Essex Street Academy
02M294 — Lower East Side, NYC
A small, supportive, and intellectually curious public high school where every student is known, challenged, and prepared for college and life.
Grades 9–12 • 350 students • Open admissions • Consortium school
Principal Search
We're interviewing candidates for our next principal and welcome community input. Learn about the process →
About Our School
Where every student is known by name.
Founded in 2005, Essex Street Academy is a small, open-admissions public high school in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. We serve 350 students from all five boroughs, offering a rigorous, project-based curriculum that replaces Regents exams with Performance-Based Assessment Tasks (PBATs).
Our tight-knit community prioritizes social-emotional support alongside academic growth. With an average class size of 22, teachers build individual relationships, ensuring every student feels safe, valued, and ready to tackle challenges.
from all 5 boroughs
on staff
per year
What We Offer
Our Programs
A personalized, project-driven education for every student.
Project-Based Learning
Students graduate by completing in-depth Performance-Based Assessment Tasks (PBATs) instead of Regents exams, developing critical thinking and real-world problem-solving skills.
Explore AcademicsAdvisory & Community
Small advisories of 12–15 students meet daily with a teacher, fostering close relationships and social-emotional growth over four years.
Learn MoreCollege & Career Readiness
From open houses to college counseling, we prepare every student for success after graduation—whether in higher education or the workforce.
See Our ApproachMark Your Calendar
Upcoming Events
School events, PTA meetings, and important dates — all in one place.
A live events calendar, right here.
Your Google Calendar syncs straight into the site — tours, PTA meetings, and key dates update automatically, no re-typing. We wire this up when you come aboard.
Invest in our
children's future.
Your donation funds arts programs, teaching assistants, and school trips. Every dollar makes a difference for our students.