» What is a charter school?
» How are students admitted into the school?
» Do Harlem Village Academies students take standardized tests?
» How have Harlem Village Academies students performed on past tests?
» Do students wear school uniforms?
» How does salary at Harlem Village Academies compare to the NYC Board of Education?
» Is Harlem Village Academies a member of the New York State Teachers Retirement System?
» What kind of benefits does Harlem Village Academies offer?
» What is the calendar for the school year?
» What is Summer Institute?
» Is there a Saturday school program?
» Do students switch classes?
» Are there extra-curricular programs?

What is a charter school?

Harlem Village Academies schools are charter public schools. In brief, charter schools are public schools that are held strictly accountable for academic achievement results in exchange for autonomy from many of the rules and regulations of the traditional school system. Charter schools are held to a high standard of performance and are evaluated and inspected rigorously and frequently in order to maintain their charter. Harlem Village Academies charter schools are authorized through the Charter Schools Institute (CSI) of the State University of New York (SUNY), and approved by the State Education Department Board of Regents.

How are students admitted into the school?

In accordance with state law, students are admitted to our academies by a random, open lottery. Any student who is a New York City resident entering the 5th grade may apply. There are no admissions tests or interviews.

Do Harlem Village Academies students take standardized tests?

Yes, Harlem Village Academies students take the same state tests as all other New York State school children. In addition, students participate in nationally norm-referenced tests such as the Terra Nova.

How have Harlem Village Academies students performed on past tests?

To learn more about our track record of student achievement, read our results page.

Do students wear school uniforms?

Yes, students wear a school uniform, consisting of khaki pants, an oxford shirt, a school sweater with the Harlem Village Academies logo, a black belt and black shoes. Boys in 7th grade and higher wear a necktie. Detailed dress code rules are included in the Student & Family Handbook.

How does salary at Harlem Village Academies compare to the NYC Board of Education?

Because the school day is longer, Harlem Village Academies teachers are paid an annual salary that is slightly more than the New York City Board of Education.

Is Harlem Village Academies a member of the New York State Teachers Retirement System?

Harlem Village Academies is not a member of the New York State Teachers Retirement System. However, we provide a 403(b) retirement savings plan as part of our benefits package.

What kind of benefits does Harlem Village Academies offer?

We offer full medical insurance for employees and a portion of the cost of dependents, employer funded Flexible Spending Accounts for qualified medical and dental expenses, paid life and disability insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match, and various professional development opportunities. Additionally, we provide teachers with a professional working environment including office space, computers, photocopiers, a telephone extension with voicemail, and a faculty library.

What is the calendar for the school year?

Harlem Village Academies follows a September through June calendar that is similar but not identical to the New York City Board of Education calendar. In the second half of the summer, all faculty and staff participate in the five-week Summer Institute.

What is Summer Institute?

Each year, the faculty and staff gather together for our five-week Summer Institute. The program includes teacher training seminars and extensive collaboration and planning, both individually and in teams. Grade-level teams plan school culture programs, while department teams plan lessons, create assessments and share instructional best practices. The faculty and staff work together to continually refine school-wide routines and programs. In addition, we take time to set up classrooms, write letters to incoming students, and organize ourselves so that we are fully prepared for students on the first day of school.

Is there a Saturday school program?

There is a Saturday school remedial program which is mandatory for students requiring extra academic help. Students are assigned based on monthly diagnostic, internal assessment scores. Harlem Village Academies teachers are not required to teach Saturday school, but may elect to participate for additional compensation. However, all Harlem Village Academies teachers are responsible for six special Saturday half-day test-preparation sessions held throughout the year.

What is a typical teacher schedule?

Teachers are generally responsible for teaching four classes and one SGI (small group instruction) class per day, with two free preparation periods per day. In addition, teachers work as a team to upholding school culture through responsibilities such as those listed below.

Middle School

Middle school teachers are responsible for supervising and interacting with their students during advisory, breakfast, lunch and recess. Monday through Thursday, classes end at 4:40pm. The teacher day begins at 7:15am to monitor breakfast and morning arrival. The teacher day officially ends at 4:40pm on Monday and Wednesday, 6:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 2:00 on Friday. One day per week teachers tutor students or run a club. On Thursday afternoon the entire faculty engages in weekly “workout” or grade-level team meetings. On Tuesday afternoons are dedicated to Collaborative Teacher Development (CTD) – professional development centered on collaborative lesson planning by department team.

Sample Middle School Teacher Schedule

Time	Responsibility
7:30 - 8:00	Assist with Arrival and Breakfast
8:00 - 8:15	Lead Morning Meeting and Homeroom
8:15 - 9:45	Instruction
9:50 - 10:10	Read Aloud Time
10:10 - 11:00	Preparation Period
11:05 - 11:55	Accompany students to library 1 day/week, or assist in hallway transition and changing clothes for PE then prep 4 days/week
11:55 - 12:45	Instruction
12:50 - 1:25	Lunch or Recess duty
1:30 - 2:10	Small Group Instruction - tutoring 5-10 students
2:10 - 3:40	Preparation Period
3:40 - 4:30	Instruction
4:30 - 4:40	Lead Afternoon Homeroom and Dismissal
4:40 - 5:45	1 day/week: tutor, lead an after school club or monitor Homework Center
4:40 - 6:30	2 days/week: CTD and workout

High School

High school teachers are responsible for supervising and interacting with their students during advisory, breakfast, lunch and office hours. Teachers arrive by 7:45 and the teacher day begins with 7:50am breakfast and student arrival. Monday through Thursday, classes end at 3:30pm. On Friday, classes end at 2:00pm. The teacher day ends at 4:15 on Wednesday, 4:45 on Monday and Thursday, and 6:30 on Tuesday, and 2:00 on Friday. The longer days are for tutoring or running a club as well as weekly “workout” or grade-level team meetings and professional development / collaborative planning by department team.

Sample High School Teacher Schedule

Time	Responsibility
7:45 - 8:14	Monitor Morning Arrival and Breakfast
8:17 - 8:35	Lead Advisory and Morning Meeting
8:38 - 9:28	Instruction
9:31 - 10:21	Preparation Period
10:21 - 10:41	Supervise Independent Reading
10:44 - 11:34	Instruction
11:37 - 12:07	Hold Office Hours for Students
12:50 - 1:25	Assist in hallway transition to lunch. Monitor lunchroom on a rotating basis.
12:45 - 1:35	Instruction
1:38 - 2:28	Preparation Period
2:31 - 3:21	Instruction
3:24 - 3:30	Lead Afternoon Advisory and Dismissal
3:35 - 5:00	1 day/week: lead an after school club or activity
4:40 - 6:30	2 days/week: CTD and workout

What is a typical student schedule?

Middle School

A typical middle school student day includes six to seven academic blocks, a morning and afternoon meetings, and a variety of after-school programs, including homework center, tutoring, clubs, sports, and enrichment programs. The schedule includes small group instruction (standards-based tutoring) Monday through Thursday. This time is used to re-teach or review lessons with students who need additional assistance. The academic schedule for 5th and 6th graders provides extra time for reading, writing and math.

Morning meeting is a gathering of the entire school community – students, faculty and staff – that aims to set the tone of the day.

Each day includes morning and afternoon homeroom. The homeroom advisor is the first teacher a student checks in with before classes begin and the last teacher a student sees before ending the school day. During homeroom, teachers interact with students and address student questions and concerns. In addition, homeroom time is used to help students get organized and to help them have a successful day. Afternoon homeroom is dedicated to important announcements, distributing notice folders and wrapping up the day.

Community Circle is held each Friday where all students meet as a community. Teachers and students make “shout outs” to other teachers and students. Different character building topics are presented and discussed and fun challenges are given for classes to compete in.

Sample Middle School Student Schedule

Time	Class
7:30 - 8:00	Arrival and Breakfast
8:00 - 8:15	Morning Meeting and Homeroom
8:15 - 9:45	Math
9:50 - 10:10	Read Aloud Time
10:10 - 11:00	Writing
11:05 - 11:55	PE, Music, Art or Library
11:55 - 12:45	Social Studies
12:50 - 1:25	Lunch and Recess
1:30 - 2:10	Small Group Instruction
2:10 - 3:40	Reading
3:40 - 4:30	Science
4:30 - 4:40	Afternoon Homeroom and Dismissal
4:40 - 5:45	After School Activities (optional) or Homework Center

High School

A typical high school student day includes six to seven academic blocks, morning and afternoon advisory, and a variety of after-school programs, including homework center, tutoring, clubs, sports, and enrichment programs. The schedule includes small group instruction (standards-based tutoring) Monday through Thursday. This time is used to re-teach or review lessons with students who need additional assistance.

Each day includes morning and afternoon advisory. The advisor is the first teacher a student checks in with before classes begin and the last teacher a student sees before ending the school day. During advisory, teachers interact with students and address student questions and concerns. In addition, morning advisory is used to help students get organized, take attendance and check uniforms, collect notice folders and make announcements.

Morning meeting is a gathering of the entire school community – students, faculty and staff – that aims to set the tone of the day. School-wide announcements are made as well student and teacher shot outs. In addition, a special college countdown is made at the close of each meeting by each grade. Afternoon advisory is dedicated to making general announcements, distributing notice folders and wrapping up the day.

Office Hours are held Monday through Thursday. This time is used to re-teach or review lessons for students who need additional assistance. Teachers generate and post a list of students who they wish to see during office hours each morning and students are encouraged to sign up on their own in advance for office hours as needed.

Character education is an adult-guided discussion at the high school, held at the end of the day each Friday. Students are divided into their advisory groups with each advisory discussing student-generated issues and concerns, or themes that are relevant to their lives.

Time	Responsibility
7:45 - 8:14	Morning Arrival and Breakfast
8:17 - 8:35	Advisory and Morning Meeting
8:38 - 9:28	English 1
9:31 - 10:21	Physics
10:21 - 10:41	Independent Reading
10:44 - 11:34	Algebra
11:37 - 12:07	Office Hours
12:50 - 1:25	Lunch
12:45 - 1:35	Global 1
1:38 - 2:28	Language
2:31 - 3:21	Art
3:24 - 3:30	Afternoon Advisory and Dismissal
3:35 - 5:00	After school Activities (optional)

Do students switch classes?

Yes, students switch classes throughout the day.

Are there extra-curricular programs?

Yes, the schools run a wonderful after-school and Saturday school enrichment program as well as after-school tutoring and homework center.

Middle School

Our “Find Your Passion” enrichment programs include yoga, karate, capoeira, art and mural classes, chess, acting, dance, and more. After-school sports include basketball and track. Saturday trips include museums and cultural events, and plans are underway to create a community gardening program and public mural. Middle schools also have girls and boys basketball teams and co-ed football teams. The after-school program runs Monday-Thursday from 4:40-5:45.

High School

All students participate in gym class each week as well as "Find Your Passion" activities: martial arts, yoga, dance, video production, or acting workshop. The majority of Find Your Passion activities take place 4:30-5:00pm. Most high school students also participate in "Explorations" where they are given an opportunity to work with business executives and professionals throughout Manhattan and travel to corporate offices to discover and explore various industries and careers.

High School clubs take place each Tuesday after school from 3:45-4:45pm. Current clubs include Chess Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Publications/Yearbook, Debate Team and Youth & Government. Additionally, students participate in community service volunteer opportunities 15 Saturdays per year.