Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters

School Description

At Bronx Letters our entire school community shares a commitment to teaching and learning through our five core values: Vision, Integrity, Compassion, Expression and Tenacity. We understand that when we teach content and skills with a focus on character development, we are tuned into the whole child, ensuring that our scholars are ready for college and career. Our rigorous, college-preparatory academic program spans grades six through twelve. Our core curriculum is standards-based, with an intense focus on developing literacy and problem-solving across the disciplines. It includes honors and AP courses, master-level arts electives, externships, and independent study courses. In the study of language, specifically, we offer a separate four-year series of writing classes in addition to a four-year series of literature classes.

In addition to challenging academic work, we are also committed to promoting flexible, self-motivated learning outside of the classroom. Our writers in residence run workshops during and after school as well as coordinate the Writers’ Forum reading series, in which our students convene to hear from professional writers of every genre. Our teachers facilitate a wide variety of extracurricular arts and athletics programs, including drama, art, chorus, debate, baseball and boys and girls’ basketball and track. During the year, our students participate in regular field trips to arts institutions, colleges and universities. And during the summer months, our student services team helps connect students with jobs, internships, and programs that allow them to travel all over the world.

Arts Leadership Team

Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, principal

Amy Schless, assistant principal

Lidia Ramirez, theater teacher and enrichment coordinator

Lewis Berns, visual arts teacher