Uptown ASCS is a proposed tuition-free, high-quality public charter high school in NY.

Uptown Arts & Science Charter High School is under the umbrella of the iLearn Schools charter management organization (CMO). iLearn Schools began as Bergen Arts & Science Charter School (ASCS) in September of 2007, serving just under 300 students in a small K-5 school building located at 200 MacArthur Avenue in Garfield, N.J. The school was created to give all students, regardless of where they live or what their backgrounds, equal opportunities for success in life moving forward. Recognizing the need for the same opportunities elsewhere, Passaic ASCS was then established in 2010 with 350 K-5 students served. iLearn Schools continues to grow, as Paterson ASCS was founded in 2013 and Hudson ASCS followed soon after in 2015. 2019 was a milestone year for iLearn, as the organization expanded for the first time ever beyond New Jersey by opening The Bronx ASCS.

Mission: Uptown Arts & Science Charter School (UASCS)

The mission of Uptown ASCS is to provide a high quality STEAM-based education in a digital learning environment to empower students to meet and surpass grade level standards and succeed in college and careers.

What the Founders of UASCS Believe:

We believe that excellent teaching combined with proper technology integration empowers ALL students to learn and achieve at the highest possible level.

How We Do It:

• Intense focus on the alignment of standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessment
• Sustained, ongoing and intensive coaching and professional development opportunities for teachers
• Proper integration of technology to enhance teaching and learning
• Multiple sources of data to create action plans and drive instruction.

Key Design Elements (KDE’s):

• Technology Integration: Uptown ASCS recognizes the importance of technology in education and prioritizes the integration of instructional technology tools and resources inside and outside the classroom. Specialized programs and platforms, such as dashboards and learning management systems, are embraced to make data informed decisions and increase engagement and alignment with NYSLS.

• STEAM-Based Education: Uptown ASCS takes a full STEAM-ahead approach to education, offering a STEAM program that provides challenging cross-curricular lessons and hands-on student-centered learning experiences. The school offers STEAM events that allow students to explore innovations through real-world problem-solving.
• College and Career Readiness: Uptown ASCS's robust curriculum is designed for optimal college and career preparation. We offer diverse academic pathways, including STEM and Humanities, enriched with AP courses, career exploration, and extracurriculars, equipping students with the skills and knowledge for post-secondary success.

Other Significant Features of Our Programs:

School Model

• High Expectations Coupled with Strong Support Systems: Coupled with high expectations, Uptown ASCS will provide students with robust supports and interventions to ensure student success. Through sustained, ongoing and intensive professional development opportunities, teachers will receive the training and support needed to positively impact student learning and outcomes.

• Positive School Culture: Uptown ASCS will implement a strong character education program and the core values of Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Community and Excellence will be measured.

• Opportunities for Growth and Enrichment: Multiculturalism and diversity are highly valued and students will be exposed to different cultures through Celebration Days and Summer Programs. Students can choose from a variety of school programs such as Pathway To College, Career Exploration and AP courses. Students who excel will have the opportunity to participate in national competitions.

• School-Home-Community Connections: We recognize that schools are anchors in the community. Uptown ASCS will foster school, family and community collaboration/ involvement with a focus on parent programs and community outreach.

Please support Uptown ASCS's application!

I am signing this petition to affirm that I read Uptown ASCS's mission. I believe in this mission and would like to see Uptown ASCS open as a free, public charter school in the fall of 2025.