Julia R. Masterman School
Encyclopedia
The Julia Reynolds Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School is a secondary school
located in Philadelphia
. It is a magnet school
, located in the Spring Garden
neighborhood. Prior to 1958 the school building was used by the Philadelphia High School for Girls
and the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
under that name in 1986.
Masterman is ranked highly in the School District of Philadelphia
, and is considered one of the best college-preparatory public schools in the tri-county area. The school is routinely ranked a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. In the October 2004 issue of Philadelphia Magazine, Masterman was ranked #1 on the list of the "20 Best High Schools" in the Delaware Valley Region. In 2006, Newsweek rated Masterman as the 74th best public school in the country, which was the highest rank of any public school in Pennsylvania. in 2009/2010, it was ranked the 53rd best in America. It is currently one of the top schools in Pennsylvania. In 2007, however, Masterman's rank fell to 156th, still higher than any other Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey or Delaware public school. In 2009, Masterman was ranked the third best High School in the Philadelphia area by Philadelphia Magazine. Recently, the high school was ranked 45th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report in 2009. However today, Masterman ranks 12th best in the national schools.
(grades 5-8) and a high school
(grades 9-12). Masterman is located in the former Philadelphia High School for Girls
building.
Students are admitted from all areas of Philadelphia based on academic performance, and staff members are selected based on professional expertise. The mission of the school is the pursuit of excellence in both teaching and learning. The senior high school is a preparatory school for select students of superior ability.
The current dress code states that students must wear tasteful, solid-colored clothing, preferably in the school's colors. Usually, if attire is acceptable and not offensive, the "solid" part of this rule is overlooked. Jeans are allowed, but cannot be ripped in inappropriate places. Flip-flops and tank tops are not allowed.
The school was named for Julia Reynolds Masterman. Masterman was instrumental in establishing the Philadelphia Home and School Council and served as its first president. The Masterman family still participates in school events and contributes awards at commencement.
The current Principal is Marjorie Neff, with Vice Principals Ms. Tancredi and Ms. Nicholson. The department heads are Mr. Lee for Sciences, Ms. Cohen for Math, Ms. Avelin for English, Mr. Gilligan for Social Studies, and Ms. Stranix for Foreign Languages.
In 2007, Masterman was a filming location for the 2008 M. Night Shyamalan
film The Happening
starring Mark Wahlberg
. The film shows interior shots of a science lab on the fourth floor, the auditorium, and the main corridor of the first floor hallway, along with various other shots of the school.
In 2010, President Barack Obama
chose Masterman as the site of his second annual back-to-school speech, which was broadcast nationally. There, he spoke about how the core of America's future is represented by the students of this generation.
Hold high the unfurled colors blue and white
Cherish the ideals of excellence and dignity
Keep our standards high, our traditions true and bright.
Masterman's name be praised.
Standards and honors raised.
We'll ever faithful be,
throughout eternity.
Knowledge will light our way
Through every coming day.
Thy name be ever praised—Masterman School.
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
located in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. It is a magnet school
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
, located in the Spring Garden
Spring Garden, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Spring Garden is a neighborhood in the central Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, bordering Center City on the north. Spring Garden is a neighborhood that combines diverse residential neighborhoods and significant cultural attractions...
neighborhood. Prior to 1958 the school building was used by the Philadelphia High School for Girls
Philadelphia High School for Girls
The Philadelphia High School for Girls, also known as Girls' High, is a public university-preparatory magnet high school for girls in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As its name suggests, the school's enrollment is all female....
and the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
under that name in 1986.
Masterman is ranked highly in the School District of Philadelphia
School District of Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...
, and is considered one of the best college-preparatory public schools in the tri-county area. The school is routinely ranked a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. In the October 2004 issue of Philadelphia Magazine, Masterman was ranked #1 on the list of the "20 Best High Schools" in the Delaware Valley Region. In 2006, Newsweek rated Masterman as the 74th best public school in the country, which was the highest rank of any public school in Pennsylvania. in 2009/2010, it was ranked the 53rd best in America. It is currently one of the top schools in Pennsylvania. In 2007, however, Masterman's rank fell to 156th, still higher than any other Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey or Delaware public school. In 2009, Masterman was ranked the third best High School in the Philadelphia area by Philadelphia Magazine. Recently, the high school was ranked 45th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report in 2009. However today, Masterman ranks 12th best in the national schools.
History
The Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School was established in September 1958 as an academic magnet school for elementary school students in grades 4, 5 and 6. A junior high school program was initiated in 1959, and a senior high school was added in 1976. In 1990 Masterman was re-organized as a middle schoolMiddle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
(grades 5-8) and a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(grades 9-12). Masterman is located in the former Philadelphia High School for Girls
Philadelphia High School for Girls
The Philadelphia High School for Girls, also known as Girls' High, is a public university-preparatory magnet high school for girls in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As its name suggests, the school's enrollment is all female....
building.
Students are admitted from all areas of Philadelphia based on academic performance, and staff members are selected based on professional expertise. The mission of the school is the pursuit of excellence in both teaching and learning. The senior high school is a preparatory school for select students of superior ability.
The current dress code states that students must wear tasteful, solid-colored clothing, preferably in the school's colors. Usually, if attire is acceptable and not offensive, the "solid" part of this rule is overlooked. Jeans are allowed, but cannot be ripped in inappropriate places. Flip-flops and tank tops are not allowed.
The school was named for Julia Reynolds Masterman. Masterman was instrumental in establishing the Philadelphia Home and School Council and served as its first president. The Masterman family still participates in school events and contributes awards at commencement.
The current Principal is Marjorie Neff, with Vice Principals Ms. Tancredi and Ms. Nicholson. The department heads are Mr. Lee for Sciences, Ms. Cohen for Math, Ms. Avelin for English, Mr. Gilligan for Social Studies, and Ms. Stranix for Foreign Languages.
In 2007, Masterman was a filming location for the 2008 M. Night Shyamalan
M. Night Shyamalan
Manoj Nelliyattu Shyamalan,known professionally as M. Night Shyamalan, is an Indian-born American screenwriter, film director, and producer known for making movies with contemporary supernatural plots that climax with a twist ending. He is also known for filming his movies in and around...
film The Happening
The Happening (2008 film)
The Happening is a 2008 science fiction thriller film written, co-produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan that follows a woman, her husband, the husband's best friend, and the friend's daughter as they try to escape from an inexplicable natural disaster. The plot revolves around a mysterious...
starring Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as a musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of...
. The film shows interior shots of a science lab on the fourth floor, the auditorium, and the main corridor of the first floor hallway, along with various other shots of the school.
In 2010, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
chose Masterman as the site of his second annual back-to-school speech, which was broadcast nationally. There, he spoke about how the core of America's future is represented by the students of this generation.
Recent sports championships
- Boys Volleyball Philadelphia Public LeaguePhiladelphia Public LeagueThe Philadelphia Public League traces its origin back to 1901, with the formation of the Philadelphia Interscholastic League, a conference encompassing all the city's high schools, public and private. Prior to this date, the public and private schools in the area had been competing among...
Champions 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 - Girls Volleyball Philadelphia Public League Champions 2006, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Boys Cross Country Philadelphia Public League City Champions 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Boys Cross Country PIAA District 12 AA Champions 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004
- Girls Cross Country PIAA District 12 AA Champions 2010, 2008
- Philadelphia Public League Boys Tennis City Champions 2006
- Boys Soccer PIAA District 12 A Champions 2011 2010
Notable alumni
- Kevin BaconKevin BaconKevin Norwood Bacon is an American film and theater actor whose notable roles include Animal House, Diner, Footloose, Flatliners, Wild Things, A Few Good Men, JFK, Apollo 13, Mystic River, The Woodsman, Trapped, Friday the 13th, Hollow Man, Tremors, Death Sentence, Frost/Nixon, Crazy, Stupid, Love....
, actor and musician - Andrea GardnerAndrea GardnerAndrea Gardner Andrea Gardner Andrea Gardner (born December 23, 1979 in Southeast, Washington, D.C., is an American basketball player. She is 191 cm (6'3") tall and weighs 86 kg (190 lb)....
, former WNBA player - Stephanie GatschetStephanie GatschetStephanie Lucile Gatschet is an American actress, who has appeared on the soap operas Guiding Light and currently All My Children .-Early career:...
, actress, middle and high school - Leila JosefowiczLeila JosefowiczLeila Bronia Josefowicz , is an American/Canadian classical violinist.-Biography:Josefowicz was born in Missisauga, Ontario, Canada. When she was a young child her family moved to Los Angeles, California where she started studying violin at the age of three and a half using the Suzuki method...
, concert violinist, attended high school - Angela NisselAngela NisselAngela R. Nissel is an author best known for her first book, The Broke Diaries: The Completely True and Hilarious Misadventures of a Good Girl Gone Broke...
, writer, middle school - Gregory Shahade, chess player and poker professional
- Jennifer ShahadeJennifer ShahadeJennifer Shahade is an American chess player and writer. She is a two-time American women's chess champion and, as of October 2007, has a FIDE rating of 2322. She has the FIDE title of Woman Grandmaster. Jennifer is the author of the book Chess Bitch...
, chess player, high school - Eric and Julie Slick, musicians, middle and high school
- Will SmithWill SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
, musician and actor, attended 7th grade - Raymond Teller, "Teller" of Penn & Teller, the magical entertainers, attended middle school
Masterman Hymn
We pledge our hearts to honor and loyaltyHold high the unfurled colors blue and white
Cherish the ideals of excellence and dignity
Keep our standards high, our traditions true and bright.
Masterman's name be praised.
Standards and honors raised.
We'll ever faithful be,
throughout eternity.
Knowledge will light our way
Through every coming day.
Thy name be ever praised—Masterman School.