How Liguori Is Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA, January 20, 2026 – Liguori Academy
Breaking the cycle of poverty is a central driver at Liguori Academy. We serve students from 30 ZIP codes across Philadelphia, many from households facing rent burden, food insecurity, homelessness, and blocked access to opportunity. With an average household income of less than $35,000, nearly 72% of families earn under $40,000, 89% are rent-burdened, and 100% of students qualify for free breakfast and lunch. These realities shape our students’ lives but they do not define their potential.
The cycle of poverty is sustained when young people lack access to strong education, meaningful job pathways, and systems that recognize their promise. Liguori disrupts that cycle through a career connected learning model rooted in School Choice– Transformation, Accessibility, and Outstanding Education. We meet students exactly where they are and elevate them toward real, attainable futures by removing financial barriers, meeting 100% of students’ educational and financial needs so cost never stands between a student and opportunity.
Academics at Liguori are rigorous, relevant, and deeply connected to purpose. Students thrive in an environment where learning leads somewhere real. Today, 74% of students earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher, 58% achieve First or Second Honors, and attendance averages 91% which is 30% higher than the city average. Literacy and numeracy outcomes significantly outperforms local and national benchmarks, reinforcing what we know to be true: when students feel supported and see a future for themselves, they rise to meet it.
Career readiness is not a separate track at Liguori; it is fully integrated into the student experience. Every student participates in self-selected Career Cohorts, earning industry-recognized certifications in Allied and Healthcare Sciences, Construction, Technology, or Digital Arts. These programs continue to expand, deepening technical training, aligning curriculum with workforce demand, and creating stronger bridges between school and employment. Students graduate with real skills, real credentials, and the confidence that only purposeful preparation can build.
That preparation extends beyond the classroom. Through partnerships with over 20 internship employers, 100% of students complete internships, gaining hands-on experience in real work environments. Approximately 60% of internships take place off-site, 40% on-site, and in the 2024 - 2025 academic school year 20% of students were offered part-time employment as a direct result. Collectively, students have earned $65,000+ in paid wages, and more than 40% of the student body has completed 40 or more internship hours with 100% participation by twelfth grade. Workforce readiness at Liguori is not aspirational; it is tangible, measurable, and life changing.
As a result, 95% of Liguori graduates leave with a postsecondary plan whether college, career, trade school, or military service. More than half enroll in college with over $2.35 million awarded in scholarships, and 43% enter the workforce directly or enroll in a trade program. For a student body where 82% are first-generation college students, these outcomes represent not just success, but transformation. Graduates move forward with little to no tuition debt, breaking cycles that have persisted for generations.
Breaking the cycle of poverty requires more than academics and job training, it requires Boundless Love. Many of our students navigate housing instability, financial emergencies, and family crises, with 25% qualifying under McKinney-Vento. Our social workers, counselors, and student success teams walk alongside families, conduct home visits, re-engage struggling students, and advocate for essential services. This network of care ensures students are supported not only as learners, but as whole people.
Liguori Academy is not just preparing students for the future, we are transforming their trajectory. When students gain access to education, workforce pathways, stability, and opportunity, poverty loses its power. And when a school believes in its students the way Liguori does, entire families rise.
When you invest in a child’s education, you reshape the future of an entire community.
By speaking clearly and confidently about the needs of working families and students, Liguori is committed to being the leading voice for school choice in Philadelphia. We are building a community that advocates for choice for families, students, alumni, staff, and community partners. Together, we are shaping a future where every child has the freedom, and the power, to choose success.
The PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs are an engine of school choice in action at Liguori Academy. Because 100% of our students qualify for need based scholarships through these vital initiatives, donor contributions are directly transformed into tuition assistance. This allows us to guarantee that no qualified student is denied a transformative education due to financial barriers, ensuring every young person has the opportunity to choose the learning environment that best ignites their potential.
Learn More about the Tax Credit Program HERE.
