FACING HISTORY SCHOOL (THE)

The Facing History School (TFHS), located in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, is a small, specialized public secondary school founded on the educational framework of the international non-profit, Facing History and Ourselves. The school’s curriculum is built around the core values of civic participation, ethical decision-making, and historical inquiry. By examining historical instances of injustice, prejudice, and systemic violence—such as the Holocaust and the American Civil Rights Movement—the school encourages students to analyze the link between history and their own responsibilities as citizens in a contemporary democracy.

The school is noted for its personalized approach to learning, which emphasizes restorative justice practices, strong student-teacher relationships, and a college-preparatory focus. Because of its small size, TFHS fosters a tight-knit community atmosphere where students are pushed to develop their voices through academic writing, classroom discourse, and project-based learning. By integrating social-emotional learning with rigorous academics, The Facing History School aims to prepare students not only for higher education but also to act as empathetic, informed, and active participants in their local and global communities.