You're not like everyone else. Neither are we.No matter what's gotten in your way, at Passport Academy Charter School (PACS), we'll work with you to create an individualized plan for both high school and postgraduation success—to college, to a vocational program, or straight to a career that fits who you are. Our students gain:	Tuition-free schooling that's part of Pittsburgh Public School system	A flexible schedule that works with your job, your family, and your life	An individualized learning approach to meet your personal needs	Support from passionate, professional Pennsylvania-certified teachers	The opportunity to graduate with a high school diploma that meets all state requirements

Passport Academy Charter School | 2024 Charter Renewal

You're not like everyone else. Neither are we.No matter what's gotten in your way, at Passport Academy Charter School (PACS), we'll work with you...

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From top to bottom: Keion Fields, Lanysia Williams, Niana Brentley, Derico Riley and Rondal Gilmore (Photos Courtesy of Industrial Arts Workshop)

From Sparks to Success: PACS Fab Five Complete Weld Scholars Journey

Beth Thompson

The ceremony recognized 92  graduates, alongside Community Impact Awardees and Students of the Year

Over 90 Passport Academy Students Walked Across the Stage for Spring 2025 Graduation 

“There will be trials and tribulations, but you will get through them —you will come out on the other side.”

Guest Author: Daniel Dzodin, executive director, Schools That Can Pittsburgh

Local Professionals Share Life Lessons and Inspire the Next Generation at a Career Mixer with Schools That Can Pittsburgh

On a warm Tuesday morning in mid-March, Passport Academy Charter students showed up ready to network at a professional mixer lunch event held in collaboration with Schools That Can Pittsburgh. Ms. Kylee Carcione’s Career Course students met with nearly 10 volunteers from a diverse range of personal and professional backgrounds. The volunteers were selected by Mary Hester, the STC Pittsburgh facilitator (and full time local real estate professional and social entrepreneur), who utilized her classroom conversations with students to recruit potential mentors in the career fields students can see themselves pursuing.

How PACS opened doorways to new opportunities

Alumni Spotlight: Nahdia Philyaw Rose, 2024 Grad

Supportive. Helpful. Encouraging. Those are the three words Nahdia Philyaw Rose uses to describe her experience at Passport Academy Charter School, a place that gave her the structure and motivation she needed to succeed. After overcoming emotional challenges and seeking a more flexible environment, Nahdia joined PACS in search of a better path. What she found was a community that helped her reset, refocus and graduate with confidence.

A look at the Co-Lab space that brings students and influential organizations together

Collaboration in Action: How PACS' Co-Lab Connects Students to Real-World Resources

Montana’s Journey From Wolfpack to Wildcat

Alumni Spotlight: Montana Allen, 2024 Grad

For Montana Allen, traditional public school wasn’t the right fit. She needed a different environment—one that offered support, flexibility and a chance to succeed on her own terms. That’s what she found at Passport Academy Charter School. It’s that foundation that helped her go from the PACS Wolfpack to the Community College of Allegheny County, where she’s now a Wildcat pursuing a career as an ultrasound technician.

Meeting With Mayor Ed Gainey Made Possible "My Brother's Keeper" Initiative

Pittsburgh Mayor Hosts PACS Students for Educational Visit

Passport Academy Charter School (PACS) students recently had a unique opportunity to engage in civic leadership firsthand through the City of Pittsburgh's My Brother’s Keeper initiative. During a visit to the Mayor’s office, students connected with Mayor Ed Gainey and heard his perspective on leadership, civic engagement, education and workforce development. The discussion provided a valuable look at the role of city government in creating a thriving and inclusive community.

IAW Builds Program Around Success of Prior PACS Workshops

PACS Students Ignite Opportunities with Weld Scholars Program

Passport Academy continues to lead the way in preparing students for bright futures by participating in the Weld Scholars Program from Industrial Arts Workshop (IAW), a non-profit organization with a goal of teaching Pittsburgh-area youth welding through the lens of creative arts.

PACS Partners with Carnegie Mellon University on Robotics Program

Powered by PACS: Students Get Hands-on With Robotics

Passport Academy Charter School (PACS) has teamed up with Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Academy to bring Smart Manufacturing and Advanced Robotics training directly to our students in an exciting new partnership. Through this hands-on program, students will learn the fundamentals of building basic circuits and progressively advance to constructing small robots and eventually programming them. The curriculum is designed to prepare students with the foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to succeed as Robotics Technicians, while also assessing their future aptitude and interest in the field. In a city like Pittsburgh—or as some might call it, “RoboBurgh”—where many startups are dedicated to robotics and technology, this program is uniquely beneficial.

Passport Academy Celebrates Charter Renewal Following #BackPACS Movement

Thank You for Making Your Voices Heard

We are thrilled to announce that Passport Academy has secured a five-year renewal of its charter following a vote by the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Board of Public Education on Wednesday, September 25.