Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts, New York | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I wish this allow me the ability to give “half a star” for this school. While I know that my daughter feel “Somewhat OK”.

I on the other hand am VERY unhappy with this school; this is her first year in “High school” as well as at this school. The 5 times that I have visited; my last was on June 12, 2015; I was VERY uncomfortable being there. While many parents will see or feel that the schools that their child/children are attending are not up to STANDARD’s and don’t do or say anything about it. I AM not such a parent!

Many parents in the “Afro-Centric communities are very afraid of being VIEWED as “Ghetto” or as the “ANGRY BLACK” parent. Because of FEARS of being LABELLED I don’t have those FEARS!

I knew very little about this school; in that I failed my daughter! However, I felt that she could benefit academically from the rigorous demands, but sometimes they went to the extreme and she suffered for it.

ON my second visit to the school, I saw the way Ms. J was talking to some kids in the line as they’re going in. She was (shouting) “Oh you know you’re not supposed to come in here with those!” ALL I kept thinking to myself is WHY do you feel that SHOUTING at anyone’s child in that matter is OK; and then you blame the parents for a child’s bad attitude!

I HATE having to go through the PRISON” type metal detector where on June 12, 2015; I had to remove almost ALL of my jewelry and my medical Epi-pen was considered a WEAPON upon the view from the SCANNER by the security guard there.

I then had to empty the contents of my bag to PROVE that I had NO WEAPONS!

I avoid going there and NOW I will make it my MISSION to find out more about THEM!
So I have decided that I AM going to be very active until either my child graduates or get transferred to another school.

My daughter was BULLIED by her Maths teacher for 2 month; where I had to notify the principal and she was later transferred to another class!

I know NOW that, I really have to find out MORE about this school. I have decided that I will be more present and very active while she is there.

Since I am VERY OUTSPOKEN, about what I think and how I HONESTLY FEEL about this school; I feel that there my problems HAVE started.

Because IT NOW appears to ME that it has become a SILENT war.

Where feel strongly that I wasn’t welcome there, and I noticed it. While I was never one to just pop up unexpectedly.
Once I did and I could hear these teachers really being mean!

I am beginning to FEEL that “I don’t have the rights to be there.” and IF I don’t nor should my child!

Frankly, there is no purpose to this review summarily because I doubt many people will peruse this post; however for the sake of objective perspective of the school, this is the target of this review. Urban Assembly School of Performing Arts on the surface appears to be a good school comprised with rigorous academics and multi-faced performative electives; however it’s a complete facade. As a former math educator and aficionado of the arts, the world of UASPA is completely backwards. The environment is constricting where teachers are not supported and are heavily criticized when the administration does not understand the content nor the larger purview of how to teach mathematics or et al subjects- or for education in itself. The staff environment is based on “if you’re liked” you’re treated fairly but if “you’re not liked” – woe to your future endeavors – because your a target. Inasmuch, the culture of administration trickles down to the experience of the students in the classroom where the environment is stringent and suffocating. Character development and etiquette is not the focused; only the facade appearance of an Effective high school for Quality Review. Even though the facade of behavior seems stringent and suffocating in hallways, students are allowed to run rampant within classrooms without any constructive consequences. As a result the education of various students – including those in the cross-hairs of poor-behavioral students – is ultimately destructive and detrimental to student’s success. Please do not get into the hype of UASPA – if there is any you have heard. Also, do not get caught up in the allegations of person’s who have no constructive insight on the actuality of the school. Inasmuch, no math teacher or teachers in general “bullied” or would bully students – because that’s inept in addition to a waste of time considering teachers control student’s grades. The ultimate truth of this school is that if you are seeking for opportunities of performing art classes in Harlem, UASPA is an option – granted it probably the worst option and will only hamper your child’s education. And if you are considering employment at this school as an educator, please keep in mind that during my time at UASPA ALL math teachers (the whole math department) left the school due to the insanity and chaotic environment of the administration which invariably affects the students. I hope this post provides some needed insight – even if it reaches only just one inquisitive individual of the poor potential of UASPA