Today

Seward Park Campus

Extending the Path to Success from New York’s Lower East Side

We have received many inquiries as to the current status of Seward. The actual high school known as Seward Park High School graduated its last class in June 2006. But do not despair! Seward has given birth and become the proud parent of five new high schools - all located in our old building at 350 Grand Street. This all came about as part of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's small-schools initiative.

The creation of small schools was a centerpiece of the overhaul of the New York City school system under Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein. Officials hope that carving some of the city's enormous high schools into more intimate learning environments will reduce dropout rates, keep more students interested in academics and limit the number of students who get lost in the shuffle of high school.

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Essex Street Academy (ESA) or ESA prepares all of its students for success in college by treating them as individuals with specific strengths and needs, and appealing to their intellectual curiosity. ESA offers courses that challenge students to develop their own ideas and push them to learn by doing: designing and conducting experiments, developing a historical thesis, analyzing works of literature through a critical lens and developing mathematical solutions and proofs to problems. Small class sizes at ESA make a personalized approach to education possible, enabling teachers to develop an individual relationship with each student. At Essex Street Academy, our students are active, not passive, learners, and will graduate from our school confident in their ability to tackle any problem they encounter. Through its college bound curriculum, ESA expects all of its students to apply to and go to college. Essex Street Academy teachers design their own curriculum to prepare students for rigorous, performance-based graduation requirements. Courses are designed around what are called the Essential Questions; it is this set of questions that emphasize skills and allow opportunities for authentic assessment of students' abilities. ESA is one of thirty schools to receive a waiver from the Regents exams (except the ELA) based on demonstration of excellence in this area. ESA students must complete challenging graduation requirements in every subject, including presenting their original work to a panel.  Principal – Wallace Simpson

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Lower Manhattan Arts Academy (LoMA) or LoMA has been remarkably successful as one of New York City's new high schools earning one of the highest A ratings year after year. The Lower Manhattan Arts Academy (LoMA) is a small, supportive, multicultural school where the focus is on academic excellence through the arts. LoMA's small student population, rigorous standards, nurturing environment, arts-infused lessons and focused student-centered teaching methodologies make for its success. LoMA fosters the intellectual and character development of its students in a learning community that emphasizes cultural awareness, critical thinking and the joy of learning. Every aspect of LoMA's design, structure and practice supports student intellectual, emotional and cultural development. As an arts school, the visual and performing arts are integral to every student. Students participate in visual, music, dance or drama classes and in their sophomore year choose their art major. Participating with visual and performing artists, students have many opportunities to create and develop their art form.  Principal – Derek Premo

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New Design High School (NDHS) is a small academic high school with a focus on design to help meet the academic, intellectual, social, emotional and artistic needs of adolescents. New Design integrates the idea, concept and process of design into a progressive, academic high school curriculum, thereby offering an innovative education in a nurturing environment. The school community believes that design and the design process allow students to participate in a more experiential form of inquiry-based education that is focused on understanding real-world contexts, self-expression and problem solving.  Principal – Scott Conti

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The High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies (HSDLAS) has been ranked in the top 50 of U.S. high schools. The school offers Chinese proficient English Language Learners and English proficient students the opportunity to learn both languages while preparing for college and careers. The school has a challenging curriculum that includes enriched math and science courses and opportunities to participate in a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) classes by junior year. Asia-related topics are woven into the academic curriculum in all the subject areas. Dual Language students are expected to exceed city and state standards and demonstrate positive cross-cultural behavior while achieving skills that are needed for today's global market. English proficient and English Language Learners are integrated during instructional times and there is instruction in both languages. All students are expected to comprehend, speak, read and write in English and Chinese by the time they graduate.  Principal – Li Yan

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The Urban Assembly Academy of Government and Law (AGL) prepares future leaders for success as college students and as professionals in the governmental, legal and public service fields. The school culture is guided by our five core values: respect, enthusiasm, achievement, citizenship and hard work, and holds all members of the Academy to these high standards. Students experience a rigorous academic curriculum, participate in an array of extracurricular activities, learn in small classes and develop close, personal relationships with peers, teachers and members of our community partners. AGL firmly inspires all of its students to become civic-minded, 21st century scholars who will, in due course, assume significant leadership roles in the evolution of American democracy. Principal – Andrea Brand

Scholarships

2023 Scholarship Winners

2022 Scholarship Winners

2021 Scholarship Winners

2020 Scholarship Winners

2019 Scholarship Winners

2018 Scholarship Winners

2017 Scholarship Winners

2016 Scholarship Winners

2015 Scholarship Winners

In the News

Seward’s Cheer Team makes Strides Against Breast Cancer.

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Seward Cheers 2 - Oct 2023
Seward Cheers 3 - Oct 2023

On Oct. 15, 2023, members of the Cheer Team participated in the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk at Central Park.  Along the way, alums from the Classes of 1980, 1984 and 1987 greeted the Team!  It’s a small world!  Kudos to all in the Seward Park HS Campus community who participated in this worthy cause.

Bernard Rosen (1930-2022) – Budget Director who advised four NYC mayors

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Seward Ring Returned After Missing for 42 Years!

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Immigration Politics

From the newsletter of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, May 2006 What role do you think the American school […]

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George David Weiss (1921-2010)

George David Weiss Manchester Guardian, UK Published: August 24, 2010 US writer of many memorable hit songs What a Wonderful […]

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High School Raises the Roof with Graffiti Program. (pub. Nov 4, 2009)

High school raises the roof with graffiti program By Casey Samulski Published: November 04, 2009 “I think it’s almost a […]

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In Defense of Big Schools. (pub. Mar. 1, 2006)

In Defense Of Big Schools Published: March 01, 2006 Gotham Gazette’s Reading NYC Book Club met with author Samuel Freedman, […]

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Documentary being made about Seward. (pub. Jan 17, 2006)

Documentary Being Made About Seward – Your Help Needed By Murphy Cox-Nicol Published: January 17, 2006 I wanted to introduce […]

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Greatest Generation Scholarship awarded to Seward grad, Xiao Min

Greatest Generation Scholarships Published: November 18, 2005 The program selects high-need New York City high school seniors who demonstrate academic […]

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Seward Park To Get Two New Schools. (pub. Feb 10, 2005)

Seward Park To Get Two New High Schools By: Divya Watal Published: February 10, 2005 Two new schools are slated […]

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Jules Levine Principal, Seward Park High School, 1990-1996

We were very saddened to learn that former Seward principal, Jules Levine, passed away on May 2, 2011. Like his […]

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Mitchell Schulich – Teacher & Assistant Principal

SCHULICH–Mitchell B., 88 years old, on March 29, 2014. A graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School, Mitch volunteered for the […]

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New Scholarship Announced

In honor of Hiawatha Rutland’s outstanding contributions to the Lower Manhattan Arts Academy (LoMA) community, the school announces the creation […]

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