Essex Street Academy

Essex Street Academy is a small, diverse public high school on the Lower East Side, known for its supportive and welcoming community that fosters critical and creative thinking through in-depth, inquiry-based projects. The school emphasizes a personalized approach, with small classes and advisories where teachers get to know students individually and nurture their intellectual and emotional development. Graduates demonstrate strong outcomes, with a 95% graduation rate, which is well above the citywide median, and an impressive 82% college enrollment rate, significantly exceeding the citywide median. The English Regents pass rate is also strong at 88%. Parents consistently report overwhelmingly positive experiences, with survey responses indicating high satisfaction across various aspects of the school. Students generally feel safe within the school environment. The school offers unique opportunities such as partnerships with local universities, professional internships, international study, and outdoor leadership programs. While some students express a desire for more advanced academic challenges, the school provides advanced courses in subjects like Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, and World Languages. The school is part of the NY Performance Standards Consortium, which means students are exempt from most Regents exams, focusing instead on performance-based assessments.