Our Insights
What’s Special
Strong, engaging instruction; inclusive environment; school day starts later than typical
The Downside
Limited course offerings
Essex Street Academy is a friendly place where shy students come out of their shell, outgoing kids have plenty of opportunities to speak up, and all are encouraged to get involved. Small class sizes and engaging academics help students excel and prepare for college.
This small school with a progressive approach to education is part of the New York Performance Standards Consortium, a group of schools exempt from administering all but the English Regents exam. Eleventh- and 12th-graders must complete PBATs (performance based assessment tasks) on topics of their choosing, which involve extensive research and reading as well as writing and presenting papers in English, math, history, and science.
Teachers encourage students to be reflective and independent in their work. All classes emphasize writing, research, and discussion; many are structured around themes. For instance, 9th- and 10th-graders study themes of coming of age and identity in their literature class, reading books such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ,by Maya Angelou and The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. In a forensic biology course, students design and conduct experiments on flatworms to study how rewards and punishments impact behavior.
“I really value that this is not a test-based school. I can learn the way I learn best,” said one student during our most recent visit.
The vibe is warm and inclusive. Students come from all over the city, some from highly competitive middle schools and others from neighborhood ones. During our most recent visit, students we spoke with said they felt welcomed and challenged in their classes and that they valued having friends from backgrounds different from their own. Frank discussions about race and identity are woven into lessons, and students are encouraged to celebrate their heritage.
Essex Street does a good job of serving a broad range of students. Key to its success are class sizes of about 20, which help teachers get to know their students well and tailor assignments to their skills and interests.
Typical of small schools, Essex Street’s course offerings are limited. Students may take college classes at CUNY schools or NYU.
Students study Spanish or French and the school organizes trips abroad to Spain or France over spring break. Studio art, music and theater are offered as classes during the day and as activities after school. Swim classes are offered in an on-site pool.
Located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Essex Street is one of five small high schools housed in the Seward Park Educational Complex.
One big perk: The school day starts at 9:25 a.m., which is a boon to tired teens commuting from all over the city. Students may leave the building for lunch if they get to school on time.
There's a range of after-school clubs and activities. Students may participate in campus-wide sports programs.
The school invests a lot in its college office, funding counselors, after-school SAT courses, and college trips.
SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are integrated co-teaching (ICT) classes and Special Education Teacher Support Services (SETSS). The graduation rate for students with disabilities is excellent. (Laura Zingmond, via interview and DOE reports, May 2024)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Not offered in 2021-21Computer Science
Not offered in 2021-21Physics
Not offered in 2021-21Advanced Foreign Language
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Math or Science
Not offered in 2021-21Music
College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryEssex Street Academy (M37X)
Program Description:
We provide a supportive, performance-based, college-preparatory program for all students. Please visit our school website for tour and open house dates.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
French
Advanced Courses
Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Handball, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL teams
Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
350 Grand Street
Manhattan
NY
10002
Trains: , to Grand St; , , , to Delancey St
Buses: B39, M1, M103, M14A-SBS, M14D-SBS, M15, M15-SBS, M21, M22, M9
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the Seward Park Educational Campus with four other schools
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