The New School for Leadership and Journalism

The New School for Leadership and the Arts (NSLA) is a vibrant, zoned middle school serving the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. Colorful murals line the halls, including a one-of-a-kind reproduction of a modernist mural by Cuban artist Carmen Herrera, painted by students with the help of the non-profit Publicolor.

Arts are infused in the curriculum: Students may take band, dance, piano, strings, and visual arts during the school day. Top graduates go on to selective schools such as LaGuardia and Talent Unlimited; to specialized high schools; and to private schools with scholarships, according to the school website.

Students get a chance to meet and learn from professional artists, thanks to partnerships with cultural organizations like the Park Avenue Armory, Bronx Arts Ensemble, New York City Center, the American Ballet Theatre, the Jazz Standard, and the Lehman College Music Department, according to the school website.

The school website also highlights field trips to city museums, Storm King Art Center, and historical sites such as Washington D.C., as well as student performances, like their annual Black History Month celebration.

The school’s principal, Eduardo Mora, earns high marks from teachers on the Annual School Survey for being an effective leader, communicating a clear vision for the school, and coordinating instruction across all grade levels.

While state test scores and attendance lag behind the citywide average, NSLA students perform better than most other District 10 middle schools and schools across the city with similar students, according to city data.

English Language Learners, who make up about one-quarter of the student body, typically make above-average progress on their state test scores after arriving at NSLA, according to the school’s Data Dashboard. They are encouraged to participate in a weekly Saturday academy for extra learning time, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP).

The school works hard to make sure graduates go to good high schools. “Staffers start taking some students to visit private and Catholic high schools in sixth grade, explaining that many offer generous scholarships,” according to an article in Chalkbeat. “In seventh grade, students learn to distinguish between screened and unscreened public high schools, start drafting the essays that some selective schools require, and compile tentative lists of choices.”

In addition to highly selective schools, some graduates go to audition-based arts high schools like the High School Of Fashion Industries, Bronx Theatre High School, or Frank Sinatra. Other popular schools include Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, Eximius College Preparatory Academy, and Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy, according to the School Quality Snapshot.

All students are provided with laptop computers, which allows them to complete independent work at their own pace, according to the CEP. Students meet with their guidance counselor in advisory every week to learn study and organizational skills and set goals.

The CEP said the school is working to increase the number of parents who attend workshops. The school hosts workshops for parents about 529 college savings plans, high school application procedures, college readiness requirements for CUNY, and a teen health workshop by Barnabas Hospital, according to the Quality Review.

NSLA shares a building with the Marie Curie School for Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions.

Special Education:  The school offers team-taught classes.

After school: According to the school’s description in the Middle School Directory clubs include African Dance, Baking & Cooking, Ballroom Dancing, Board Games, Choir, Contemporary Dance, Fitness, Knitting & Crocheting, Mad Science, Robotics, Rock Band, Science through Botany, and Theater. Girls and boys can join CHAMPS intermural basketball teams or a co-ed Cross-Country team.

Admissions: Limited to students living in the zone. Prospective students of the “Arts Academy” program must also attend one of the Open House events held in the fall and participate in one of five studios (Band, Chorus, Dance, Piano, or Visual Arts) to be eligible for acceptance into the Arts Academy at NSLA. Students with no prior experience in the arts are encouraged to apply and students may participate in more than one studio. Other students living in the zone are guaranteed admission to the “Science Academy” program. (Nicole Mader, web reports, March 2019)