About SLA

The 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

SLA Film Finalist in WHYY Youth Media Awards

Posted by Chris Lehmann on

Some exciting Digital Video news!

SLA Senior Digital Video students Pablo Salvatierra, Harry Wellner, Tito Mazucchi, David Williams, and Jack Celli created a film last year called Mt. Sion that has been selected as a finalist for WHYY Youth Media Awards.

From WHYY: Between May and August, WHYY received over 230 video entries from around the region. These submissions showcased the full spectrum of young talent and were a testament to the depth and breadth of the passion for filmmaking among greater Philadelphia’s young people. Of the more than 230 submissions, we are only able to screen 18 finalists at the November 4th event here at WHYY. Your video will be one of those 18.

Congratulations to the SLA Digital Video Team!

Cross Country Team -- Making Huge Strides!

Posted by Amal Giknis on
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​SLA's Cross Country Team has been making huge strides this season (pun totally intended) at Belmont Plateau. At today's Area Races, all 15 runners beat their PRs. Students Krystal Cabrera, Miranda Sosa, Kayah Chisholm-McVay, Christina Santana, Kaleb Harris, and Jack Eagen earned medals for their placement in the overall races.

The team is looking forward to taking on the Philadelphia Public League Championships next weekend!

Boys Ultimate Wins Philly Invite!

Posted by Chris Lehmann on
The 2017-18 SLA Boys Ultimate team has lofty goals for the school year -- and Saturday was a big first step in achieving those goals! The boys won the Philadelphia Mini Invitational at Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, beating Methacton, Strath Haven and Lower Merion on their way to capturing the title. 

SLA started the day with a 15-0 win over Methacton - the first time in team history that they have shut out a Division 1 opponent. The team with a ruthless efficiency, scoring on 65% of its possessions, and never allowing Methacton a chance to see the end zone. Sophomore Josiah Mast scored four goals, and junior Eli Zimmerman had six assists on the way to the victory.

The second game saw SLA play Strath Haven. The boys had beaten Strath Haven in a close match earlier in the week, and the team was determined not to let the game be as close in the second meeting. SLA jumped out to a 10-3 lead before finally taking the game 14-6. Senior co-captain Eli Block with five assists and four defensive blocks, and senior Nate Little scored four of SLA's 14 points.

The final match up was against Lower Merion who was also coming into the game 2-0. Lower Merion has always proven to be a difficult match up for the Rockets, and today would be no exception. Lower Merion battled the Rockets for every point, eventually taking a 7-5 lead on SLA with the time cap looming. But SLA came storming back with their zone defense, winning the last five points to win the game 10-7 and take the championship. SLA was led by senior Johnny Saldivar's three blocks, including the crucial diving defensive block up 8-7 that re-energized a tired Rockets squad. Little threw to Mast for to put the Rockets up 9-7 and SLA capped the game when Zimmerman made the defensive catch and Little threw to sophomore Grahm Bacon for the winning score and the championship. 

SLA goes to the Fall Brawl next weekend, playing in tournament that will bring together some of the best teams from the Mid-Atlantic region. Go Rockets! 
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Boys Ultimate Beats Strath Haven

Posted by Chris Lehmann on

The SLA Boys Ultimate team kicked off their fall interscholastic season with a 15-9 win over Strath Haven at their home field of 31st and Chestnut. SLA was led by seniors Eli Block and Nate Little. Little caught four goals, threw two more and led the team with six defensive blocks. Block threw a team-high four scores and had two defensive blocks. The team showed some rust, giving up several easy turnovers, leading to quick Strath Haven scores, but every time the team needed a score, the Rockets rose to the occasion and took on the stingy Strath Haven defense.

SLA capped the game with a Nathan Little block followed by a winning throw by Little to senior Jamie Polson.

The Rockets continue their season with the Philly Invite tournament on Saturday where they will take on Strath Haven in a remath, Methacton and Lower Merion. Go Rockets!

Girls Soccer Takes Down Mastbaum

Posted by Chris Lehmann on

[Story by Nile Shareef-Trudeau]

On Monday, October 1st, the SLA girls soccer team had their sixth game against Mat Baum High School. The girls took the win with a final score of 4-1. With an uneven field the girls soccer team pushed through and carried the ball uphill against the wind and scored three goals before half-time. The second half of the game the girls took one more goal before the end of the game. Overall it was a strong game for the girls soccer team. They are working towards more and more games like these as they move closer to the end of the season and a space in the playoffs! Go Rockets!

Calendar

Wednesday, October 25

Saturday, October 28

Friday, November 10

Monday, November 20

Tuesday, November 21

Thursday, November 23

Monday, December 25

Tuesday, December 26

Wednesday, December 27

Thursday, December 28

Friday, December 29

Saturday, December 30

Sunday, December 31

Monday, January 1

Tuesday, January 2

Monday, January 15

Friday, January 26

Saturday, January 27

Sunday, January 28

Monday, February 19

Thursday, March 29