HS 560 CITY-AS-SCHOOL

City-As-School (CAS) is a unique, alternative public high school located in Manhattan’s West Village that operates on the philosophy of "experiential learning." Unlike traditional high schools, CAS does not rely on a standard classroom-based curriculum. Instead, students earn academic credit by completing internships at hundreds of sites across New York City—ranging from museums, law firms, and media outlets to non-profit organizations and theaters. This model is designed to treat the entire city as a campus, allowing students to learn in professional, real-world environments that align with their personal interests and career goals.

The school is specifically designed to support students who may not thrive in conventional academic settings, offering a highly personalized approach to education. Each student works closely with a faculty advisor to create an individualized graduation plan that balances these off-site internships with small, seminar-style classes held at the Clarkson Street building. By focusing on portfolios and project-based assessments rather than traditional standardized testing, City-As-School fosters independence, self-direction, and professional maturity, effectively bridging the gap between secondary education and the workforce or higher learning.