Salk School of Science

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The Salk School of Science is a junior high school, located in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1995 as a unique collaboration between the New York University School of Medicine and the New York City Department of Education. The goal of the school is to encourage an enthusiasm for, and the development of abilities in, the sciences, particularly the medical and biological sciences. A particular aim is to encourage city children - especially girls and children of color - to consider medicine as a career goal.^[1]

The school was named for Jonas Salk, developer of the first polio vaccine. Dr. Salk approved the use of his name by NYU before his death in 1995.

The school's nontraditional discovery based learning methodology has been cited as resulting in improved cognitive and reasoning skills in students.^[2]

Members of the New York medical community work with the school to develop curriculum, and members of the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry at NYU teach and mentor students in grades 6-8. The NYU Medical Center makes facilities available to the school, and members of the science faculty of the NYU School of Medicine review school students at certain points in their school career (notably at admission and graduation).^[1]

Although the school is dubbed as a "Science school", the middle school is also heavy on Humanities (Reading, Writing and Social Studies), as well as Math. Other notable classes include Spanish, Art, Physical Education, Technology, and other courses.