Mission Statement

  • Staff standing together
  • students and staff member in classroom
  • student and teacher
  • teacher at the front of a classroom

Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy is a school for leadership.  We are a New York City public school for students in grades six to twelve dedicated to supporting students to become active, college-ready leaders of their community in the spirit of Dr. Pantoja.  Because we are a small school, we get to know every student well and support their needs and growth.   

 

Students join APPA in sixth grade to participate in our full seven-year sequence or preparation for college and career success.  Other students join us in ninth grade to spend our high school years with us.  Regardless of when they join us, all students are fully supported in a rich, skill-based curriculum dedicated to developing their minds and hearts. 

 

Students who graduate APPA are thoughtful, literate young men and women ready for college and prepared to make the world a better place. 

 

APPA is a Community School

As a center of the community, APPA partners with a range of programs and agencies to support both the academic and social-emotional growth of our families.  APPA’s central community partner is the Bronx YMCA.  Y staff members serve as mentors and teaching assistants in each of our grade levels.  Middle school students may opt-in to the YMCA afterschool program, which offers free STEM, art, and enrichment programming to students each day until 5:30 pm. 

 

APPA also partners with Montefiore, which provides a free health clinic on site for all families.  Students may receive full dental, medical, and vision services through the clinic right on our floor.  

Academics and Programming

APPA is first and foremost a school for learning.  We offer the following challenging academic program:

 

  • AP History, English, and Spanish Courses
  • College Credit courses through Monroe College
  • Summer Youth Employment
  • SAT Prep Classes
  • Seal of Civic Readiness
  • Seal of Bilingualism

Leadership Pathways

Students at APPA complete one of two Leadership Pathways as a way to learn leadership skills.   Our Leadership program is grounded in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens and supports students in developing the organizational, study, and collaborative skills necessary for success. 

 

Pathway 1: All Students

Pathway 2: Optional

7th Grade Enrichment:  The Leader in Me

 

9th Grade Freshmen Seminar: 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

 

11th Grade College Readiness:  Take Charge

 

10th Grade Peace Ambassadors: Restorative Justice Training

 

11th Grade Peace Ambassadors: Mentors of Middle School Students

 

12th Grade: Lighthouse Tea,

Individualized Learning Path

Every student at APPA is challenged to grow as a learning and develop their literacy and mathematical skills.  Each student has an individual conference with their teacher about their skill level and sets goals to “grow their brain” over the course of the year.  All students are then placed in specific interventions and courses for their needs, with the goal of all students reading and doing math on grade level.  To that end, APPA provides:

 

  • High-Interest Classroom Libraries
  • Phonics, Comprehension, and fluency classes
  • Algebra Lab
  • Computer-Adapted Learning Software