The U.A NY Harbor School provides a unique college-preparatory education based upon New York City’s maritime experience.

In addition to the New York City’s mandated curriculum for schools, students of The Harbor School have assumed the responsibility of helping to revive New York City’s Harbor.  Classes include marine engineering, robotics, marine biology and scuba diving to name a few. The students of the Harbor School are equipped with an exclusive set of skills when they graduate. The Harbor School not only motivates its students to succeed academically by offering a selection of maritime oriented extracurricular activities and classes; but also teaches the students the importance of respecting their natural surroundings and how to be creative and support the environment they live in.

New York Harbor School Parents are opposed to a Charter School Co-location on Governor’s Island.

The U.A. New York Harbor School helps revitalize Governors Island by instilling in our students the ethics and skills of environmental stewardship. Parents of New York Harbor School students believe that any incoming school or institution should share in this value and help enhance Governor’s Island.

Great Oaks charter school has submitted an application to create a middle school and high school in the Hospital building right next door, effectively co-locating on Harbor School’s campus. Great Oaks charter school’s mission does not support the values of environmental stewardship on Governor’s Island and is not affiliated with the Harbor School or the Urban Assembly. Having this school co-located on Harbor School’s campus would be a detriment to our children and their educational environment; especially with the charter schools zero tolerance policy. There is a foreseeable cultural conflict; the decision to place young middle school students (6th graders) at this site sets up a situation whereas the young high school students of the New York Harbor School will be blamed and punished.

The charter school’s mission and curriculum is not specialized, nor is it a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) related school. This school is a basic charter school that can be located anywhere in the metropolitan area. There have been proposals from other schools and universities that would better serve both Governor’s Island and its current community.

The Parent Teacher Association of New York Harbor School is strongly opposed to the co-location of this charter school or any school seeking a place on the Island just for the prestige of the location. 

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