A School Without Walls

A School Without Walls is Manhattan's first hybrid public high school, offering a distinctive educational experience focused on real-world learning, project-based curriculum, and student-driven "Passion Projects." Opened in 2021-22, the school utilizes New York City as an extended classroom, blending in-person instruction with remote learning, internships, and early college coursework. Students engage in academic research and presentations, building competency-based portfolios instead of receiving traditional letter grades. The school is notably small, fostering individualized academic support and small class sizes. While English Regents pass rates are strong, performance on Algebra I and Living Environment Regents indicates areas for academic growth. The school serves a higher percentage of students with Individualized Education Programs compared to the citywide median and a very low percentage of English Language Learners. As a newer institution, comprehensive graduation and college enrollment data are not yet available. Parents and students describe a supportive environment where teachers are caring and encourage student input, though some express concerns about teacher retention.