In the heart of the financial district, the Urban Assembly School of Business is designed to spark girls’ interest in business through trips, internships and guest speakers.

Students at this all-girls’ school may walk to Goldman Sachs, American Express or the Federal Reserve to meet with mentors. Even the view out the window is educational, what with ticker tape parades and Occupy Wall Street hubbub.

Most of the focus is on core academic subjects--math, English, social studies and science—with the business theme as an occasional extra.

Opened in 2005, the school attracts students from all five boroughs though most come from the Lower East Side and Harlem. The enrollment has grown since the school moved to Wall Street in 2009. Still, the building feels roomy with its light-filled spaces and views overlooking the New York Harbor. Located on the fourth and fifth floors of a landmark building shared with Lower Manhattan Middle School and Richard R. Green High School of Teaching, the school of business has its own library, dance studio, lunchroom and labs.

The Women’s Bond Club, a network of women in finance, hosts two big events: a Career Day, and a College Shower for outgoing seniors. For now, the school has sidelined a class called Virtual Enterprise, in which students designed and ran a mock business, in order to boost reading, writing and other skills.

Engagement in classes is uneven. Teachers are friendly and have a sense of humor but some are hesitant when it comes to classroom management. It took ten minutes to finish taking attendance in a chatty 9^th grade music class, but a mixed-age advanced algebra class moved along at a good clip. An experienced teacher has stepped in to raise low passing rates on the Regent’s History exam. Strong students may take classes at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Although four-fifths of the girls graduate in four years, only about ten percent are ready for college work. The administration has taken a closer look at test results to bridge this gap. The increased focus on data may have led to a dip in teacher satisfaction on the 2011-12 Learning Environment Survey, according to Partnership Coordinator Patrick Penaherrera. Leaders are working to rebuild a positive culture among staff but also bring skills up. A program called City Kids targets fifty students for extra support in the form of counseling, incentives and mentoring to boost attendance and performance.

The school offers many clubs including art, dance, volleyball, etiquette, track, travel, cooking, sign language, music and computer graphics.

College: Most girls attend CUNY schools. However, college advisor Hope Robinson encourages girls to attend college out of state. “The college counselor is really efficient,” said a student.

Special Education: Each grade has one special education teacher to support students with special needs. They team up with a general education teacher and work with students as needed in and out of classrooms.

Admissions: The school is limited unscreened, giving priority to those who show interest by attending a fair or an open house. Incoming 9^th graders participate in a two-week summer orientation program held on-site, which includes teamwork activities and a science class in the lab. (Lydie Raschka, September 2012)