Catalyst Academy Charter School

Our mission is to create a world-class K-8 school where all children are prepared for college, career, and life.

What Is Catalyst Academy?

Catalyst Academy Charter School is a college-preparatory K-8 public charter school in Pittsburgh, focused on serving families in the Hill District, Garfield, East Liberty, Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington, Homewood, and East Hills communities as well as families from across Pittsburgh and neighboring communities that are looking for a great school. Any child in Pennsylvania is eligible to attend.

Catalyst Academy is the first new K-8 charter school in Pittsburgh in 6 years and is located in the Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood, in the historic Lemington school building.

We opened as a K-1 school in the fall of 2020, and will grow a grade each year to eventually serve kindergarten through 8th grade. In 2024-25, we will serve kindergarten through 5th grade. As a public charter school, Catalyst Academy is a tuition-free, open-enrollment school for any student, including students with special needs and English-language learners, in the city of Pittsburgh and other area communities.

In 2020-2021, Catalyst was one of the only public schools in Pittsburgh to safely offer in-person learning 5-days / week earning Catalyst Academy national recognition for our COVID-19 response.

COVID-19 Info

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Tuition
Free

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Grade Levels (K-6 in 2025-2026)

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Future Grades (K-8 in 2027)

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Days/Week Science & Engineering

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Days/Week Arts & Physical Education

Our Core Values

Three important core values guide us in pursuit of our mission: Belong. Grow. Achieve.

Belong – All members of the Catalyst Academy Charter School community- scholars, families, teachers, and staff- will be embraced, respected, and supported.
Grow – Every Catalyst Academy scholar, teacher, and staff member is committed to growing every day in alignment with our mission.
Achieve – A great education should be a catalyst for each scholar to define and achieve their dreams.

Our Approach

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to create a world-class K-8 school where all children are prepared for college, career, and life. We believe in order for our students to be catalysts for their future, and the future for their families and communities, they need to be well prepared for college, career, and life.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Our educational philosophy is that a child’s education should seek mastery along three dimensions.

College Readiness: All scholars will be prepared to attend and graduate from a four-year college or university. Catalyst scholars will be prepared by achieving mastery of a broad, rigorous college-preparatory curriculum that both prepares and inspires.

Career Readiness: All scholars need to be equipped with the skills to thrive in the 21st century economy, including communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity.

Life Readiness: A great education cultivates confident, compassionate scholars ready to achieve their dreams.

OUR MODEL

To achieve our mission, and in alignment with our philosophy, the Catalyst Academy Charter School model has six key components:

High Expectations: We push ourselves and our scholars to always pursue excellence.
Academic Rigor: College prep, culturally affirming curriculum, longer school day and year.
Quality Teaching: Small group instruction, instructional coaches, up to two hours daily for planning and practice.
Strong Relationships: Smaller classes enhancing student and teacher relationships, frequent teacher-parent communication and home visits.
Innovation & Personalization: Catalyst Expeditions – Week-long project-based learning expeditions, scholar flextime for enrichment and tutoring, and personalized learning tools.
Holistic Development: Scholar goal circles, social-emotional learning curriculum, dedicated Catalyst Community Time.

Recent Catalyst Academy News

The latest news from Catalyst Academy Charter School.

Families interested in applying at Catalyst Academy please visit our enroll page.

For general inquiries about Catalyst Academy, please email us at info@catalystacademy.org or call us at 412-684-2400.

Apply Now

Welcome to
Catalyst Academy Charter School!

At Catalyst Academy, we believe a great education is a catalyst
for each of our scholars to define and achieve their dreams.