Our Insights
What’s Special
Art, design and portfolio-building
The Downside
College readiness has a way to go
New Design High School offers students the chance to explore art and design. They host an annual fashion show and build portfolios for colleges focused on art, design or music. Art and design classes are held twice a week after school or during lunch. Ninth-graders explore various topics before focusing on one area for the rest of high school, though they can still switch if needed.
In Design Foundations, students learn basic drawing, color theory and design software. Design Portfolio 2D Art focuses on creating a portfolio with drawing and digital art, including critiques. Fashion and Textiles involves clothing design, fabric study and sewing techniques. Students can also earn the NYC DOE CDOS credential, showing entry-level job skills in retail, food service and office work through internships, job training and special projects.
Café 418, a student-run coffee shop, teaches customer service and café management. The “design collective” allows students to work on real graphic design projects with businesses like Stumptown Coffee. A rooftop event space is rented out, and students assist with events during New York’s fashion week.
Though New Design helps students who start out below grade level graduate on time, more than half leave unprepared for college-level work, according to city data. Social workers, interns, and trained staff use Restorative Justice to address conflicts and help students who are chronically absent. Attendance and safety are improving, according to the NYC School Survey.
All students participate in advisory periods called “Design for Life” for goal setting, social-emotional support and college and career planning. Students needing extra help may get one-on-one or small group support. Teachers also hold office hours twice a week after school. The school offers various clubs, such as scriptwriting, music production, podcasting, sound design, SAT prep, and coding.
English language learners receive support through combined English Language Arts and English as a New Language classes, as well as from a literacy coach, reading intervention teacher and student teachers.
The college counselor helps each senior with college applications and financial aid. Graduates have been accepted to institutions like Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, Hunter College, Baruch College, and Manhattan College.
Founded in 2003, New Design is one of five small high schools in the Seward Park Educational Campus on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Sports are campus-wide, and students can take swimming classes and earn a lifeguard certificate in the building’s pool. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, September 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
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryNew Design High School (M53A)
Program Description:
The CDOS Commencement Credential is a certificate that is meant to show your readiness for entry-level jobs. It is possible to complete high school with a CDOS Commencement Credential only.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryAdvanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Studio Art - 2D, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, 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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