Manhattan Village Academy

Manhattan Village Academy offers a demanding college-prep curriculum, imaginative projects and plenty of writing practice. It's an unusual blend of teaching philosophies: Like a traditional school, the kids wear uniforms, call teachers "Mr." and "Ms.," and study hard for Regents exams. Like at a progressive school, they do plenty of hands-on work. They may work in a group on a physics experiment measuring and graphing the speed at which they walk, or make a comic strip depicting events of the French Revolution.

Principal Hector Geager says he wants to make sure students get the breadth that traditional schools offer and the depth that progressive schools offer. His students take nine Regents exams—four more than the state requires. In addition, they must complete five "portfolios," which may consist of hefty term papers, projects and oral presentations. Twelfth-graders are expected to write 10- to 15-page term papers on topics like global trade agreements. Everyone takes four years of science, including physics. Ninth- and 11th-graders take two hours of math a day, so by the end of four years everyone has had the equivalent of six years of high school math.

The workload is heavy, and not all students can manage it. Geager says five or six students typically transfer to less demanding high schools after 9th grade. (The school accepts a similar number of incoming 10th-graders—and these transfers often struggle, he said, because of the rigor.) But for those who can do the work, the rewards are great. The principal says graduates have been admitted to top private colleges, including Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia and Cornell.

The tone of the school is serious but not oppressive. There are no bells, and class changes are orderly. Students wear uniforms. Eleventh- and 12th-graders may leave the building for lunch, although many choose to eat in the pleasant cafeteria.

Kids say they typically do three hours of homework a night, but teachers are available to help during the day and after school. “I am grateful to this school for giving me the opportunity to go to a good college,” said a senior, wearing her new Penn State sweatshirt.

Students who fail Regents exams work with a teacher during lunchtime or after school. Teachers have incorporated SAT prep into all grades. The school offers 18 Advanced Placement classes. Teachers are expected to give extra time, including on weekends, and Geager loses about five teachers a year, he said, either due to poor performance or because teachers are looking for more work-life balance.

It is a small school, with only 100 students in each grade, and the principal knows every student’s name. Manhattan Village seems to have a knack for taking kids who were only average or even below-average students in middle school and helping them succeed in high school. "If the kids have good attendance, we can work around the academics," Geager said.

Most students come from Inwood, Washington Heights, the Upper West Side, Harlem and the Bronx. (Although Manhattan Village Academy is physically located in District 2, it does not give preference to District 2 students.)

The school has a full-time college counselor. About 90 percent of graduates enroll in college within six months of graduation.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: In addition to team-teaching classes, students with special needs often stay later for extra help, Geager said.

ADMISSIONS: Open to students citywide who score at least Level 2 on standardized tests and have good attendance and grades. Incoming students must commit to a four-week summer program in July. "Attendance is the number one factor" for admissions, said the principal. (Lydie Raschka, April 2018)