Roberts Vaux Junior High School

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The Promise Academy at Roberts Vaux High School
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Roberts Vaux High School, August 2010
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Location230-2344 W. Master St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 39°58′34″N75°10′29″W / 39.97611°N 75.17472°W / 39.97611; -75.17472
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1936-1938
ArchitectCatharine, Irwin T.
Architectural styleModerne, Art Deco
MPS Philadelphia Public Schools TR
NRHP reference No. 88002332 [1]
Added to NRHPNovember 18, 1988

The Promise Academy at Roberts Vaux High School (commonly referred to as the Roberts Vaux Promise Academy) is an historic, American high school building that is located in the North Central neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Contents

Named for American jurist, abolitionist, and philanthropist Roberts Vaux (1786-1836), it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. [1]

History and architectural features

Designed by Irwin T. Catharine and built between 1936 and 1938, [2] this historic structure is a four-story, twenty-three-bay, U-shaped, yellow brick building that was created in a Moderne/Art Deco style. It features projecting end pavilions, terra cotta decorative work, and a two-story, stone, Tudor-arched entryway. [3]

It was named for American jurist, abolitionist, and philanthropist Roberts Vaux (1786-1836). Jacob C. White, Jr. served as principal from 1864 to 1896 and was the first black school principal in Philadelphia. During his tenure, White reformed the institute and became the leading figure in the field of urban education in Philadelphia.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Vaux developed a positive reputation for creating national and state chess champions. Mathematics teacher Jeff Chesin coached the team that first decade, but the team disbanded when Chesin Vaux left for another school. It was then resurrected during the 1990s by special education teacher Salome Thomas-Elwho later became the school's principal. During the early 2000s, the chess program disbanded again.

While teaching at Vaux High in North Philadelphia during the 2000s, rugby player Larry Conlan saw a need for his students to positively channel their aggression and started an after-school rugby club in 2012.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, [1] the school was closed in 2013 as part of Philadelphia's shutdown of twenty-three district-run schools. [4] Displaced students were enrolled in Strawberry Mansion High School and Benjamin Franklin High School. [5] The school then reopened for the 2017–2018 academic year under the new leadership of Big Picture Philadelphia. [6]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Roberts Vaux Home Page".
  3. "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System.Note: This includes Jefferson M. Moak (May 1987). "Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form: Roberts Vaux Junior High School" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-06-16.
  4. Matheson, Kathy (March 7, 2013). "4 PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS SAVED, 23 CLOSING AFTER SRC VOTE" . Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  5. "Roberts Vaux High School Promise Academy". Great Schools Philly. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  6. "High School Directory Fall 2017 Admissions" (Archive). School District of Philadelphia. p. 66/70. Retrieved on November 16, 2016.