East Side Community High School

East Side Community High School is a public high school in New York, NY, serving students in grades 6 through 12. The school offers a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum with a strong emphasis on student-led learning, social-emotional well-being, and civic engagement. It is known for its advisory system, portfolio-based graduation requirements, and performance assessments including a college-level history research paper and a student-designed science experiment. All students take studio arts annually, and the school celebrates student artwork and performances through exhibitions and events. The school also maintains a nationally recognized independent reading and literacy program.

Rooted in a mission that emphasizes empathy, historical understanding, and student agency, East Side Community High School is a member of the Facing History and Ourselves Partner Schools Network. The school fosters a culture where students connect past events to their own lives, recognize the impact of individual choices, and develop the tools to engage meaningfully in their communities. Students participate in portfolio roundtable presentations twice a year, and the school’s counseling and college counseling offices provide ongoing support to students and families. The school’s commitment to student voice is reflected in its student-run newspaper, The East Sider News, and its active parent association.

Located at 420 E 12th St, the school sits just a short walk from the Lower East Side Playground and the East Side Outside Community Garden, both within 40 meters. It is situated near Twelfth Street Academy, a nearby school, and the Michael Jackson Mural, a prominent public artwork. The campus is also close to 1st Avenue, a major thoroughfare, and is within a tenth of a mile of another East Side Community High School building, reflecting its presence in the neighborhood.

The school has earned an “A” rating on its Middle School and High School Report Cards each year since ratings were issued, a testament to its consistent academic excellence and strong student outcomes. Over 90% of its high school graduates attend college, a hallmark of its College Bound program. The school is widely recognized for its innovative, student-centered approach and its deep integration of arts, literacy, and social justice into the curriculum.

East Side Community High School stands as a model of equitable, transformative education in New York City’s Lower East Side, where academic rigor meets community-centered values.

Services:

• College Preparation
• Community Service Programs
• Extra Curricular Activities
• High School Education
• Library Services