About the Schools

SCHOOLS OPENING IN 2004:

The Henry Street Secondary School for International Studies
(New York, NY)

Henry Street School for International Studies is a new NYC public school based in an historic neighborhood where all students prepare for college and to find good jobs in the global economy through the pursuit of knowledge about world regions, cultures, and languages. Under the leadership of co-principals Hoa Tu and Cortney Allison, a dedicated faculty of experts in both academic subjects and in adolescent development provides rigorous, inquiry-based, internationally focused instruction, and partner with community and business organizations to help each student succeed.

The school will serve a diverse population of approximately 525 students grades 6-12 (In its inaugural year, the school will only have sixth, seventh and ninth grades) drawn largely from the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, and especially from the Lower East Side neighborhood in which it is located. The Henry Street School will help New York City children develop their knowledge of other world cultures and international issues, study languages, and explore international careers as they pursue a Regents' diploma. Henry Street School will be an important community institution where the exchange of educational and cultural values and ideas prospers--true to the legacy of the street from which the school derives its name.

For more information on HSSIS:
The Henry Street School for International Studies
220 Henry Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10002
www.henrystreetschool.org
Tel: 212-406-9411
Fax: 212-406-9417

Courtney Allison, Middle School Director
Hoa Tu, High School Director

Independence High School Academy of International Studies
(Charlotte-Mecklenberg, NC)

The Academy of International Studies is a 9 - 12 "school within a school" located on the campus of Independence High School in Charlotte, NC.. The Academy, lead by director Syndie Fleener, opened in August 2004 with approximately 75 ninth grade students. The demographics and academic achievement level of the incoming students mirror the overall composition of Independence High School, a diverse, "majority-minority" school. Approximately 1/4 of the students are eligible for free or reduced priced meals, and approximately 20% are English language learners. All the teachers hired for the Academy were working at Independence High School this past year and most teach in both the Academy and at Independence HS although as the school grows it will have its own dedicated faculty. The Academy's students take at least one elective course at Independence and are eligible to participate in the larger school's extra-curricular program. The Academy plans to add one grade level per year with a goal of reaching a total enrollment of 400 students in 2007.

For more information on AIS:
The Academy for International Studies at Independence High School
1967 Patriot Drive
Charlotte, NC 28227
Tel: 980-343-6900
Fax:980-343-6907

Syndie Fleener, Director

South Gate International Learning Community
(Los Angeles, CA)

South Gate International Learning Community is a 6-12 school located in Los Angeles Unified School District's District 6, in the city of South Gate. District 6, which serves a primarily Latino mid-to low-income community, has an established record of meeting or exceeding state and local test score goals and recognizing the need to provide students the skills they will need for success in a global age. The school's principal, Sherrie Lopez Quach, grew up in the South Gate community and brings her educational expertise and local knowledge to the task of developing a new internationally themed school.

As a zoned secondary school drawing all of its students from the South Gate area, the school opened with approximately 110 students in each of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. In addition to the integration of international content in the core subject areas, students have the opportunity to choose from foreign language instruction in Mandarin and Japanese, and elective courses ranging from World Drumming to Model UN. Grades 6-8 are housed in a new building and share space with a larger, new middle school. Grades 9-12 will be housed in a separate, new building and will share space with a larger high school. Both the middle school building and the high school building are on the same 42-acre campus in South Gate.

For more information on South Gate:
South Gate International Learning Community
2740 Tweedy Boulevard
South Gate, CA 90280
Tel: 323-568-3155

Sherri Lopez-Quach, Principal

SCHOOLS OPENING IN 2005:

The CSI High School for International Studies
(Staten Island, NY)

The second Asia Society school in New York will be an internationally themed high school on the campus of the College of Staten Island in New York: The CSI High School for International Studies. The school is being developed through a three-way partnership involving the Asia Society, New York Department of Education's Region 7 and the College of Staten Island. . The high school has the very enthusiastic support of CSI President Margaret Springer and key faculty members and will enjoy the unique resources of its college campus setting, including a state of the art language lab, access by students to college courses, and the placement of students in CSI's exceptional teacher training program in the high school to support the faculty. The college has applied for and received a grant to help support the development of the language lab for the high school. During the '04-05 school year, CSI High School for International Studies principal (designee) Aimee Horowitz will work to recruit an expert faculty committed to the concept of a small, rigorous, internationally themed school and a student body reflective of New York's diverse population.

For more information on CSI, sign up for the CSI newsletter.

Vaughn International Studies Academy
(Los Angeles, CA)

The second Asia Society school in Los Angeles will be the Vaughn International Studies Academy (VISA). VISA will be the high school portion of an already existing K-12 charter school, the Vaughn 21st Century Learning Center, which currently contains grades K-8. The new Academy will open with a 9th grade class housed on the K-8 campus and will move into a new building across the street from the existing campus in 2006. Yvonne Chan, a nationally renowned educator, will continue as principal of the Vaughn 21st Century Learning Center and a Director for the Academy will be hired.