Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs Social Change and Social Justice Academy

Each day is split into a morning and an afternoon session around a single topic, although Penn says the schedule may change. Mornings start with a welcome and a short reflection activity, then a historical overview of the day's topic and a guest speaker or presentation. Afternoons turn to small-group discussion, creative reflection through writing or art, and sharing what you've come up with, before a preview of the next day.

Penn lists war and militarism, immigration and nationalism, poverty, sexism and women's rights, racial, ethnic and religious discrimination, and climate-related issues among the possible topics. Film, music, visual art and field trips are part of the teaching too.

Outside class you can use the residence hall lounges, dining halls, libraries and the gym (for students 15 and over). Residential staff plan daily activities such as trivia or arts and crafts nights, plus weekend trips off campus, with the beach or a Phillies game as Penn's examples.

Two senior Penn administrators co-direct it, and both work on the kind of change the academy studies. The Rev. Dr. Charles “Chaz” Howard is Penn's university chaplain and vice president for Social Equity and Community. He has spent nearly three decades at Penn, taught in its College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School of Education, and written six books. Leigh Whitaker is Penn's vice president for Government and Community Affairs and a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania with more than two decades in government relations. She oversees the university's work with city, state and federal officials and sits on boards including the Committee of Seventy and the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.

Across its academies, Penn says teaching is led by its faculty and long-standing professionals, supported by graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants. It doesn't publish a class size for this one.

The academy is for students in 9th to 11th grade, so graduating seniors can't apply, and Penn looks for at least a 3.5 GPA, strong writing, strong recommendations and a range of extracurricular interests. Admission is rolling until the academy is full, with complete applications reviewed in the order they arrive and decisions taking up to six weeks. Penn doesn't publish a cohort size or acceptance rate, but the 2026 session reached capacity, and Penn keeps a waitlist for full academies.

The student has to submit the application, not a parent, counselor or agent, and you need to be at least 13 to live in the residence halls. For 2026 the application asked for:

• Two essays…

  of up to 400 words each, one on why this program and Penn and how it fits your goals, and one on two non-academic activities and what they've added to your growth.

• A transcript…

  for the full previous school year, official or unofficial, in English or with an official translation.

• One letter of recommendation…

  from an adult who knows you and can judge your work, written on their organization's letterhead and naming this academy.

• English test scores…

  for non-native speakers, with minimums of 100 on the TOEFL iBT, 7 on IELTS or 130 on the Duolingo English Test, plus a third short essay. Two or more years at an English-medium school can earn a waiver.

In 2026 the academy cost $6,700 for the two weeks, and Penn hasn't published a 2027 price yet. That covered classes, on-campus housing, a meal plan, linens, gym access, activities and trips, and supervision. Penn says course materials are typically included, but you need to bring your own laptop or tablet.

On top of that come a nonrefundable $100 application fee, travel to Philadelphia, airport transfers, meals off campus, medical expenses, laundry supplies and spending money. International students also pay a mandatory registration fee that includes health insurance, which ESF Pre-College, the company Penn uses to run residential life, lists at $175.

Once admitted, you hold your place with a $1,500 deposit, which counts toward the total but can't be refunded or moved to another Penn program. The rest of the tuition is refundable if you withdraw in writing by 15 May. Penn doesn't reduce the fee for arriving late or leaving early, and paying the balance after the due date on your bill adds a 1.5% penalty on the overdue amount.

Penn offers no financial aid, but a limited number of scholarships go to Philadelphia residents at School District of Philadelphia public or charter high schools. They cover the program with housing, meals, activities and supervision, though not travel or personal costs, and those students get the application fee waived. Penn offers no scholarships to anyone else, including international students.

Penn hands residential life to ESF Pre-College, which recruits and supervises the residential staff, runs evening and weekend activities and looks after students' health and safety. ESF lists its staffing as 1:10, and its residential policies are fairly strict.

• Rooms

  Residence halls are single-gender by building or floor, and students can't visit areas where students of another gender live.

• Getting around

  Students walk only in groups of three or more, sign out and back in through the residential director's office, and can't leave campus without ESF staff or an adult aged 18 or over whom parents have authorized.

• Curfew and contact

  There are curfew and quiet hours, and every student needs a working phone with a US data plan so staff can reach them at any time.

• Health

  Before the program starts, families submit health and immunization forms and proof of health insurance. ESF has nursing staff, but students have to take their own medication themselves.

You leave with a certificate of completion, which you can request as a digital copy from the program office, and you can ask your Penn instructors for letters of recommendation. The academy carries no college credit and no Penn transcript, and Penn says taking part doesn't guarantee admission to Penn as an undergraduate. Beyond the paperwork, Penn's stated aims are that you understand how today's issues connect, know the history and past efforts behind them, and get practice engaging with people who see things differently.