The Urban Assembly School for Global Commerce

The Urban Assembly School for Global Commerce is a small high school in Manhattan focused on career-centered, college-preparatory education in global commerce, business, and engineering pathways. The school emphasizes a culturally relevant education and a social justice perspective, encouraging students to identify and solve real-world problems. Its small size is intended to foster strong student-teacher relationships and support. Distinctive features include a Global Business Academy for 9th graders, paid internships starting in 10th grade, frequent field trips to industry sites, and opportunities for college coursework at Hostos Community College in 11th grade. The school offers AP courses, Spanish and Mandarin language programs, PSAL sports, and a variety of clubs. Parent satisfaction is exceptionally high, with survey results indicating strong positive sentiment across various aspects of the school experience. Students generally report feeling safe in common areas. However, the school faces significant challenges in academic outcomes. Its 4-year graduation rate and college enrollment rate are both well below citywide medians. Regents pass rates are also notably low across several subjects, with Geometry showing particular concern. Some student feedback points to issues with bullying, frequent fights, and a perceived lack of consequences, alongside concerns about underfunding and limited resources like calculators and functional computers. Enrollment has also seen a decline in recent years.