| Our History
The Manchester Academic Charter School has operated as an independent charter school since 1998, with strong roots in the Manchester community reaching back over 40 years.
School founders Dr. Betty and Rev. James Robinson established the Manchester Youth Development Center (MYDC) in 1968 to serve the needs of Manchester’s large population of children and youth. They expanded their focus to early childhood in 1979 with the opening of the Training Wheels community preschool, and again in the early 1990s, when they founded a small, community-centered, private elementary school located within MYDC.
In 1998, the Pittsburgh Board of Education granted a charter to the Manchester Academic School, one of the first in the region. Today, MACS, MYDC and Training Wheels operate in a shared facility, providing high-quality education and enrichment to children from early childhood through middle school. MACS serves over 250 children from the Northside and communities throughout Allegheny County.
Our Educational Philosophy
At MACS, education is our first priority. We believe that every child can succeed in the classroom and in life, and work hard to ensure that all of our students receive a strong educational foundation.
- Rigorous academics. The MACS curriculum is carefully aligned to Pennsylvania State Standards and Common Core Standards, and emphasizes mastery of key academic subjects. Our experienced teachers are trained in many teaching strategies, including Questioning the Author, Text Talk and Writing Workshop.
- Hands-on learning. MACS teachers bring lessons to life with creative activities that inspire and educate. Whether it’s participating in a mock trial presentation in a downtown courtroom, identifying phases of the moon with Oreo cookies, or doing yoga to understand principles of geometry, our students learn by engaging and exploring.
- Family involvement. MACS recognizes the important role that family plays in a child’s education. We provide many opportunities for parents and others to get involved in school life, from PTO fundraisers to classroom volunteering to monthly Family Nights. MACS Family Nights are special monthly get-togethers, themed according to subject that bring teachers, students and parents together to learn and have fun.
- Extracurricular enrichment. With neighborhood clean-ups to celebrate Earth Day, visits to the pumpkin patch to learn about biology and ecology, Career Days, concerts, and lots of other activities, a MACS education is full of unique opportunities for students to learn and have fun.
- Technology integration. Our high-tech school environment includes computers in every classroom, laptops for every middle school student, a wireless facility and Mobile iPad and notebook labs. Students with an extra interest in technology can take classes in digital music or join our Robotics Team.
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