• Students come to school excited to start their day.  
• The day starts with free breakfast.
• Students are greeted by their teacher and head to their classroom for morning meeting.  
• We value reading.  Students have at least 2-3 hours of reading where they work in small groups with the teacher.  
• Students have classes in math, social studies, and science.
• Students head back to the cafeteria to enjoy free lunch.
• Afterwards, students enjoy free play or recess.
• Students engage in art, physical education, music or Spanish. We are proud to educate the whole child at Mastery.
• Once the school day is over, students may stay to participate in clubs or the aftercare program.  

Learn more about our K-12 Approach.

Thomas Elementary offers a variety of after school activities and clubs.  Aftercare is available at the school.

Some examples include:

• Academic Enrichment
• Art Club
• Band
• Board Game Club
• Book Club
• Chess Club
• Thomas Tones Choir
• Computer Club
• Creative Writing Club
• Dance
• Debate
• Field Hockey
• Flag Football
• Games Club
• Homework Support
• Literature Club
• Music
• Running Club
• Scrabble
• Snider Youth Hockey
• Student Council
• Yearbook Club

• Any Sneaker or Shoe (Open toe shoes, heels, slides and slippers strictly prohibited)
• Socks (Any sock free of Illegal Images or Inappropriate Wording)
• Grey Polo Shirt (With or Without Logo)
• Grey Thomas El house t-shirt (with house names on the back)
• Any Mastery swag shirts (without hoods)
• Skirts (Appropriate length)
• Dark colored pants (Navy Blue or Black slacks highly encouraged)

Uniforms can be purchased at the school for $10 each.

Any student living in Philadelphia is eligible to apply for the lottery at Thomas Elementary. First preference, however, is given to students living within the 19148 zip code, followed by students living within zip codes 19145, 19146, and 19147, followed by all other applicants. This is so we can serve as a neighborhood school, per our charter. If you apply after the deadline, you will be added to our waitlist. The lottery will be held in early spring.

Peter Langer, Principal

[email protected] 

Peter Langer is thrilled to serve as the principal of Mastery Charter Thomas Elementary! Having worked in education in Philadelphia for 17 years and at Mastery since 2011, Peter has worked as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal prior to becoming a principal. Entering his 11^th year as a Principal at Mastery, Mr. Langer has previously served as principal at Simon Gratz Mastery Charter and Mastery Charter Thomas Campus!

Principal Langer earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, teaching degree from the University of Pennsylvania ,principal certificate from Relay Graduate School of Education, and his Master’s in School Leadership from St. Joseph’s University.

A native of Buffalo, New York, Peter has called Philadelphia his home since 2006 and his lived in South Philadelphia for over a decade. One of the reasons that he loves working at Thomas is that he lives in the same neighborhood as his students.  He is thrilled to see them around South Philly! Further, Peter believes that Thomas Elementary has the best students, parents and teachers in all of Philadelphia. Soon the school will be known as the best neighborhood elementary school in Philadelphia!

When not working, Peter enjoys spending time with his daughter, exercising, gardening, and attending/watching live sports!

Our staff is available to support you and your child throughout their school experience. We are available to meet with families and answer questions via the email addresses listed here.