Academic Momentum Builds at Mastery Shoemaker

At Mastery Shoemaker, the most important changes aren’t the ones that show up in a spreadsheet — they’re the ones that happen when a school community decides things can be different, and commits to proving it.

Mastery Shoemaker serves students in 7th through 12th grade in West Philadelphia — a community where access to high-quality education has not always been guaranteed. Nearly all of Shoemaker’s students come from low-income households, and many are navigating real barriers to academic success. 

Thanks in part to an investment from Elevate 215, the school is building the kind of infrastructure that makes academic growth not just possible, but sustainable.

In just one year, Biology Keystone proficiency doubled — from 11% to 22% — putting Shoemaker within reach of its 25% goal. In math, according to current internal benchmark and Firefly data, roughly 22% of students are projected to achieve Algebra Keystone proficiency this year—keeping the school on track to meet its goal. 

What’s driving it? A deliberate shift in how the school thinks about student support. Tutoring — through programs like Third Space Learning for middle school math and Littera for ELA — is no longer a last resort. It’s woven into the school day and afterschool programming, aligned to daily instruction, and guided by ongoing data. Support reaches students when and where they need it most.

Elevate 215’s investment is also strengthening the team behind the work — through coaching, onboarding, and systems that help educators make data-driven decisions together.

Perhaps most meaningfully, school culture is shifting. Families are increasingly engaged in their children’s academic preparation — a sign that the school’s goals and the community’s hopes are coming into alignment.

This is what Elevate 215’s model looks like in practice — not a one-time infusion, but a partnership that reinforces what’s working and builds what’s needed for the long haul.