Independence Mission Schools is an independent network of 15 Catholic schools that provides a transformative Catholic education that develops students intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually and that provides children of all faiths across the city of Philadelphia the opportunity to learn in a college preparatory environment and grow in a culture of love, setting them on the path to a promising future.

Independence Mission Schools believe that:

• The cornerstone of a Catholic education is a culture of love that values and embraces the unique gifts of every child and that treats all people with dignity.
• It is possible to build unity in diversity, for differences neither restrain nor divide us, but allow us to look more deeply [Pope Francis]
• We treat students as God’s children by assuming the best of them, holding them to high expectations for behavior, growth and academic achievement and guiding their development into respectful, faithful adults. [from IMS Core]
• Our students come to us full of promise and we are charged with helping them achieve their God-given potential, so that they leave us with choices in the pursuit of college and career, based on confidence in their own intellectual, emotional, and spiritual aptitudes. [from IMS academic mission]
• Community is at the heart of our work. Our existence makes our communities stronger; the community makes our schools stronger; and we are preparing students to be contributing members of their communities.

Profile of Our Graduates:

The students of Independence Mission Schools will leave our care having been formed intellectually, emotionally and spiritually by our Catholic example. They will be prepared academically through daily exposure to rich content, challenging problems, and student-centered instruction. All students will develop habits of mind and spiritual commitments as they pursue passions and interests within our learning community. We know that they will be able to make their own choices in pursuit of college and career opportunities because they are meeting grade-level expectations and are enrolled in a high quality, college preparatory secondary school.

Graduates will model Catholic values by…

• Recognizing that every person is a child of God and treating other staff, students and families as such by demonstrating care for one another through words and actions.
• Respecting diversity in all forms – religious, racial, cultural and economic.
• Making connections between their learning and their faith.
• Serving their school, family, community and the greater world with humility and respect.

Graduates will exhibit academic ownership by…

• Acknowledging their gifts from God and holding themselves to high expectations to use those gifts through learning and to serve their community.
• Approaching joy in learning as a form of praise and thanksgiving.
• Engaging tools of critical awareness, to participate in their communities as rigorous thinkers and deliberate communicators.

Independence Mission Schools is a Pennsylvania nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Philadelphia is home to the first Catholic schools in the nation and has a long history helping the city’s immigrant population get a successful start. As the urban landscape has evolved, our inner-city population has become much more diverse ethnically, racially, and religiously. Now, more than ever, Catholic education is vitally important to provide the promise of quality education to low-income families.

Independence Mission Schools was born out of the recognition that urban Catholic schools are crucial civic assets and the need for a new model of operation to ensure their survival.

It started with one school — St. Martin de Porres — located in the second poorest congressional district in the country. Once serving a largely Irish immigrant base, and one of many schools in the immediate vicinity, it is now the only Catholic school in this section of Philadelphia. The school serves a student body of 500 children, which is entirely African American and almost entirely non-Catholic. A small pool of dedicated philanthropists took on this school and began investing in the school’s facilities, programs, and strategic planning. Their approach was overwhelmingly successful and created the blueprint for the network that would later become Independence Mission Schools.

In 2012 when the future of Catholic schools across Philadelphia was threatened, this same group of investors, along with a small group of other engaged citizens, rose to the need for leadership and set out to emulate the success of St. Martin de Porres on a broader scale. In 2013 they formed Independence Mission Schools as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, assuming the complete and independent operation of 15 schools from their parishes and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The agreement underlying this transfer is one of national example and unprecedented for the degree of transparency and control of Catholic schools given to an independent organization.

As a 501 (c)(3) private, non-profit organization. Our operating model is built upon delivering transparency and accountability that extends to all of our 15 network schools. You can find out more in the links below.

2o18

• • Audited Financials

2017

• • Audited Financials

2o16

• • Audited Financials

2o15

• • Annual Report

  • IRS 990

2o14

• • Annual Report

  • IRS 990

The dynamic model supporting the operation of Independence Mission Schools is a critical factor in our organization’s overall success. Three key factors are the core of our innovative system:

Modern Operating Infrastructure

Our central office provides support for managing the business of schools, so our schools can be in the business of educating children. Our universal financial aid process, robust accounting and financial systems, and strategic talent acquisition plan are all designed to support school leadership while providing transparency and accountability.

• ACT 48 PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PLAN

Empowering Autonomy

Our independent schools are at the center of decision-making to best serve their students. This ensures they retain their school identity which is critical to building social capital in their communities. Each school leadership team manages its own budget, makes hiring decisions, and makes and meets its own enrollment goals. Additionally, each school boasts its own local board to support philanthropy efforts and advance their ties to alumni, community and corporate partners.

Faith Driven for Academic Success

Our drive for high-quality academics is intrinsically linked with our strong Catholic identity. Catholic schools have always known it is about more than what you learn in the classroom, it is about who you become. Building on this legacy, the focus of personal responsibility and development is central to our approach and vital to our students’ success.

Who do Independence Mission Schools serve?

The short answer: everyone! Independence Mission Schools is a non-profit network of 15 elementary schools with a strong legacy of helping inner-city children succeed. Our goal is to provide high-quality education in a faith-driven environment for students of all faiths and all cultures. Our mission is to provide a transformative Catholic education that closes the achievement gap for our students and empowers them to reach their full potential today and in the future.

What is Independence Mission Schools?

IMS is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) managing a network of 15 independent Catholic schools.

Are IMS Schools Catholic Schools?

Yes, IMS schools are Catholic schools, but they are not owned or operated by a parish or the Archdiocese. While the majority of our students are non-Catholic, parent surveys show one of their top reasons to choose an IMS school is because they want their child educated in an environment that emphasizes character development. Our curriculum emphasizes respect of the diversity of our student population while teaching from a traditional Catholic perspective, Gospel values that are respected by all faiths.

What is the Biggest Challenge IMS Students Face?

IMS students who are living in poverty or in high poverty communities face a multitude of challenges including food insecurity, home insecurity, violence and fundamental learning deficits that disrupts focus and their ability to learn. For our students to be successful, we know we must meet these needs first for them to be ready to learn.

Bruce Robinson is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of Independence Mission Schools (IMS)

Bruce has both private and nonprofit sector leadership experience, and has successfully applied his acquired business skills in the education sector. He is responsible for managing all aspects of IMS, including strategic planning, fundraising, financial sustainability, academics, Catholic culture, talent development and enrollment management. He has education leadership experience from successfully turning around Ss. Neumann Goretti Catholic High School in South Philadelphia, which was struggling academically and financially. His achievements included developing a strategic plan focused on operational and academic excellence, accountability and creating a culture of compassion and positivity. Under his tenure the school saw freshmen enrollment increase significantly, operating deficits decrease and financial support from Foundations and philanthropists flourish.

Bruce previously was a founding investor and executive officer of GMH Communities Trust, a real estate investment trust specializing in college housing properties and military housing privatization. Bruce’s leadership helped the company grow substantially and it went public on the NYSE in 2004. The Company traded for four years before being sold to strategic buyers, including a $2 billion market cap British construction conglomerate Balfour Beatty. He continued to lead the military housing privatization initiative as CEO/President of Balfour Beatty Capital Group, a real estate company with an asset portfolio valued in excess of $5 billion, and which had over 1100 employees in 23 states. Bruce has also served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University in both their undergraduate and graduate programs.

Bruce grew up in Philadelphia and with his wife Anne has raised four children.

Claire Frosch is the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) at Independence Mission Schools (IMS)

Leading the Academic Team, Claire supports our 15 schools as Chief of Schools, having previously served as Deputy Chief Academic Officer. The work of the Academic Team is resulting in measurable improvements in teacher performance and student outcomes and Claire feels honored to serve the network by leading this mission critical work.

Throughout her career, Claire has been driven by her belief that all Philadelphia children are entitled to a high-quality, inclusive education in a loving environment. Prior to joining the IMS academic team, she worked as a high school special education teacher in the School District of Philadelphia and served for three years as a school leader at St. Helena-Incarnation. Under her leadership as principal, her dedicated staff implemented new curriculum and assessments, increased students’ reading proficiency and grew enrollment to become one of the largest independent elementary schools in the region. The team at St. Helena has continued to make significant gains in both reading and math, exceeding national growth norms.

Claire holds a BA in Political Science from Barnard College, Columbia University and graduated with honors from Arcadia University where she obtained her Master of Education in Secondary and Special Education. She earned her principal certification as a member of the first cohort of PhillyPLUS and is an alum of Education Pioneers and Philly Teaching Fellows. She is currently working to obtain her Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Michelle Brown is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) at Independence Mission Schools (IMS)

Michelle comes to IMS with 19 years of non-profit leadership experience in both fundraising and operational capacities. Most recently Michelle served as the Director of Development at Mastery Charter Schools for four years, where she was responsible for overseeing fundraising strategy and implementation for a network of 24 schools.

Michelle’s career began in the Development and Stewardship Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 2000, where she successfully led the Catholic Charities Appeal campaign, raising over $9m annually for five years. Michelle then served briefly as the Special Events Coordinator for the Franciscan Ministries Foundation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and then at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health for 10 years in both development and operational leadership roles until 2015.

Michelle holds a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from St. Bonaventure University, where she was also 4-year member of their Division I women’s basketball team. In 2008 she earned her MS in Non-Profit Management from Eastern University.

Michelle serves on the board of Focused Athletics, the Committee for the Media Elementary Playground, and coaches youth boys’ basketball. Michelle grew up in Delaware County and has been a lifelong member of St. Joseph’s parish in Aston. She currently resides in Media with her sons Collin and Andrew.

Last updated: January 11, 2021

The Independence Mission Schools (IMS) network holds the well-being, health and safety of students and staff as a top priority. With this in mind, IMS began the phased re-opening of schools on October 26th. For COVID-19 vaccine information and Interest Forms by county, please visit our Health & Safety page by clicking on the button below.

More information can be found by clicking on one of the four categories below:

Most Recent 2020/21 Back-to-School Updates

Please continue to check this page regularly for the latest back-to-school updates for the 2021/22 school year as it relates to the IMS network.