The Neighborhood Academy, now located on North Aiken Street in Stanton Heights, began in 1993 as an intense five-week summer school program for at-risk youth under the direction of co-founder Jodie Moore and Rev. Johnson. After much success, the school, which is fully accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, became a full-year day school in September 2001. The school, which offers small classes, career counseling, advising, mentoring and character development, currently serves more than 80 students and is growing by the year.
According to Sheila Rawlings, development director at Neighborhood Academy, the school, which has a 97 percent African-American student population, serves students from 24 neighborhoods within the Greater Pittsburgh area and offers tuition assistance for everyone. Rawlings said, this year, through various monetary contributions, the school was able to provide 89 students with scholarships.
According to its information, Neighborhood Academy has a 100 percent college placement rate and an 89 percent college graduation rate.
“I love teaching here and enjoy it. It’s humbling,” said Joshua Brim-Simpson, a Computer, Health and Physical Education teacher. Brim-Simpson, who has been teaching at Neighborhood Academy for two years, after volunteering for one year, said what he enjoys most is trying to change the lack of enthusiasm students have for education, like he once had.
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