Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts (03M415)

215 West 114 Street, Manhattan, NY 10026, Manhattan
Phone: 212-749-5800
Hours: 8:00am - 2:45pm
School Website: https://wadleigharts.org
NYCDOE Website: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/schools/high-school/03M415/
Quality Snapshot: View snapshot
Building Access Profile: View profile
School Leader: Lisa Denerstein (ldenerstein@schools.nyc.gov)
Parent Coordinator: Lisa Blair (lblair9@schools.nyc.gov)
Respect for All Liaison: Justin Lopez (jlopez434@schools.nyc.gov)
Sexual Harassment Prevention Liaison: Judith De Liriano (jdeliriano@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Yolanda Hendley Bagley (yhendley-bagley@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Melissa Stanton (mstanton2@schools.nyc.gov)
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About

Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing and Visual Arts is a nurturing and unique environment which offers distinct programs that equally prepare students for college and career readiness as well as an Arts endorsed diploma. Our Performing and Visual Arts Program offers majors in: Dance, Theater Arts, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music and Visual Arts, which require individual auditions. Our varied internships and partnerships expose our students to careers and interests in both the performing and visual arts.

Reports: School Budget | PTA Financials | Room Utilization

Teachers with more than 3 years of experience: 79%

Academic Highlights: Advanced Placement Courses Available, Strong academic support for students with IEPs. Strong tutoring and academic intervention programs, 48 - 96 minute classes per day in arts discipline, Enrichment Programs, Internships with Arts Agencies and Partnerships with New York City's top arts and cultural institutions, Partnership with Columbia University

Other Features: College Trips, Community School, Community Service Expected, Expert College and Career Advisor On Staff, Free After School, Internships, Online Grading System, Paid Apprenticeships, Paid Internships

School Features:

Audition Offered
School whose primary location is co-located with another school
Guidance Counselors

Upcoming Events

October 9, 2025 @ 6:00 pm Open House
October 16, 2025 @ 6:00 pm Open House
October 23, 2025 @ 6:00 pm Open House
October 30, 2025 @ 6:00 pm Open House

AP Courses, Languages, Sports, Art

AP Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Studio Art - 2D, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern

Languages Offered

Spanish

Diploma Endorsements

Arts, NYS Seal of Biliteracy

Boys PSAL Sports

Basketball

Girls PSAL Sports

Basketball

PSAL Team

Wadleigh Secondary School

Other Sports

Fitness, Step, Volleyball, Yoga

Clubs

Art Club, Cheerleading, Cosmetology Club, Film Club, Fitness Club, Gaming Club, Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Glee Club, My brother’s Keeper, My sister’s Keeper., Theater Club, Volleyball Club, Yoga Club

Art

Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing and Visual Arts offers students attending grades six through twelve the opportunity to compete academically as well as professionally in today's rapidly advancing 21st century. Our diverse instructional program immerses students in a curriculum that embraces classical tradition as well as contemporary artistic styles and genres. Wadleigh's professional preparation and rigorous college preparatory instruction engenders excellence in students studying drawing, painting, theater, dance, instrumental music, and vocal music. The Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the arts challenge students to expand their knowledge and creative skill sets. Students have the opportunity to receive a Chancellor's Endorsed Diploma in The Arts by passing the arts commencement exams. At Wadleigh, students collaborate with their peers, teachers, and industry leaders to create a balanced educational experience that celebrates innovation as well as artistic and academic achievement. Wadleigh provides a real-world understanding about the lives of professional artists as well as guidance regarding professional artistic career choices. Students partake in internships and obtain exposure in the art world through opportunities to perform and showcase their work. As a premier arts school in the Harlem community, equity and excellence are the foundation that drive strong instruction, nurture intellectual curiosity and support Wadleigh's all-encompassing Pedagogy of Love.

Program Details

Vocal Music(M26R)
Performing Arts

This program exposes students to music theory, history, and voice techniques. Students perform in a variety of genres: classical, jazz, Broadway, gospel, and popular music. The Wadleigh Chamber Choir has performed at: Carnegie Hall, Apollo Theater, Barclay Center, Riverside Church, National Chorale Festival, Manhattan Borough Arts Festival, Songs of Solomon Gospel Choir, NYC All-City Chorus, NYC Summer Arts Institute, Metropolitan Opera, National Chorale, and Lincoln Center Jazz.

Method:

Audition

Requirement:

Students are ranked by the school based on their auditions. Offers are made in priority group and rank order.

Priority:

(Group 1) Continuing 8th graders
(Group 2) New York City residents

Applicant Analysis

	2023-24	2022-23
GE applicants/seats:	7 / 25 (0.28)	21 / 25 (0.84)
SWD applicants/seats:	4 / 7 (0.57)	3 / 7 (0.43)
Rank Avg:	6.49
	Offers	Offers - Waitlist

School Student & Admissions Statistics

School Year

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

Total Students Across All Grades

274

303

297

Grade 12 Students

Grade 11 Students

Grade 10 Students

Grade 9 Students

Avg. Class Size

18.1

20.2

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

8.4

9.2

9.5

Safety Comp. / Susp. / NYPD

0 / 0 / 22

0 / 9 / 4

0 / 16 / 43

Attendance %

86%

87%

Graduation %

100%

College %

47%

59%

Total Applicants / Seats

Total Offers

826 (130) / 128
0

956 (234) / 128
170

This data was gathered from various NYC DOE reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/information-and-data-overview

Survey Summary & Data (2024-25)

Student Responses 80% responded

Academic Rigor

68.50%

Academic Engagement

57.82%

Safety

72.50%

Bully Prevention

63.38%

Inclusivity

78.27%

Mental Support

64.25%

Environment

58.93%

Post-School Support

68.67%

Teacher Responses 60% responded

Academic Rigor

78.00%

School Satisfaction

81.25%

Student Behavior

59.00%

Student Support

84.93%

School Leadership

77.67%

Instructional Clarity

82.20%

Instructional Development

78.44%

Post-School Support

88.50%

Family Responses 21% responded

Education

92.63%

Teacher Support

86.17%

Safety

87.00%

School Community

66.38%

School Leadership

79.00%

Post-School Support

91.00%

IEP Support

100.00%

Note: Yellow bars indicate city-wide averages for the associated category

Academic Summary & Data (2023-24)

Academic Proficiency

4-Year Grad. %

100.00%

CC Regents

Non-CC Regents

Impact Score

0.6

Performance Score

0.59

College Aptitude

CCR

45.20%

SAT Math

414

SAT R/W

430

Postsecondary

2-Year College 14.10%
4-Year College 56.40%
Unknown 29.50%

School Demographics (2024-25)

Student Population:

Male 24.80%
Female 75.20%

English Language Learners:

1.90%

Students with Disabilities:

25.10%

Economic Need Index:

90.90%

Student Ethnicity:

Asian 1.90%
Black 35.90%
Hispanic 54.90%
White 2.50%
Other 4.80%

Teacher Ethnicity:

Black 34.20%
Hispanic 18.40%
White 34.20%
Other 13.20%

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's demographic snapshots: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/information-and-data-overview

IEP Statistics (2023-24)

IEP Services

Students with IEPs

21.10%

Students with SETSS

3.60%

Students with ICT

10.20%

Students with SC

0.30%

Has all programs

100.00%

Has some programs

0.00%

Has no programs

0.00%

Has all services

100.00%

Has some services

0.00%

Has no services

0.00%

IEP Student Performance

Regents English

Regents US Hist.

Regents Algebra I

Regents Living Env.

4-Year Grad. Rate

100

IEP Movement

Fair

IEP Support

100.00%

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly quality reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/school-quality-reports-and-resources

Special Education Programs & Services (2024-25)

Program	Fully Receiving	Partially Receiving	Not Receiving
Integrated Co-Teaching Services	59 (100%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
SETSS	10 (100%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)

Service	Fully Receiving	Partially Receiving	Not Receiving
Counseling Services	>5 (93%)	N/A (N/A)	<=5 (7%)
Hearing Education Services	<=5 (100%)	N/A (N/A)	0 (0%)
Occupational Therapy	8 (100%)	N/A (N/A)	0 (0%)
Physical Therapy	0 (0%)	N/A (N/A)	<=5 (100%)
Speech-Language Therapy	>5 (98%)	N/A (N/A)	<=5 (2%)

Transportation	Number Receiving
Curb to School	7 (100%)
Stop to School	0 (0%)
Unassigned	0 (0%)

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's Special Education Reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/government-reports/special-education-reports

ELL Performance (2023-24)

ELL Progress

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly quality reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/school-quality-reports-and-resources

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