Thomas Alva Edison High School and John C. Fareira Skills Center is a high school serving grades 9-12 in 151 West Luzerne Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a part of the School District of Philadelphia.The school serves several neighborhoods, including Fairhill.HistoryOriginal Edison High School buildingThe original Edison High School building was opened in 1903 as the all male Northeast Manual Training High School located at 8th Street and Lehigh Avenue. Eventually the school became Northeast High School. The auditorium was added in 1916.In 1936 vocational education shops and many regular classrooms were added to the original building.The school, still only for boys, was 80% African-American, 10% Anglo White, and 10% Puerto Rican in 1970.The building had been vacant since 2002 and had been sold to developers. The building was heavily damaged by fire on August 3, 2011.New Edison High School buildingIn January 1957, a new Northeast High School was opened at Cottman and Algon Avenues. All of the trophies, most of the teaching staff and memorabilia were transferred to the new building. At the same time, a new school, Thomas Alva Edison High, was opened at the site. Because of the facilities, Edison remained all male until September 1979 when it became co-educational.In 1988, the original school was replaced by a co-educational Edison/Fareira High School, named in part for its late principal, John C. Fareira. The new Edison/Fareira is a combined academic high school and vocational skills center. It is located at Front & Luzerne Streets with an outdoor athletic facility on the same site.
