A Message from InsideSchools: The data below is the most up-to-date data available from City and State systems. We are working hard to update the narratives for all schools. We welcome your insights in the Comments section. Questions? Ask us!

Our Insights

What’s Special

A fresh start for high school students who are behind in credits

The Downside

Some complaints of bullying, though overall students feel safe at school

New Directions is a tiny school that serves students aged 16-21 who have fallen behind in credits or left school for a period of time. Teens may catch up on schoolwork in small classes and through online courses. 

The school’s approach includes smaller classes, more counselors, and less punitive discipline. Daily after-school classes give teens a chance to complete assignments and practice skills. Some students do paid internships.

The school also offers music and visual arts. In a partnership with Community Word Project (CWP), teens weave together reading, writing and art. Following a visit from rapper and poet, Osyris Antham, for example, students recorded their original songs over hip-hop beats, according to the CWP website.

A downside: While most students feel safe in school, about half report some bullying, according to the NYC School Survey.

Principal James Waslawski founded the school in 2013. He designed it during his time as a Cahn Fellow at Columbia University, a continuing education program for public school principals. New Directions originally served grades 6 to 12 and was one of the first schools of its kind in the city, according to an article in Chalkbeat. It now serves grades 9 to 12.

New Directions is one of six small schools housed in the Taft Educational Campus. PSAL sports are campus-wide. The Claremont Village area has close proximity to buses and subways. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, October 2019)

 

Get more from InsideSchools

School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Academics

School
Citywide
Transfer school graduation rate
 
44%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

145
Number of students
Citywide Average is 617

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
100%
Students with disabilities
 
22%
Multilingual learners
 
44%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
1%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
74%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
49%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
28%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
85%
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
83%
10.2
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
139
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 191
How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
87%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey, 2022-23 School Quality Guide, 2021-22 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2023 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

College Readiness

School
Citywide
From the 2020-21 and 2022-23 School Quality Guide
Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

New Directions Secondary School (X13A)

Admissions Method: Transfer

Program Description:

New Directions has a rolling admissions policy and operates as a transfer high school.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Spanish Language and Culture

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Softball, Volleyball

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

240 East 172 Street
Bronx NY 10457

Trains: 4 Line to Mt Eden Av; B Line, D Line to 170th St

Buses: Bx1, Bx11, Bx15, Bx18, Bx2, Bx32, Bx35, Bx41, Bx41-SBS, BxM4


Contact

Principal: James Waslawski

Parent Coordinator: Inasia Pelle

Phone: 718-410-4343

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Taft Educational Campus with five other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

Was this information helpful?

Get more from InsideSchools

You may also like …

Validus Preparatory Academy

1595 Bathgate Avenue
Bronx, NY 10457

Mott Hall Bronx High School

1595 Bathgate Avenue
Bronx, NY 10457

Comments

  • Is this your school? Please post any news, updates, events, changes, or other information!
  • We welcome questions, open discussions, and disagreements but comments with personal attacks, rude language, or those with seemingly malicious intent will be deleted.
  • Very long comments, those that contain links, or repeat comments may be blocked by our spam filter.
  • Problems? email us at contact@insideschools.org.
  • Users must comply with our Terms of Use.

×