game 12-7. Senior co-captain Eli Block threw three goals and senior Malachi Johnson scored three goals to put SLA into the finals against Washington & Lee High School.

The finals was perhaps SLA's sloppiest game of the weekend as the Rockets' legs showed the weariness of a six game weekend, but again, the Rockets came out strong, scoring the first two points of the game, and this time, their opponents could not come all the way back. The SLA defense made up for offensive miscues, and the team held on for a 8-6 victory to win their division! Block again led the way with four assists, and Little had two goals and five blocks as SLA played one of its best weekends of Ultimate in team history. 

The weekend was a team success with so many players contributing to the success of the team. Senior co-captain Saamir Baker contributed four blocks and four assists, senior Jori Gerveni had eight goals, four assists and three blocks, and sophomore Elijah Afrifa had four blocks and and three goals to help fuel the Rocket! 

Next up for SLA is a home game against Masterman on Friday, March 23rd at the Highline Field at 31st and Chestnut! Come out and see the team! Go Rockets! 

SLA Student Qualifies for World Schools Debate

Posted by Jonathan Estey on
​This past Sunday, SLA senior Tigidankay Saccoh was chosen to represent the Valley Forge District in the 2018 World Schools Debate, to be held this June at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Only 12 students from across Eastern Pennsylvania are chosen for this honor each year.
Tigidankay was chosen through an application process based on her commitment to Speech and Debate over the past 3 years, her 470 accumulated competition and service points, and her rank of Distinction within the National Speech and Debate Honor Society. 
Tigidankay becomes only the second SLA student to qualify for the NSDA National Championship, following in the footsteps of Kia DaSilva (class of 2017) who qualified last year, also in World Schools Debate.

Speech and Debate Team at State Qualifiers

Posted by Jonathan Estey on
The SLA Speech and Debate team sent two entries to PHSSL state championship qualifiers at LaSalle College High School last Saturday.
Senior captains Lydia Anderson and Tigidankay Saccoh competed in Public Forum Debate, while junior Nzinga Suluki took third place in Oral Interpretation of Prose. 
Nzinga is now the District 11 Alternate to the State Championship tournament on March 16th and 17th.
Lydia had already auto-qualified for the tournament in Impromptu Speaking, while Tigidankay is similarly auto-qualified for Congressional Debate in the House of Representatives.

Calendar

Monday, April 23

Tuesday, April 24

Wednesday, April 25

Thursday, April 26

Saturday, April 28

Sunday, April 29

Monday, April 30

Tuesday, May 1

Friday, May 4

Saturday, May 5