Success

“One of the Bright Spots in America’s Educational Future.”

- According to ABC’s Good Morning America 

For over 20 years, City Charter High School has proven to be one of the most innovative public high schools in Pittsburgh with one goal - teaching students the skills they need to reach their full potential.  As a public charter school, City High acts as a dynamic laboratory for educational innovation, serving as an inspiration for positive change within the broader public education system.
 

Track Record

Since our first graduating class of 2006, we continually exceed all national/state averages with a 93% attendance rate and a 93-97% graduation rate. And we reach these achievements with a diverse student population that pulls students from over 100 middle schools.  Our student body averages 62% students of color, 60% economically disadvantaged and 23% students with special needs.

Learn More About Our Achievements


Awards & Accolades 

Here are some of the recent achievements that have brought recognition to City Charter High School as well as our city and region.

School Achievements

  • 2025 Best Charter High School in the Pittsburgh Area —Niche.com 
  • 2024 Niche.com Best Schools Award 
    • "A" Rated in Resources and Facilities. A Place for Safe and Supportive Learning - 2024
    • #6 Best Charter High School in Pennsylvania - 2024
    • #8 2024 Best Public High School Teachers in Allegheny County - 2024
  • PA Public Coalition of Charter Schools PACSP Grant Winner - $1.3 million over 3 years (2021-2024)
  • 2020 Best Charter High School in the Pittsburgh Area —niche.com 
  • 2019, 2020, 2022 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Top Work Places.  
  • Title I Distinguished School
  • 2010 Effective Practice Incentive Community (“EPIC”) award for best-performing charter schools in the United States by New Leaders for New Schools.

Student Achievements

  • 2024 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship recipient
  • Three Gates Millennium scholars  
  • Our Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) teams have developed two successful new business models; one receiving 2nd place nationally in 2016, while the other placed 1st nationally in 2013 and 2014, and placed 2nd in 2014 in the worldwide competition held in Moscow. 

The Pittsburgh Promise

The Pittsburgh Promise is a scholarship program sponsored by many local foundations, non-profit organizations and philanthropic individuals who believe in the power of education to transform a region. 

92% of City Charter High School students qualify to receive the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship. As Pittsburgh Promise Scholars, these students are awarded tuition and funding to supplement costs for books and room and board to an accredited college or university in Pennsylvania after federal and state grant funding has been applied through FASFA. Each student is awarded up to $20,000. 

Recent Grants

  • ESSER I Grant: $217,000
  • PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Health & Safety Grant: $82,373.00
  • Partner4Work Young Adult Workforce Services Grant: $64,500 (2019-2023)
  • PA Smart Grant: $35,000
  • PA Safe Schools Grant: $24,815
  • ReMake Learning Ignite Grant: $5,000
  • Division of Federal Programs- COVID Special Education Mitigation Grant: $5,000
  • PMC Properties: $50,000 for student scholarships (19-20)
  • Benedum Foundation: $10,000 (extended into 2021)