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New York's first hybrid high school
The Downside
Hybrid approach will not appeal to all
A School Without Walls, New York State’s first hybrid high school, offers a flexible learning experience. Founded in 2022, it combines two days of in-person classes with three days of online learning each week. Students tackle community issues, such as improving teen mental health, or addressing transportation options. They can work with experts on real-life problems and showcase their solutions.
Academics & Instruction: A large emphasis is placed on learning outside of the classroom. Students take on big “passion projects” starting in the 10th grade, through which they identify a problem, and design a school- or community-based solution. Students have studied topics such as implicit bias in medicine, financial literacy, graffiti retail design, and photography as therapy.
All students take four years of math and science, a modern language, art, PE/health, and may choose from an array of electives co-created by students or through the school's partnership with CUNY College Now. Students typically take 5 to 6 classes at a time, and class size is under 25. Most classroom instruction is project-based. In-person classrooms have tables and chairs with wheels that can be assembled for seminar-style, round table discussions.
A School Without Walls follows the NYC Outward Bound approach, focusing on experiential learning. Instead of letter grades, students build a portfolio of their best work. These portfolios are used for college applications through the national nonprofit, the Mastery Transcript Consortium.
Culture & Environment: Teachers strive to encourage and listen to students' opinions and ideas, and incorporate them into leadership roles. Student representatives attend the school’s collaborative decision-making meetings on Fridays, to which parents are also invited. Student-initiated activities include key club, photography club, gaming, a fashion club, and after school tutoring. PSAT prep is offered as an elective.
Despite the remote nature of the school, there are opportunities for the entire school community to come together for fun events, such as at field days and holiday parties organized by the key club. Students participate in PSAL sports alongside the neighboring High School of Economics and Finance. School attendance overall has been an on-going challenge.
True to its collaborative mission, the school’s founding was informed by a focus group of over 50 11th and 12th-grade students from Consortium, International, and Outward-Bound high schools.
Special Education & English as a New Language: Approximately one-third of the students have IEPs (individualized education plans). Faculty endeavor to meet with every family at the start of the year to evaluate how special education services will be provided in a hybrid environment. A full range of related services is offered. The school serves very few English as a New Language students.
Building & Facilities: The building in Manhattan’s Financial District can accommodate 200 students at a time, which means that once it reaches a full student population, not all will be able to meet at one time. While students are in-person only two days per week, there is a lounge area and limited flexibility for students that need a space to access their virtual classes, on an appointment basis.
College & Career: Students that enter A School Without Walls in 9th grade may finish their graduation requirements by the end of 11th grade and take College Now classes at the City University of New York (CUNY) in their last year. Classes are also offered in collaboration with Howard University, Cornell University, and the University of California.
The school partners with College Access Research and Action for college and career coaching. They attend college visits to campuses such as Fordham, NYU and CUNYs. (Dashiell Allen, interview and web reports, July 2024)
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