Original Research by School Decision on Mast Community Cs Ii
MaST Community CS II is a Philadelphia-based charter district operating a full K-12 program across two campuses: Lawncrest serves kindergarten through second grade, while Tacony hosts grades three through twelve. The district enrolls a student body of approximately nineteen hundred across both sites, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly through elementary and middle grades before tapering in high school. The student composition is diverse, with roughly equal shares identifying as Black, White, and Hispanic, and a substantial Asian population as well. Exact counts for students receiving free or reduced-price meals, those with individualized education plans, and English learners were not available in the data provided.
The district's recent history centers on permanent infrastructure expansion. A Phase 2 campus development at Tacony more than doubled the school's educational footprint, adding a competition gymnasium, fitness space, maker space, expanded media center, broadcast suite for e-gaming and video production, and outdoor learning areas. A two-story bridge connects the academic buildings with flexible classrooms and shared spaces. This represents a substantial and lasting upgrade in what the school can offer families, particularly for students in grades three through twelve who spend their formative years in a newly expanded facility.
The path from entry through graduation is now a continuous K-12 pathway within the organization rather than a transition to a different school. Families enrolling their kindergarteners can reasonably plan on the full span through high school at the same institution, provided the school maintains its enrollment and operations. MaST II completed a charter renewal with the Philadelphia Charter Schools Office in 2023, the formal multi-year review that determines whether the school is permitted to continue operating, and the successful renewal secures its status as a public-charter option in the region going forward.
Among the county's districts, MaST II's chronic absenteeism rate places it in the top quartile, a meaningful strength in student engagement and presence. Per-pupil current spending is in the lower range compared to peer districts, a point a parent may want to understand further when considering the school's resources and programming. State testing proficiency data and the district's four-year graduation rate were not available, making it difficult to assess academic performance on standardized measures. This absence of testing data is not unusual for some entities, and parents considering MaST II would benefit from contacting the school directly to understand its approach to academic assessment and student outcomes tracking.
The district's charter renewal in 2023 affirms that it meets the standards set by Philadelphia's authorizing office for continued public operation. Families drawn to MaST II tend to be seeking either the computer science and technology focus suggested by its name, the expanded facilities and programming now available through Phase 2, or the appeal of a single K-12 charter organization in a neighborhood context. The two-campus structure means younger children are at Lawncrest while their older siblings progress to Tacony, a logistical difference worth considering for multi-sibling families.
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