Empowering Futures, One Pathway at a Time

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CHART YOUR PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

At Urban Pathways, we believe every student has the potential to succeed, whether you have big dreams or are still discovering your passions. Our mission is to help you thrive by providing the wisdom, knowledge, support, and opportunities you need to build a purposeful life and career

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Apply for 2026-27 the School Year

THE URBAN PATHWAYS DIFFERENCE

At Urban Pathways, we’re committed to helping you reach your individual goals. Whether you have a clear direction in mind or need help exploring your path, our dedicated leadership, supportive community, personalized education plans, and diverse resources are here to guide you. We strive to ensure that each student uncovers their strengths and achieves success in a way that’s meaningful to them.

If you have college aspirations, we offer a dual enrollment career pathway with a community college and professional internships to help you turn your dreams into reality. For students still exploring the possibilities, we provide exposure to various career options through job shadowing and specialized career fairs, including those focused on trades. A teacher-student mentoring program helps students identify their strengths and talents and explore potential fields that may best leverage them.

DUAL ENROLLMENT

CAREER FAIR

INTERNSHIPS

JOB SHADOWING

EXPLORE CAREER PATHS

We introduce our students to local employers and recruiters through career fairs and panels during the school year. Potential employers provide information on a wide range of career opportunities, from STEM to local trades.

SHAPE YOUR FUTURE NOW

Hands-on experience is invaluable. That’s why we work with area businesses to provide internships for our students. We also coordinate shadow opportunities with local employers around the city, enabling students to experience a workday in a particular field of interest.

 

FOLLOW THE NUMBERS

%

Taxpayer Funded CHARTER School

SPORTS TEAMS & EXTRA-CURRICULARS

UPCS Students In Grades 6-12

ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES

WHAT OUR PARENTS SAY

 

“I love the emphasis that UPCS puts on its curriculum, especially making sure to intertwine relevant content and topics. I’ve been supported and encouraged as a parent. I appreciate that my son is treated as a person and not a number.

Graduation is near, and I’m happy yet sad to lose a part of our family we’ve grown into, but thankful because together, we’ve prepared my son for greatness.”

– Urban Pathways Parent

WHAT OUR PARENTS SAY

“There is an intentional effort at Urban Pathways to bring forth a positive change in their students. There is a consistent effort to encourage students to be creative and unique. There is support and affirmation of the predominantly black and brown student population that they have a place in this world and can make a positive impact.”

– Urban Pathways Parent

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

 

“My experience at UPCS has been wonderful. The faculty has shown me that school is a safe place to show who I am without being judged or ridiculed by others. My teachers provided me with leadership opportunities and encouraged me to express myself in art class so my work could be shown at school art galleries. They also provided me with my first job as a tutor under Carnegie Mellon University.

I can’t wait to see what comes next over these next two years.”

– UPCS 10th Grade Student

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS

Weld Scholars Program Completes Fall Cohort

Directed by the Industrial Arts Workshop (IAW) in Pittsburgh, the hands-on program provides an eight-week workshop for high schoolers offering practical welding training, creative problem-solving, career exploration, and essential soft skills (teamwork, responsibility). Opportunities for job shadowing and pathway credits for graduation are also available to participating students.

Urban Pathways Hosts Senior Banquet

The class of ’26 earned a reward for their hard work so far this year as they approach their final quarter at UPCS. Students, teachers, and administrators took a break from the school day to enjoy food and games together in the school cafeteria.

Black History Month at UPCS

The UPCS dance team captivated the audience with an innovative performance for Black History Month. An annual celebration, this year’s program was held at the August Wilson Center on Thursday, February 26th.

 

Apply for open spots

in the 2026-27 school year.

YOUR PATH IS WAITING

The journey begins with a simple step—applying to Urban Pathways to access our unique resources and supportive community. Here’s how it works:

Step 1. Apply to UPCS: Complete and submit the online application to attend Urban Pathways.

Step 2. Enroll and Create a Personalized Pathway: If selected and once enrolled, your personalized pathway is tailored to your needs and aspirations, ensuring you receive the support required, no matter where your starting point is when you arrive.

Step 3. Engage and Pursue Success: You will engage in a variety of enriching activities, such as career and college fairs, job shadowing, college visits, internships, a teacher mentoring program, free tutoring, and SAT prep. These experiences, alongside our supportive leadership, empower you to actively pursue success.

Don’t wait—explore our programs and find out how you can take the first step toward your future.

APPLY TODAY