1980
Opened in West Philadelphia in 1980 as The Community High School an alternative school serving 60 at-risk students. The Community High School/One Bright Ray, Inc. was founded by Joseph H. Proietta EDM who is currently President Emeritus of the OBR Board.
1981
The school quickly moved in February 1981 to 2820 North 4th Street in West Kensington. The Community High School built an international reputation and became a national leader in urban at-risk education. Facing the challenges of West Kensington, the school was recognized and praised by groups locally, such as, Philadelphia’s City Council to internally, such as, the University of Oxford in the UK.
Regional Info
Statistics for the West Kensington area, our home from February 1981 to present (Fairhill CHS replaced CHS/CAPCS in 2004 at the 4th Street location), reflect high rates of crime, physical and mental health problems and poor educational outcomes. In 1992, the DEA and ATF targeted the area for massive raids. In the mid-90′s, ABC’s “Nightline” dubbed the area “The Badlands.” In 1997, the Philadelphia Police Department targeted the area for an intense crime fighting effort due to the high incidence of drug and murder arrests. A 1998 Manhattan Institute study identified the area as one of the most devastated in the United States. However, during this period, The Community High (CHS) and Community Academy Charter School (CAPCS) graduated over 700 young men and women, disproving the hopelessness implied by the bare statistics.
‘80’s and ‘90’s
The Community High School’s partnership with the School District of Philadelphia led to CHS pioneering compensatory education programs for chronic underachievers, high school dropouts, schoolphobics, teen-parents, and expelled students. The school’s partners included the State of Delaware and several social service agencies. However, CHS–and CAPCS to follow–always emphasized scholarship as the foundation to life success.
1994
In 1994, CAP opened its day care center.
1995
In 1995, the Middle States Association on Colleges and Schools (MSA), Commission on Secondary Schools (CES) accredited The Community High School.
1997
Upon receiving our first charter in 1997, The Community High School changed its name, and the new Community Academy of Philadelphia, a Pennsylvania Charter School, set out to bring its message of hope to a broader community (known for two years as “Philadelphia Community Academy” or “PCA”). In 1997, CAP also opens a teen clinic called Lisa’s Place. A separate Board of School Directors and corporation are set up for the charter school.
2001
The Community High School (Incorporated) changed its name to International Education and Community Initiative, Inc. (IECI). Community Academy of Philadelphia’s charter was renewed, and it was the only Philadelphia charter school that year to receive approval for enrollment expansion. As planned, CAPCS added kindergarten to grade 3 classes in the autumn of 2001 at a satellite location. The next year, CAPCS continued its expansion with grades 4 and 5 opening at a second satellite campus. At 4th Street, we kept grades 6 to 12.
2002
In June 2002, International Education and Community Initiatives (IECI) dba One Bright Ray, Inc. (OBR), formerly The Community High School, secured a Pennsylvania charter school record $17,045,000 in Standard & Poor’s “A” rated municipal revenue bonds through the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID). CAPCS immediately began renovation of 118,000 sq. ft. former Kraft cheese factory on 6.5 acres at 1100 E. Erie Avenue.
2003
In September 2003, all three schools of the charter school were combined at the new Erie campus. Its new state-of-the-art school site served 1,000 students in grades K-12. In 2004, CAPCS re-organized as three mini-schools, Lower (nursery/day care and K-4), Middle (5-8), and Upper (9-12) with 1,200+ students on the 6.5-acre, urban campus leased from IECI/One Bright Ray. With a brand new gym, CAPCS joined the PIAA in 2005.
Our 2820 North 4th Street campus is readied for OBR’s Fairhill Community High School, which will carry on The Community High School tradition of re-educating high-risk youth.
2004
The School District of Philadelphia approached One Bright Ray Inc., in piloting a new accelerated high school model using The Community High School format. One September 24, 2004, One Bright Ray Inc. opened one of four accelerated high school programs in the City of Philadelphia, Fairhill Community High School. Fairhill CHS started with 100 students and quickly gained a positive reputation as a viable option for over-aged, under-credited students.
CAPCS extended its secondary school accreditation in 2004 and applied for accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Committee on Institution-Wide Accreditation (CIWA), for its comprehensive N-12 program.
2005
The CIWA Visiting Team evaluated CAPCS program in May 2005, and after receiving a sterling oral report, CAPCS was given school-wide accreditation on December 1, 2005.
2008
Fairhill CHS expanded its student population to 210, doubling its size and gaining a new three-year contract extension from the School District of Philadelphia. Fairhill CHS is a model for accelerated schools and has received national media attention and recognition. Fairhill CHS partners with several community based organizations and non-profits to provide non-educational services to the students.
One Bright Ray Inc., was asked by the School District of Philadelphia to open a second accelerated high school location in North Philadelphia. North Philadelphia Community High School opened its door on March 28, 2008 in Norris Square with 100 students and quickly expanded to 180. North Philadelphia Community High School has a Learning-to-Work component that allows students the opportunity to experience the workforce environment while attending high school.
2009
Baltimore City Schools, in Baltimore Maryland, asked One Bright Ray Inc., to travel south and open an accelerated school program in the Southeast section of Baltimore. One Bright Ray quickly opened its third location in Baltimore with 200 students. Baltimore Community High School has gained a fast reputation as a school of structure, high expectations and standards. Baltimore CHS focuses on over-aged, under-credited middle and high school students.
2011
Currently, One Bright Ray Inc., holds two contracts with two school districts, operates three accelerated high school programs, founded a charter school, owns three state of the art facilities, and has over 60 employees. One Bright Ray, Inc. is a PA not-for-profit corporation registered as a non-profit charity in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and determined by the IRS to be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
