Philadelphia-area public schools offer a variety of innovative programs that give high schoolers the jump-starts and specialized attention that they may need to reach their full potential, write Adeoluwa Fatukasi, Bradford Pearson, and Owen Spaloss for the Philadelphia Magazine. 

Two of those 18 unique programs are right here in Chester County. 

At Conestoga High School in Berwyn, students are encouraged to follow up their AP Computer Science classes with two app development electives. One teaches the basics of app development while another leads to the creation of a gaming app. 

Destinations With Direction was established at Phoenixville Area Middle School and High School 15 years ago by Craig Parkinson, who was an assistant principal in the district at the time. The aim was to help students from families where no one has previously attended college, as well as those from families with limited economic resources, see college as part of their future and prepare for it. 

The program partners with the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation and West Chester University, among others, to offer participants college tours, workshops, and more. 

Read more about the unique high school programs at Conestoga and Phoenixville in the Philadelphia Magazine. 

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