As young people make sense of the world around them, they are led quite naturally to the inquiry-based thinking skills that are embedded in rich mathematical and scientific learning experiences. Asking questions, presenting problems and posing solutions, and using data and evidence are powerful tools for learning and changing the world.
We are . . .
a small traditional public school serving students in grades 6 - 12 in the South Bronx, Morrisania neighborhood. We are a community school in that the students and families that we serve become part of what we call the AMS Family. We strive to develop and prepare all of our students to become compassionate, critical thinkers capable of undertaking successful pursuits after high school and creating meaningful change in their communities. We expect that all of our students will be prepared for college-level study and will be equipped with the skills to make solid career choices, shape their own destinies, and reimagine the world around them. Our school welcomes young people from all neighborhoods, and we do not screen applicants based on test scores, disability, or language status.
Academic Support
Our school mission is to provide a rigorous, relevant, and engaging curriculum that pushes all students to do rigorous work and critical thinking that is culturally
responsive to their lives, their lived experiences, and their needs. We believe that in order to challenge students to solve problems and develop their own understandings about the world, the things that students learn in class should be more difficult than the expectations of the Regents exam; more engaging and focused on depth over breadth; and more effectively aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards. We also believe that authentic and relevant tasks (writing, debates, projects, labs, problem- solving) naturally creates greater opportunities for higher order thinking and rigor, and also provides a wider range of entry-points for a diverse group of learners. Our school leadership team strives to accomplish these objectives through a comprehensive and intentional system of small-group collaborative planning and inquiry teams (our instructional teams); small class sizes to provide our students with the most individualized of instruction; and meaningful after school and Saturday School programming.
Socio-emotional Support
We believe that the social-emotional health of our young people is equally as important as their academic growth. In fact, our theory of action, is that if you cultivate a culture in which young people feel like they belong, are significant, and have a voice, the potential for student learning and growth is endless. At AMS, we have a comprehensive advisory system that supports our young people in small groups in grades 6 - 12. Our advisory system—which meets once every other day on the middle school level and every three days on the high school level—ensures that every single student in our school is well known by at least one adult in the building who also serves as the liaison between the school and the home.
Through our collaboration with artist Shaun Leonardo, the Bronx Museum, and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MOCA), our 12th graders created this huge billboard that will be on display in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts this summer!
Hundreds of competitors and spectators at the Pi5NY Tournament
Pi5NY
The Pi5NY Tournament was started by the Urban Assembly School for Applied Math and Science in 2006, as "The Bronx Invitational Math Tournament". Founding Principal Kenneth Baum and math teacher Annie Kushner began with a vision of creating excitement about math for every student. A distinguishing feature of the competition is the Junior Varsity division, which enables weaker math students to compete, enjoy, and be stimulated by the contest. Over the past fifteen years, students have shown incredible excitement and enthusiasm toward the competition, encouraging their teachers to bring them back year after year.
Two students jam on drum kit and electric bass in the music room at AMS
The Arts
AMS offers a wide variety of visual and performing arts, including photography, painting, sketching, sculpture, pottery, dance, filmmaking, music production, string orchestra, West African drumming, modern band, and AP Music Theory.
