We are located at 153 Penn Blvd, East Lansdowne, PA (Administration Building) on a campus consisting of four adjacent buildings. Our campus includes two Main/Student Buildings, an Administration Building (where the main office is located), and an Arts & Athletics Center (where the gymnasium and cafeteria are located). All visitors must check in at the Administration Building upon arrival, as entry into any other building is prohibited without prior approval or without being escorted by a Vision Academy staff member.
We currently offer 100% in-person instruction. However, this does not preclude the possibility of implementing hybrid or virtual learning in extenuating circumstances. For example, at some points, we may utilize Flexible Instructional Days (FID), which allow us to provide virtual learning during inclement weather or other emergency closures.
The school day runs from 7:55am to 3:30pm on Mondays through Thursdays. On Fridays, scholars are dismissed at 1:15pm to allow staff to participate in professional development sessions. Scholars can arrive as early as 7:30am for breakfast.
There are no tuition fees, as we are a public charter school (serving grades K-8). Further, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Public School Code, charter schools are publicly funded (i.e. supported by taxpayer dollars) and are open to all eligible students, regardless of their school district of residence.
We offer two optional open houses each year, both providing the same information, so you only need to attend one. In 2026, our open houses will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026, and Saturday, February 7, 2026. During the open house, you will receive a tour of our campus, and members of our leadership team will present an overview of our school. Please CLICK HERE to RSVP.
Yes, scholars are required to wear uniforms. Our uniform vendor is FlynnO’Hara. Uniforms may be purchased in person or online. FlynnO’Hara’s address is 30 E Baltimore Ave, Clifton Heights, PA 19018. Their phone number is 610-284-1485. All grade levels (K-8) wear the same uniforms EXCEPT scholars in grades K-2 have the option to wear light blue OR orange shirts, whereas scholars in grades 3-8 only wear light blue shirts. Socks and shoes may be any color and may be purchased anywhere. Scholars may wear almost any shoes to school as long as they are not open-toed shoes, slippers, or traditional Crocs shoes. Scholars may wear shoes such as sneakers, boots, or dress shoes. If you plan to make an in-person purchase at FlynnO’Hara, please be sure to specify that the uniform is for a scholar attending Vision Academy Charter School (East Lansdowne) and NOT its sister-school (Vision Academy Charter School of Excellence in Sharon Hill).
Vision Academy Charter School participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows us to provide free breakfast and lunch to all scholars with no paperwork required. In addition, scholars who stay for after-school programs receive free snacks. We also accommodate students with allergies or religious dietary restrictions by ensuring our lunch staff and school nurse are informed.
School bus transportation is provided by most school districts. Please note that there are some exceptions, specifically with Philadelphia City School District and a few smaller districts. To learn more about these exceptions, please contact the main office at secretary@vacharter.org. Eligibility for transportation is determined by the school district where your child resides and typically requires that your child’s home be at least 1.5 miles from our school. For scholars who are eligible for the bus, transportation will still be provided on Fridays (when our weekly 1:15pm dismissals occur) as well as on any other early dismissal days.
On average, there are 22 scholars in each classroom.
Each homeroom has one main classroom teacher, and every grade has one or more interventionist who is responsible for pulling small groups to work with scholars in a more intimate setting, allowing more time for one-on-one questions and assistance. This helps ensure that all scholars have their targeted needs met to reach their full potential.
Yes, we have a Special Education program. If your child has an IEP or 504, please make sure to attach it in your enrollment paperwork upon acceptance so that your child’s classroom teacher and Special Education teacher can collaborate to plan and design lessons for your child accordingly. For more information about Special Education or 504 services, please contact Dr. Coll (principal) at coll@vacharter.org.
We do not offer before-care. We offer after-care on Fridays (for a monthly fee) since scholars are dismissed at 1:15pm every Friday. After-care hours on Fridays are from dismissal time (1:15pm) to 5:30pm. With that said, we offer free clubs and sports on Mondays-Thursdays (please read the next item to learn more).
Yes, we have an Extended Day Program called “Beyond the Bell,” funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant. The program offers clubs, sports, and other enrichment activities and runs from 3:30pm to 5:15pm on Mondays-Thursdays. While participation is optional, parents are strongly encouraged to allow children the benefit of additional enrichment, athletic, and tutoring opportunities. Children who participate must be picked up starting promptly at 5:15pm.
Yes, we offer a comprehensive curriculum that includes all core subjects such as English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, as well as specials and expressive arts such as Foreign Language, Art, Music, Physical Education, Technology, Family and Consumer Science, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and English as a Second Language (ESL).
Our academic and enrichment programs are intentionally designed to fulfill the Mission and Vision of Vision Academy Charter School—to prepare students in kindergarten through eighth grade to become responsible, articulate learners and global citizens. Through a rigorous, well-rounded curriculum, the integration of technology for self-reliance, and a safe, supportive environment, we help every child gain mastery of content, understand the value of knowledge, and take ownership of their learning while engaging families as partners in each student’s success.
Our Parent-Student Handbook outlines key school policies, expectations, and resources. You can CLICK HERE to access it.
- We use PowerSchool as our student information system. This is where we keep track of all scholars’ identifying information and parent contact information (e.g. email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses, etc.). This is also the platform parents/guardians use to view their child’s attendance, progress reports, report cards, and more. If any of your contact information changes at any point, please email the main office (secretary@vacharter.org) as soon as possible.
- Download the Class Dojo app to communicate with your child’s teacher more efficiently, view important communications from the school, and track your child’s behavior in school!
- Download the PikMyKid dismissal app to indicate changes in your child’s dismissal plans throughout the year.