The History of MaST Community Charter School

On February 9, 1998, the School District of Philadelphia granted a charter to the Math, Science and Technology Community Charter School. In September 1999, MaST opened its doors at 3216 Red Lion Road to students in grades six through 12. Under the terms of its charter, in year two (2000/01), MaST expanded to include grades Kindergarten through fifth. Because it had not yet found a site to accommodate the entire student population, the students were housed in five separate locations ranging from shopping centers to synagogues. During this time, the Board of Trustees and administration of MaST diligently looked for a centralized location where all divisions could unite under one roof.

In March of 2001, MaST purchased a building located at 1800 E. Byberry Road, which was formerly owned by Metals USA. On February 18, 2002, the staff moved into its new home and began getting ready for our Kindergarten through 12th-grade students to report to their new school building on Monday, February 25, 2002. The building was a great addition to an already successful school. As the school grew, additional programs were added. At the end of the 2004 school year, MaST received a facelift in the form of a new outside façade. This façade gave the school the sharp appeal that helped to make the building feel complete.

As opportunities and programs expanded, there was a need for additional space. In the Spring of 2005, the ground was broken on what would become the Karen DelGuercio Center for Education. In the fall of 2006, MaST held its official opening with a Seven Years Strong Celebration. This building was designed to offer classrooms with state-of-the-art technology, a Large Group Instruction room equipped with a ceiling projector and individual seating wired for internet and video capabilities, and the largest telescope in the Greater Northeast.

In September 2011, MaST opened a state-of-the-art Library and Media Center. The three-floor building offers a K-12 library space that is highlighted by a floor projector that is driven by an iPad for sharing eBooks and displaying other interactive apps. The Media Center is also home to a variety of other forms of technology, a college counseling center, a 3D printer, four computer labs, and a top-of-the-line HD Video Studio. The K-12 Fitness Center of the Future was another innovative addition to MaST in 2011 which features televisions for Wii Gaming and areas for working out.

In 2013, MaST added the STREAM playground which houses a variety of recreational activities as well as a Robotics test track. Additionally, the one-to-one iPad program expanded to the entire high school. In 2014, the Mezzanine was officially opened and provided extra space for students to eat lunch, collaborate with multiple televisions with Apple TV’s, and is equipped with areas for students to charge their iPads. In 2014, the Maker Space was added to house the 3D Product Design, Engineering, and Robotics courses.  In 2015, MaST’s K-6 Technology lab was converted to the Build It Center, a space which fosters creativity and innovation through engineering, building, and coding. In 2017, MaST was named a National Blue Ribbon school in recognition of its high level of achievement.

In 2016/2017, MaST expanded its vision to open a second school, MaST II, in the Lawncrest area. It started as a K-3 school and will grow to be a K-12 school over the years. Currently, MaST II is located in the old St. Williams Catholic School building but will move a portion of the grades into a new location in the Tacony section in the year 2019/2020. MaST will also open a third school, MaST III, in the year 2019/2020. This school will begin as a K-8 school and eventually grow to be a K-12 school as well.

Thanks to the MaST Board of Trustees, staff, parents, and students, MaST continues to move forward and follow its mission of creating innovative pathways in the areas of Mathematics, Science, and Technology.