Our Insights
What’s Special
School trains dental assistants and pharmacy technicians
The Downside
Special focus on health sciences may not appeal to all
Union Square Academy for Health Sciences is a small school that offers students the chance to study to be a dental assistant or a pharmacy technician. Students participate in internships at hospitals, dental clinics, and pharmacies such as Walgreens. The school has a good track record preparing students for success in college; most graduate on time and are ready for college-level work.
Academics & Instruction: In class, students tackle projects in small groups. Teachers focus on writing and reading in all subject areas. Students who need extra help get tutoring with teachers after school or during lunch periods.
Students have the opportunity to earn pharmacy and dental certifications by graduation. They start with classes that introduce them to pharmacy and dental careers, including oral anatomy, tooth nomenclature, career and financial management, pharmacy and dental law, plus dentures and tooth morphology. They learn fundamentals of phlebotomy, C. P. R., infection control, and taking blood pressure among other health care foundations.
All students must complete an internship their senior year.
Students may earn college credit by taking Advanced Placement courses in school or select classes at nearby Baruch College.
Culture & Environment: Students overwhelmingly say they feel safe in school, according to school surveys. Older students are trained to mentor younger students, and 11th- and 12th-graders meet with adult mentors weekly to prepare for life after high school. Families are invited to attend family nights, workshops and shows.
Special Education & English as a New Language: The school has team-teaching classes that mix students with disabilities into classes with their general education peers. Students learning English practice reading and writing skills on computer programs and in teacher-led small groups. ENL teachers also visit academic classes like math and science to help students with their vocabulary, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
Building & Facilities: The school is one of five small schools in the Washington Irving Educational Campus, a large building near Union Square Park in Manhattan. It has dental and pharmacy laboratories where students create dentures with 3D machines, and learn to mix, assemble, and package prescriptions. The school shares sports teams with other schools in the building.
College & Career: The school participates with the College Bound Initiative, which funds a full-time college counselor and a robust college advisory program. Partners like CVS pharmacy have hired students as permanent employees. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, August 2023)
Get more from InsideSchools
School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Not offered in 2021-21Physics
Not offered in 2021-21Advanced Foreign Language
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
College Readiness
Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryPharmacy Technician (A33A)
Program Description:
Students who are interested in becoming a pharmacy technician can acquire certification as approved by state. You will complete four years of courses, which include a Career and Financial Management course, and an internship in the pharmacy area. You will need to pass Pharmacy Technician Examination by senior year.
Dental Laboratory Technician (A33B)
Program Description:
Students who wish to enter the dental field can acquire certification by completing the Dental Laboratory Technician program in high school, complete four years of courses which include Career and Financial Management, with 150 hours of internship time in the dental field. You will also need to pass the NOCTI Dental Laboratory Technician examination to get certification.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Computer Science A, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP European History, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Statistics, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Biology (College Course [Credited]), Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Other (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited])
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Handball, Soccer, Volleyball
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Softball, Volleyball
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
40 Irving Place
Manhattan
NY
10003
Trains: , , , , , , to 14th St-Union Square
Buses: BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, BxM10, BxM6, BxM7, BxM8, BxM9, M1, M101, M102, M103, M14A-SBS, M14D-SBS, M15, M15-SBS, M2, M23-SBS, M3, M34-SBS, M34A-SBS, M55, M8, M9, QM21, SIM10, SIM11, SIM1C, SIM3, SIM31, SIM33, SIM33C, SIM3C, SIM4C, SIM6, SIM7, SIM9, X27, X28, X37, X38, X63, X64, X68
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the Washington Irving Educational Campus with five other schools
Was this information helpful?
Get more from InsideSchools
You may also like …
Academy for Software Engineering (AFSE)
Manhattan, NY 10003
High School for Health Professions and Human Services
Manhattan, NY 10003
Comments