The Institute for Collaborative Education (also called ICE) is a college-preparatory public secondary school (grades 6–12) in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City near Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village. Part of the DOE's District 2, the school is known for its small class sizes and progressive educational values.[2][3]

The school is philosophically opposed to high-stakes standardized tests.[4] It is a member of the New York Performance Standards Consortium and is "given a waiver from the chancellor's uniform curriculum."[5] As a Consortium school, ICE's students are exempt from taking most Regents exams. Instead, students present "PBAT" (Performance-Based Assessment Task) projects at the end of each semester to panels of teachers, parents, and outside community members.[6]

Until recently, ICE was a screened school, requiring middle school applicants to submit an essay and undergo an interview.[2] After the COVID-19 pandemic, the school changed to a lottery system, but with two "priority groups":

  • Diversity: 50% of the school's seats go to students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch
  • Sibling priority: Students with a sibling currently in 6th through 11th grade at ICE have priority[7]

History

ICE was founded in 1993 by John Pettinato as an educational alternative to the Regents Exam-based testing system in favor of portfolio-based assessment. ICE was also designed to be a haven for unhoused and underserved youths. (Pettinato had earlier founded the Greenwich Village Youth Council, established in 1969.)[8]

Academics

Overview

As part of its commitment to resisting high-stakes standardized tests, the school "specifically invites parents of middle-school students to join the opt-out initiative, asking them to demonstrate support for the kind of teaching and learning the school provides, an approach that is antagonistic to rote test preparation."[9]

The New York Times described ICE's approach to learning as "one that fosters the knowledge and the style of critical thinking that the Common Core and most sane, intelligent people understand as essential. In sixth grade, the year of entry, children currently combine a study of ancient Rome with an analysis and performance of elements of Julius Caesar. In seventh grade, a mock trial is conducted around Macbeth".[9]

Most ICE students stay at the school through high school, with only 5-15 ninth-grade seats available per year.[7]

"Eleventh graders take neuroscience in addition to biology and chemistry."[6]

In keeping with its opposition to high-stakes tests, the school does not offer Advanced Placement courses.

In 2012, ICE "received an 'A' on its DOE progress report and graduated 86.4 percent of its high school students in four years."[10] In 2022, the high school boasted a 98.6% graduation rate.[11]

Internships

ICE seniors spend the second semester pursuing an internship for 26 hours per week.[12]

Campus

A view of the facade of the Old Stuyvesant Campus in 2021. The school name remains engraved in the pediment.
The Old Stuyvesant Campus on East 15th Street, as seen in 2021, which houses (among other schools) the Institute for Collaborative Education

ICE is housed in the old Stuyvesant High School building at 345 East 15th Street, alongside two other schools — the High School for Health Professions and Human Services and P.S. 226, a school for students with moderate to severe developmental disabilities.

Culture

The Institute for Collaborative Education offers an array of organizations, extracurricular activities, and student clubs, including Deeds Art and Literay Magazine, Model United Nations, chess, Art/Fashion Workroom, Museum Club, Community Service Club, the High School Drama Club, Cheer Team, Student Council, Newspaper Club, Baking Club, Girls Leadership Club, Scientific Research Club, Movie Club, Russian Literature Club, Debate, Big Sis Little Sis, Photo Documentary Club, Cooking Club, the Black and Brown Students Union, Disability Pride Club, and Crochet Club.[13]

The school has a renowned student jazz program, with such notable faculty as Roy Nathanson[14] and Albert Marquès.[15]

In keeping with the school's progressive political values, it has been known for student activism, on such issues as advocating for death row inmate Keith LaMar[16] and banning carriage horses.[17]

Educational travel has become an important part of the school's culture, with an annual trip to Nepal where students learn the art of photography as well as the work of the Denali Foundation and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Nepal).[18] Other past educational travel destinations include Mexico and Europe. Fundraising efforts at the school ensure that all students, no matter what their family resources, have the ability to go on the trips.

Model United Nations

ICE's Model United Nations debates solutions to international issues, and attends conferences within New York City, as well as throughout the United States. In 2023, ICE's delegation won the NHSMUN conference's First Place Distinction Award for Research and Preparedness.[19]

Athletics

ICE offers an array of athletic teams for its students. Middle school sports include soccer, flag football, and girls basketball; while high school teams include boys' baseball, basketball, and soccer; and girls' basketball, indoor track, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

Transportation

The New York City Subway's First Avenue station, served by the L train, is nearby.[20] Additionally, MTA Regional Bus Operations' M14A, M14D, M15 and M15 SBS routes stop near ICE.[21] Students residing a certain distance from the school are provided full-fare or half-fare student MetroCards for public transportation at the start of each term, based on the distance the student resides from the school.[22]

Student demographics

As of 2025, student demographics were as follows: 46% White, 20% Hispanic, 18% Black, 7% Asian, 9% Other. Approximately 51 out of 100 students are male.[23]

Principals

  • 1993–Feb. 2012 John Pettinato[24][25]
  • Feb. 2012–present Peter Karp[3]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b "Search for Public Schools - Institute for Collaborative Education (360007701720)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Algar, Selim (May 28, 2020). "DOE official in charge of NYC admissions debate sent his child to top screened school". METRO. New York Post.
  3. ^ a b Dubler-Furman, Mira (October 30, 2023). "Downsized: The Fight Over New York City's Classrooms". The Politic. Yale University.
  4. ^ Hartocollis, Anemona (March 6, 2002). "Boycotts and a Bill Protest Mandatory State Tests". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Saulny, Susan (December 27, 2005). "In Middle Class, Signs of Anxiety on School Efforts". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b Fertig, Beth (June 22, 2015). "When Research Projects Replace State Tests". WNYC.
  7. ^ a b "Admissions Information for SY 2025-2026". Institute for Collaborative Education.
  8. ^ Siegel, Jefferson (May 11, 2010). "The 'kids' are all right, thanks to council program". The Villager. amNY.
  9. ^ a b Bellafante, Ginia (March 28, 2014). "Standing Up to Testing". BIG CITY. The New York Times.
  10. ^ "New Schools Inside Clinton Look to Lure 2nd Round Students". Norwood News. April 5, 2013.
  11. ^ Amin, Reema; Zimmerman, Alex (February 16, 2022). "NYC High School Graduation Rates Up as State Requirements Lowered". EDUCATION. The City. Chalkbeat.
  12. ^ "I.C.E. High School Internship Program". Institute for Collaborative Education. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  13. ^ "Clubs - Fall 2024". Institute for Collaborative Education.
  14. ^ Brown, T.M. (June 15, 2018). "For Experimental Jazz Group Onyx Collective, the Only Rule Is 'No Rules'". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Zornosa, Laura (February 11, 2022). "Jazz Freed Keith LaMar's Soul. Can It Help Him Get Off Death Row?". The New York Times.
  16. ^ Franklin, Elsabet (June 18, 2021). "Juneeteenth Is a Celebration of Liberation, But Mass Incarceration Lives On". Politics. Teen Vogue.
  17. ^ "East Village students say 'nay' to carriage horses — try to spur Rivera to intro legislation". The Village Sun. January 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "Institute for Collaborative Education". Niche. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  19. ^ Leitner, Sasha (May 7, 2024). "Teen Delegates Confront Concerns: Model United Nations members ready themselves for national conference amidst controversy and conflict at the org". LIFESTYLE. New York Post.
  20. ^ "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  21. ^ "Manhattan Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  22. ^ "Student MetroCards". Office of Pupil Transportation. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  23. ^ "Institute for Collaborative Education". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  24. ^ Edelman, Susan (August 12, 2012). "Boys-sleepover principal quits". New York Post.
  25. ^ Edelman, Susan (October 16, 2011). "Principal kind or kinda shady". METRO. New York Post.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Collaborative_Education
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