Strawberry Mansion became a high school in 1977. In April 1992 the school had 1,600 students both middle and high school grades and 65% of them were from low income families. At that time the school had a high drop out rate. That year the school had a Business Academy, a "school within a school" teaching students job skills and preparing them for further education and immediate post-graduation employment. In June 2011Thomas FitzSimons High School and The Young Women's Leadership School at Rhodes High School closed, and the students were reassigned to Strawberry Mansion. In May 2013 the school had 435 students. At that time 92 students were in the graduating class and 55 of them were accepted to community colleges and/or four year universities. Some of them were unable to afford the deposit fees. As of 2013 every student is required to go through a metal detector and the school had 94 security cameras. From 2008 to 2013, it was consistently on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's list of "persistently dangerous high schools". It is located in a school building with a capacity of 1,762 students and in space.
Academics
In 1992 Kimberly McLarin of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that Strawberry Mansion was "not known for academic excellence". In 1992 McLarin wrote that the science club at Strawberry Mansion, named Science Force 2000, was "becoming a force at city and regional science fairs." Teacher Doug Wildasin was the leader of the club as of 1992. In 1990 Strawberry Mansion submitted ten projects to the George Washington CarverScience Fair. Five projects won awards, including honorable mentions. In 1991 the school received seven prizes. In 1992 the school submitted 20 projects. 16 won prizes and/or received honorable mentions. At the Carver fair the school competed against one of the most academically prominent Philadelphia schools, including the School of Engineering and Science. Wildasin stated that educational grants that allowed his students to access technology such as computers and allowed the club to buy tools had bolstered the club. In 1992, 16-year-old Wadiya Brown of Strawberry Mansion High submitted a science fair project that concluded that lead levels in water in residences of teachers living in Cherry Hill, Mount Airy, and North Philadelphia were high, but at levels acceptable under federal law. In March 1992 Brown, with her project, received first place in the Carver Science Fair. Because of her project, some teachers began testing their water pipes.
Football
In August 2015, the Strawberry Mansion varsity football team began to practice, after a hiatus of almost 50 years. As the season ended, the Strawberry Mansion Knights won their last game of their schedule against Morrisville High School Bulldogs with a score of 20–19, with an overall result of 2–7.
Controversy
Strawberry Mansion High School is considered to be one of the most dangerous public highschools in the country. The Pennsylvania commission on crime and delinquency consistently labelled it as one of the states most dangerous schools until its removal from the list in 2013.
