Our Insights
What’s Special
Partnerships with Teachers College and Urban Arts
The Downside
Instruction is uneven
At The Heritage School, students explore history and culture through the arts. It was founded in 1996 with support from Teachers College, Columbia University. Teachers overwhelmingly recommend this small, safe school to prospective students. Most students graduate on time including students with disabilities.
The school has had ups and downs over the years but is currently enjoying an upswing in test scores, attendance and the culture and tone of the school. Teachers alert parents to absences using an iPhone application as soon as a student is missing from class. Teachers have training in Restorative Justice to reduce the suspension rate and help students talk about conflicts before they become larger problems.
The school band performs at school events and basketball games, according to the Arts in Schools report. After school workshops include Latin Dance, Hip-Hop Dance and DJ Music Production through Urban Arts
A downside: Instruction is uneven, according to a recent Quality Review. In some classes, teachers did most of the talking and assigned worksheets, while in an integrated co-teaching class, students were engaged as they prepared questions for a formalized debate called a Socratic seminar, based on their reading of Shakespeare’s Othello: Moor of Venice.
After a hiatus, Teachers College has resumed its work supporting teachers, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan. Lead teachers attend workshops at Teachers College (TC) and TC staffers help host a series of parent workshops to focus on college readiness. Graduate students from Teachers College work with Heritage students on reading and writing skills and are supervised by a literacy expert at the college.
Heritage occupies the 3rd and 4th floors of the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center in East Harlem. It has an airy feel with hardwood floors and 20-foot ceilings. There is a small library and a large, renovated science lab, but no cafeteria or gym. Instead, the space once used as a gym now functions as a cafeteria. Students go outside to exercise when weather permits. Juniors and seniors may go out for lunch. The uniform is a navy blue polo shirt and khaki pants or skirt.
Students may earn college credits by taking epidemiology, music theory, computer science, psychology or sociology through Hunter College. A College Bound Initiative counselor helps students with the college process. The website shows students visiting colleges such as Binghamton, Ithaca and New Paltz.
Special education: Heritage prides itself on a very strong and well-integrated special education program that mixes general education and special needs students in one classroom with two teachers. The four-year graduation rate for students with special needs is above the citywide average. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, December 2018)
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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
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryThe Heritage School (M97A)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP English Literature and Composition, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP United States History, Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Uncredited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Football, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Flag Football, Golf, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
1680 Lexington Avenue
Manhattan
NY
10029
Trains: to 103rd St
Buses: BxM1, BxM11, BxM2, BxM3, BxM4, M1, M101, M102, M103, M106, M15, M15-SBS, M2, M3, M4, M96, M98
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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