Our Story

How can teenagers make sense of the world around them, when the world around them is not necessarily telling them the truth? At Kensington Health Sciences Academy (KHSA), a neighborhood high school in Philadelphia, students, teachers, and administrators responded to this challenge by launching algorithm-driven content after the 2024 Presidential Election. KHSA educators partnered with students to create a space for critical inquiry and dialogue. Through Project FACTS, students analyzed articles, videos, and social media posts, learning to ask: Who is telling this story (and why)? 

The goal of Project FACTS is for communities to engage in dialogue in order to find the truth together so that they can take ownership of their own future. First, students use democratic processes to decide which topics to study. Then, students critically read articles, social media posts, and other informational news sources to decide what they believe. 

In April 2025, KHSA engaged in its first iteration of Project FACTS. The principal selected a topic that she thought would be interesting and relevant to the school community. Every day during the month of April, students engaged in 20 minute small group conversations in their advisory/homeroom classes about misinformation, social media, and the current measles outbreak. Students read articles, watched videos, and asked questions about why measles was resurfacing. The month concluded with an expert panel of doctors, nurses, and reporters who spoke to the students about the outbreak. 

In the Fall of 2025, Project FACTS became more student-driven. Through a Project FACTS club, students began to meet weekly to discuss what issues they care about, eventually deciding that social media and internet safety would be relevant and appealing to thier peers. Through the generous support of community members and graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania, our momentum grew. This website illustrates the work KHSA has done together so far. 

KHSA Project FACTS Seniors Pictured Left to Right: Back Row: Carlos Perez, Ian Santiago, Arianna Cartagena, Solange Jean, Rafael Rosario, Apollo Sunun, Antonio Edwards. Front Row: Saniya Salcedo, Jalyssa Moll.