Strategic Plan

Students are at the center of what we do. Our students grow and develop through experiences with their classmates, their teachers, the curriculum, and the city itself. The St. Peter’s School (SPS) preschool to 8th grade experience honors the richness of childhood and instills in students an ethos of service to others and an authentic understanding of themselves and their communities. SPS nurtures students to be their best selves. Our graduates are well prepared for high school and ready for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

St. Peter’s is a community connected to one another. In a joyful environment, our students smile, play, and energetically learn together. Our students, families, and staff, representing the diversity of our city, thrive at SPS, finding genuine ways to engage with one another, while actively contributing to a nurturing culture that ensures we help support our students to be their best selves. SPS knows and values our students and our families.

St. Peter’s teachers are excellent. The relationships our teachers develop with our students and families represent the very essence of who we are. With a deep understanding of content and process, our teachers personalize the education of each child and, most importantly, understand each child’s needs. The School supports our dedicated, enthusiastic, and mission-driven community of educators as they demonstrate their forward thinking approach to education.

Our city is our classroom. The city of Philadelphia, filled with engaging organizations and partnership opportunities, allows SPS to intentionally individualize each child’s experience. The city provides the School with projects and experiences, music and art education, service opportunities, athletics, and tradition and innovation. These features encourage each student to explore their strengths as a learner and a citizen and provide a balance of academic challenge and student support.

The St. Peter’s campus facilities match the excellence of our community. Our learning environments are maximized to deliver outstanding preschool to 8th grade experiences. Prioritizing thoughtful classroom design, dynamic shared spaces, and access to athletic-use facilities, our spaces exemplify our culture. The facilities reflect an awareness of our students’ needs while providing welcoming and attractive spaces and a positive, safe connection to the city we live in.

This year, we set out to more clearly define and support the whole arc of a student’s journey at SPS, from Preschool through 8th Grade. We began by mapping academic benchmarks across grade levels, starting with math and expanding into literacy and the arts. The goal: to ensure every child experiences growth that is purposeful, connected, and well-supported.

To achieve this, we brought together learning specialists and classroom teachers to better align academic and emotional supports, ensuring no student slips through the cracks and that families and teachers are equipped with clear strategies and next steps.

We continue to develop personalized student profiles that integrate key information about academic progress, social-emotional development, and learning styles. This effort builds on the strong foundation laid by our upper-grade science teacher, Jenny Soriano, who has students build and manage their own digital portfolios—empowering them to take ownership of their learning.

Together, these steps are helping us create a more intentional and cohesive experience, so every SPS student can thrive today and be prepared for what’s next.

Year Two sharpened alignment around the student experience from Preschool through 8th Grade, academically and in well-being. Building on the well-being program developed in Year One with the school counselor and the Student Well-Being Committee, we began creating an executive summary and an outward-facing brochure that can support families and admissions. We also incorporated Win It Social through The Social Institute into SEL instruction in grades 3–8, helping students practice modern life skills, including AI literacy. Academically, we combined overlapping initiatives into a PS–8 Curriculum Trajectory to track progression and sequence across grade levels, and we continued planning for digital student portfolios. Next steps include faculty training and a pilot in select grades, with the long-term goal of a Portrait of a Graduate that supports Admissions and Secondary School Placement.