Known for its commitment to cutting-edge academic technology and its growing enterprise of use-inspired research, Drexel University is dedicated to enhancing educational services for public school students and their families living in West Philadelphia. From science programs for middle school students to college tuition support for high school seniors, Drexel improves educational options and learning opportunities for students of all ages.

Highlights

• The Drexel-PECO Community Education Collaborative was developed to support and strengthen public school options for families in West Philadelphia. The five-year program, backed by a $1 million grant from PECO, includes investment in local schools, development of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program for students and an inclusive planning process to create a blueprint for education in the neighborhood. The middle-school STEM program will follow students through a series of summer workshops that build on their interest in STEM fields, helping students choose an appropriate high school program and furthering their pursuit of a STEM career. A community education and enrichment plan, to be developed collaboratively with community stakeholders in Powelton Village and Mantua, will assess educational needs and resources and lay the groundwork for a coordinated network of strong schools in these neighborhoods.
• Drexel students are making a positive impact in the local community through the Drexel Community Scholars program. The student leaders apply their classroom learning and skills to work in the community. Each fall, students support local service and advocacy projects with Mantua Haverford Community Center, West Philadelphia Community Center, Wright Recreation Center, People's Emergency Center, The Powel School, and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia.
• The Lindy Scholars Program matches 25 Drexel students with 75 middle school students for after-school tutoring and mentoring sessions. The program follows each student as they progress through middle and high school. The center collaborates with Drexel's School of Education, and the Charles Drew, Alain Locke, and Martha Washington schools in West Philadelphia, which also engages parents and guardians and offers monthly professional development sessions to teachers at the three schools.