As an IB World School, Pan American Academy Charter School prepares students for a successful future by promoting academic excellence through rigorous instruction, bilingualism, the integration of cultural awareness and respect throughout all aspects of the curriculum.
A vibrant community that is home to the city’s largest concentration of Latinos, eastern North Philadelphia also faces many urban challenges. Given that 60% of Philadelphia Latinos live in poverty and lack a high school diploma, an innovative approach was crucial to address the needs of the next generation.
Pan American Academy Charter School strives to create a student-centered environment where critical thinking, inquiry based learning, self-reflection, strong parental involvement and global understanding guide our learning so that we can take care of our planet and contribute to a peaceful world.
Pan American Academy Charter School empowers each student to reach their academic and social potential by developing into inquiring, bilingual, intercultural citizens of the global community.
These goals will be reached by instilling expectations of excellence in our students, requiring consistent parental involvement, providing rigorous instruction and developing internationally-minded leaders.
Home to Pan American Academy Charter School, the Trujillo Center is an educational center that services 750 K-8 students.
Pan American Academy Charter School was founded by Congreso in 2008, the Trujillo Center is the third building on Congreso’s North American Street Campus.
The Trujillo Center was named for former Congreso Board Chair Kenneth I. Trujillo and his family, who have dedicated more than 20 years to the advancement of Philadelphia’s communities and believe in education as the great equalizer. The Trujillo Center was the realization of Mr. Trujillo’s idea to provide high-quality education to students in North Philadelphia.
Congreso is a nationally recognized, community-based organization whose mission is to enable individuals and families in predominantly Latino neighborhoods to achieve economic self-sufficiency and well being.
Congreso created a charter school that incorporated comprehensive supports into the educational model to help the community’s vulnerable children excel in school and beyond. Pan American Academy Charter School is home to the first International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in Philadelphia and is authorized to offer the Middle Years Programme.
Congreso embraces our vision that academic achievement is enhanced when our students and families are safe, healthy and economically secure. Congreso helps us build this foundation by integrating social services within our school, as well as through programs available on Congreso’s campus, where Pan American Academy is located. Case management, counseling and crises services; afterschool and summer programs; and health and workforce development initiatives stabilize our families so they can thrive.
Charter schools are independent public schools allowed freedom to be more innovative, while being held accountable for improved student achievement.
They foster a partnership between parents, teachers and students to create an environment in which parents can be more involved, teachers are given the freedom to innovate and students are provided the structure they need to learn, with all three held accountable for improved student achievement.