West End Secondary School

West End Secondary School (WESS) is a small 6-12 school in Manhattan, known for its distinctive Expeditionary Learning (EL) model. This approach emphasizes interdisciplinary projects, real-world application, and public presentations of learning, fostering creativity, compassion, wonder, and resilience. WESS partners with New York City Outward Bound, utilizing the city as a "learning lab." Academically, the school shows strong performance, with ELA proficiency well above the citywide median and high school graduation and college enrollment rates significantly exceeding benchmarks. A very high percentage of students engage in accelerated coursework. Parent sentiment is largely positive, with many praising the caring teachers, supportive community, and engaging curriculum. However, the school's official "Relationships with Families" rating is "Fair," despite high parent survey positivity. Student survey results indicate some concerns regarding bullying, physical fights, and substance use. Some Regents exam pass rates, notably in Algebra I, Geometry, and Chemistry, are lower than others. WESS offers a comprehensive arts program and prioritizes 25% of seats for students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The school occupies the former Beacon High School building, featuring a black box theater.