ABOUT

Learning at Harbor School extends far beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. It happens in New York Harbor, research laboratories, engineering workshops, welding bays, aboard vessels, in green spaces, and alongside the many organizations that partner with us to provide authentic experiences that prepare students for life after high school. Everything we do is guided by one goal: preparing young people to solve the challenges of tomorrow. The careers our students will enter, the technologies they will use, and the environmental issues they will face will continue to evolve. Our responsibility is not simply to prepare students for their first job after graduation, but to equip them with the curiosity, adaptability, resilience, and confidence to lead throughout their lives. At Harbor School, environmental stewardship is more than a subject we teach. It is part of who we are. Students restore oyster reefs that improve the health of New York Harbor, study marine ecosystems, design engineering solutions, learn sustainable practices, and explore how science, technology, policy, and industry work together to shape the future of our city and our planet. They learn that protecting our environment is not someone else's responsibility. It is a responsibility we all share. Students pursue these experiences through our eight state-approved Career and Technical Education pathways, which reflect the diverse opportunities within the maritime and environmental industries. They earn industry-recognized certifications, participate in internships and work-based learning, collaborate with professionals across New York City, and graduate prepared for the next chapter of their lives. At the same time, Harbor School provides a rigorous academic education that challenges students to think critically, communicate effectively, and become lifelong learners. Through Advanced Placement courses, College Now opportunities, our SUNY Maritime P-TECH program, and a growing network of college, university, government, nonprofit, and industry partnerships, students are encouraged to see themselves not only as graduates, but as future scientists, engineers, educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, mariners, skilled tradespeople, and leaders. This is an exciting time in Harbor School's history. Over the past several years, Harbor School has experienced remarkable growth, and we are just getting started. The expansion of our campus, the opening of new learning spaces, the continued growth of our academic and Career and Technical Education programs, and an ever-expanding network of partnerships are creating opportunities for students unlike ever before. While our school is growing in size, our commitment remains the same: ensuring that every student is known, challenged, supported, and inspired. My vision is for Harbor School to become the nation's premier high school for environmental and maritime education, not simply because of our location or our programs, but because of the quality of our students, our educators, and the opportunities we create together. I want Harbor School to be recognized as a place where young people discover their passions, tackle meaningful challenges, develop innovative solutions, and graduate ready to lead in college, careers, and their communities. Achieving that vision requires continuous growth, innovation, and collaboration. Every partnership we build, every improvement we make to our campus, every new learning experience we create, and every success our students achieve brings us one step closer. The future of Harbor School has never been brighter, and I could not be more excited about what lies ahead. What makes Harbor School truly exceptional, however, is not our location, our facilities, or even our programs. It is our people. Every day, I have the privilege of watching students support one another, celebrate one another's successes, and rise to challenges they never imagined they could overcome. I see teachers who invest countless hours creating extraordinary learning experiences because they believe deeply in their students. I see families who trust us with what matters most to them, and community partners who open doors that change the trajectory of our students' lives. Together, we are building something special. Harbor School is a place where curiosity is encouraged, hard work is valued, and every student is expected to contribute to something larger than themselves. We believe education should inspire students not only to build successful careers, but also to become thoughtful citizens who leave their communities better than they found them. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Harbor School. Whether you are exploring Harbor School for the first time or have been part of our community for years, I hope you will discover what so many of us experience every day: a school filled with opportunity, purpose, innovation, and optimism. I look forward to welcoming you to Harbor School. Warm regards, Michael Hojnacki Principal The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School