Want to Enroll at Promise Academy? Here’s 7 Things You Need to Know

Choosing a school for your scholar? We know this is one of the most important decisions you can make as a parent. When you enroll at Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) Promise Academy, we’ll make a promise to you and your scholar to help them:

• Get them to and through college
• Build successful careers and financial futures
• Reach their true potential

We’ll do this all at no cost to you! That’s right: tution at HCZ Promise Academy is completely free.

Want to enroll at HCZ Promise Academy? Keep scrolling to discover 7 things you need to know! 

1. Our talented teachers provide the highest quality instruction

When they enroll at HCZ Promise Academy, your scholar will receive high-quality instruction from some of the best teachers in the field. They are talented, committed educators who truly care about our scholars. What’s more, we equip all our teachers with the resources they need to succeed — so they can help your scholar succeed.

Your scholar will study all the key subject areas — math, language arts, history, social studies, and the sciences — in cutting-edge facilities designed for interactive learning. Our state-of-the-art school buildings include:

• Promise Academy I (245 West 129th Street)
• Promise Academy II High School and Middle School (35 East 125th Street)
• Promise Academy II Elementary School (70 East 112th Street)

2. From athletics to the arts, we offer exceptional extracurricular activities

We believe that scholars’ experiences — both inside and outside the classroom — are key to their academic and personal growth. That’s why we provide exceptional extracurricular activities: athletics, the arts, karate, chess club, and much more. (Check out our basketball teams!)

Your scholar will also enjoy access to the vast cultural and professional opportunities New York City has to offer. Each year, our middle school scholars visit museums and businesses to deepen what they learn in the classroom. 

We also offer our HCZ Promise Academy After School Program (every school day, 4-7 PM) for scholars who want to pursue their personal interests and passions when the school day is over. 

3. Forget traditional cafeteria food — we serve healthy, home-cooked meals

When they enroll at HCZ Promise Academy, your scholar will enjoy nutritious, home-cooked meals from our dedicated Food Services Team — all at no cost. We are committed to providing quality meals; they are the fuel for our scholars’ brains and bodies. 

Here’s a sampling from our menu:

• Breakfast – Omelets, French toast, smoothies, baked eggs, brown sugar maple farina
• Lunch – Caribbean oxtails, spiced Middle Eastern chickpeas and chicken, assorted fresh vegetables, pepperoni pizza
• Snacks – Yogurt, seasonal fruit, granola bars

We even have vegetarian and vegan options, as well as options for individuals with dietary restrictions. (Check out our Food Services team and their recipe for the perfect turkey sandwich!)

4. Save the trip to Staples — we have all the free school supplies your child needs to succeed

From notebooks to calculators to backpacks — and even laptops! — we provide our scholars with everything they need to be their best at school. This also includes access to top-of-the-line learning technology such as science equipment, musical instruments, and media and broadcasting tools. 

That goes for our teachers, too. They never have to open their own wallets to purchase supplies for their scholars — or themselves. We provide personal laptops, Smartboards, and tablets; bi-weekly professional development; and the support of a team of academic coaches, deans, guidance counselors, and social workers who are committed to ensuring the success of all our scholars.

5. We care about your scholar’s academic and emotional growth 

We believe that academics alone won’t make a scholar successful. They must not only have book smarts, but also emotional smarts. That’s why social-emotional learning (SEL) is steeped in our school culture.

Through our SEL curriculum, your child will learn about self-awareness, responsible decision-making, conflict management, and other critical life skills they need to be well-rounded, thriving adults. They will have the support of trained social workers and guidance counselors who share expertise with parents and staff to ensure coordinated support to scholars at home and at school.

We know that childhood and adolescence are challenging times. We’re committed to making it as smooth as possible.

6. We’ll get your scholar college ready

The data doesn’t lie: college is one of the most effective means of breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. That’s why we’re so committed to putting our scholars on the path to college and career. Each academic year, nearly 100% of our scholars are accepted to college. There’s rarely a question of if your scholar will go to college – only where.

To get your scholar ready for their post-secondary journey, they will tour college campuses, take advanced placement courses if they choose, and attend panel discussions with HCZ Promise Academy graduates. They will also gain the tools to save for college and the opportunity to win scholarships.

Our commitment to college is even written in our school creed:

What’s more, our College Success Office (CSO) is dedicated to helping our scholars navigate their journey through college. This includes:

• One-on-one coaching 
• Academic, emotional, and financial support  
• Check ins to monitor progress  
• Visits from CSO staff to help scholars establish and maintain relationships with campus and community liaisons.
• Help navigating the college application and financial aid processes (check out How to Apply to College: Tips from CSO).

7. Beyond Promise, we provide a pathway of comprehensive services 

When they enroll at HCZ Promise Academy, your child will enjoy the entire free pathway of comprehensive, cradle-to-career services HCZ has to offer. This includes nutrition education through our signature Healthy Harlem program, social services, and a range of youth after-school programs that put our scholars on the same playing field as children from more affluent communities.

We often ask ourselves, “What would we do for our own children?” It’s that ethos that drives us to provide the best experience possible for our scholars so they can build bright futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.