Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts

Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts is a small 6-12 school in Manhattan, housed in a historic landmark building that opened in 1903 as New York's first all-girls public high school. The school emphasizes a performing and visual arts curriculum, offering majors in dance, theater, instrumental and vocal music, and visual arts, with opportunities for students to perform at notable venues like Carnegie Hall and display art at the Schomburg Public Library. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to its students, reflected in a high 99% graduation rate, which is well above the citywide 75th percentile, and "Good" relationships with families, who often describe a welcoming, family-like environment. Parent survey results are overwhelmingly positive. However, middle school academic proficiency in ELA (35%) and Math (16%) are significantly below citywide averages, and high school Regents pass rates are mixed, with some subjects performing very low. The school's official ratings for instruction and performance, as well as safety and school climate, are "Fair." Student surveys indicate concerns regarding bullying, physical fights, and drug use, contrasting with a general feeling of safety with school agents. The school serves a high proportion of students in temporary housing and with disabilities.