Classes
Urban Academy is committed to helping all students achieve the highest standards. Our classes have multi-aged (see Multi-Aged Classes), heterogeneous groupings that use student interest as an entry point to exploring subjects in-depth.
How Students Select Courses
Each semester, students select classes from the Course Catalog. Rather than being confined to a specific grade, students build their schedules based on a holistic view of their academic journey:
- Interests: Choosing subjects that spark their curiosity.
- Past Courses & Experiences: Building on their previous coursework and projects or filling in gaps in their learning.
- Graduation Progression: Ensuring all proficiency (see Performance Assessment) requirements and state requirements are met.
- Skill Level: Matching the challenge to the student's current ability.
A parent wrote...
My son has had a truly remarkable experience. The course selections are very well thought out and are organized to elicit maximum student interest in the topic. Classroom discussions are at a very high level and all students receive a great deal of individual attention. This school is a too-well-kept secret!
The Bridge to Higher Education
Rather than taking AP classes, which are designed to simulate college courses, many students also enroll in college courses at Hunter College or at Sarah Lawrence College. See College Classes.
In every graduating class, 40-50% of the students have completed a college course at Hunter or Sarah Lawrence.
A parent wrote...
My daughter used to be in a specialized theater program, and we would have never thought that a program such as Urban's would satisfy her theater bug. But the annual production, in addition to playwriting classes and all the rest that Urban has to offer, has more than compensated for a less "professional" approach to theater.
