Welcome Back to the 2026–2027 School Year!
Dear Parents and Families of MaST, MaST II, and MaST III,
Welcome back to an exciting new school year!
As we prepare to open our doors across all three campuses, I want to share some important updates and highlight the work that has taken place this summer to prepare for another successful year.
This will be my 23rd year at MaST and my 16th year as CEO. Every school year brings a renewed sense of energy and purpose. As education continues to evolve, we remain committed to strengthening our programs, improving our schools, and preparing our students for the future.
This summer, our MaST Schools Network team worked alongside each campus leadership team to identify priorities, refine operational standards, and ensure that every student has a safe, innovative, and supportive environment in which to learn and grow.
Our families are an important part of that work. Clear communication and strong partnerships are essential to a successful school year, and we are excited to share what is ahead.
Network-Wide HighlightsDaily Recess for Grades K–8
One of our most exciting milestones this year is the expansion of daily recess to all students in grades K–8 across MaST, MaST II, and MaST III.
While the state requirement applies to grades K–5, we believe middle school students also benefit from time to get moving, socialize, recharge, and simply enjoy being kids. We value the role that physical activity, social interaction, and unstructured play have in student well-being and academic focus.
Academic Updates
Handwriting Through Fifth Grade: Handwriting will be taught through fifth grade as part of a state-mandated educational experience. We see this as a valuable opportunity to balance technology use with foundational writing and fine-motor skills.
K–5 Standards-Based Report Cards: We are transitioning to standards-based report cards across all three schools to provide families with clearer information about student progress and create a stronger distinction between elementary and middle school grading.
New Website & App
We are transitioning to mastschools.org, which will become the central online hub for the entire MaST Schools Network, with easy access to each school and important family resources. A MaST Schools mobile app is also in development and will be released soon.
Special Education
Each campus has a dedicated Special Education Coordinator available to work with families regarding student services and individual needs.
We will also host monthly Special Education Parent Nights, with dates and information shared through our weekly communications.
Athletics
Fall high school athletics are already underway, with middle school tryouts beginning the first week of September. Athletic Departments will release dates and times later this week.
We look forward to seeing our students and families supporting our teams throughout the year!
MaST: athletics.mastccs.org
MaST II: athletics.mast2.org
MaST III: athletics.mast3.org
Safety & Operations
We have updated our crisis management plans, visitor procedures, emergency drills, cell phone guidelines, field trip procedures, and other operational protocols.
These updates are designed to keep our campuses safe while maintaining the right balance between technology access and minimizing distractions.
Counseling & College/Career Readiness
Our high school counseling teams have already scheduled numerous college representatives to visit our campuses this fall. Individual post-graduation planning meetings with seniors will begin in September.
Upcoming opportunities include:
Virtual Financial Aid Information Night – September 21
PSAT – October
ASVAB – November
College representative visits throughout the fall
Elementary and middle school counselors will also begin PBIS assemblies and classroom counseling lessons this fall.
Looking Toward the Future
We are updating our strategic initiatives with a strong focus on high school courses, curriculum, college and career pathways, and opportunities after graduation.
Our goal is simple: we want our students to choose MaST for their entire K–12 journey.
Last year, MaST Schools had the largest charter school waitlists in Philadelphia, with MaST, MaST II, and MaST III ranking first, second, and third, respectively. We also saw unprecedented demand for our high school programs.
That demand reinforces our responsibility to continue making the MaST high school experience as strong and future-focused as possible.
With nearly 100% of our students graduating and moving on to college, careers, military service, and other post-secondary opportunities, we are also working to create more opportunities for MaST alumni to return, share their experiences, mentor students, and provide real-world examples of life after MaST.
Most importantly, we want to hear from our students as we plan for the future.
Campus-Specific Updates
MaST Byberry
Playground Overhaul: We are beginning an approximately 18-month project to completely renovate the playground, with major construction targeted for next summer.
“Futures in the Making” Wall: Our traditional college wall will become a new installation celebrating current students and alumni pathways.
Middle School Science Lab: Students will return to a completely renovated science lab with new furniture and an upgraded learning environment.
Handwriting Initiative: Focused handwriting instruction will be implemented through fifth grade.
MaST II – Tacony
New High School Building: Design work is underway for a new 84,750-square-foot high school facility at the front of the campus. Additional information and renderings will be shared as the project progresses.
Site Enhancements & Athletic Fields: We have secured additional land for future parking and site improvements, including a new loop road around the turf fields.
Construction Timeline: Site work is targeted to begin in early winter, with the new high school anticipated to open in 2028. Families should expect temporary traffic and site changes throughout construction.
Handwriting Initiative: Focused handwriting instruction will be implemented through fifth grade.
MaST III – Crown Campus
Academic Growth
MaST III continues to expand its high school offerings. This year, we have added four new AP courses:
AP English Language
AP Cybersecurity
AP Government
AP Macroeconomics
Our first graduating class is entering its senior year, and students will also have access to new electives including Anatomy, College & Creative Writing, Dystopian Literature, Health & Fitness, and more.
Looking Ahead
Our MaST Schools Network team remains committed to building campuses that are innovative, practical, and focused on student success.
The new turf and track facilities are a tremendous accomplishment, and our schools continue to expand the resources and programming available to students across the network.
As our campus projects develop, we will host a Family Information Night to share renderings, site plans, construction timelines, and other updates.
Parent Involvement
Our families are an important part of the MaST community. We encourage new and returning families to consider committing at least 10 hours of service throughout the school year.
One of the best ways to get involved is through our Association of MaST Parents (AMP). We are always looking for new ideas, new energy, and families who want to make a difference.
Interested in getting involved?
https://forms.gle/irEmbCj1xkqRnMnv5
This year, we are also launching an initiative to create a dedicated booster club connected to AMP to support athletics, clubs, extracurricular activities, and other student programs.
Here’s to a Great Year!
There is a tremendous amount happening across the MaST Schools Network, and we are excited about what lies ahead.
On behalf of the MaST Schools Network Team and our campus administrations, thank you for your continued partnership, trust, and support.
We look forward to an outstanding 2026–2027 school year and to continuing to build the future of MaST Schools together!
Sincerely,
John F. Swoyer III
Chief Executive Officer
MaST Schools Network