| Manhattan Village Academy | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 43 W. 22 St., Manhattan, New York City, USA 10010 |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Public high school |
| School district | 2 |
| Principal | Hector Geager |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Number of students | 433 |
| Color(s) | Blue and Gray |
| Mascot | Silver Hawk |
| Website | Manhattan Village Academy |
Manhattan Village Academy (MVA) is a small, public high school located in Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City. It consists of grades 9–12. The school is part of the New York City Department of Education. The administration is currently headed by principal Hector Geager.[1]
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Manhattan Village Academy was founded in 1993 by Mary Butz, a 25-year veteran of the New York City Board of Education. Butz was invited to establish this new small public high school by famed educator Deborah Meier, who worked closely with Ted Sizer and the Center for Collaborative Education. Butz persuaded nationally known architect Beverly Willis to design the space for the school in a commercial loft building in Chelsea, Manhattan, pro bono; Butz recruited the students and faculty, and shaped the culture of the school around the ideas of "reason, respect, and responsibility." The motto of the school from its inception was "a good school dedicated to the liberal arts."
Manhattan Village Academy is currently housed within two floors of an office building. It was part of a NYC Board of Education decision to place small schools in rented places. The historic art deco styled tower which houses the school is a New York City landmark. The interior of the school was designed by renowned architect Beverly Willis and the Architecture Research Institute. The floor plan features minimal long corridor spaces and emphasizes the "Locus" plan, clusters of classrooms for each grade, four in total, each with a common area. Freshmen and sophomores have classes on the second floor while juniors and seniors have classes on the third floor. On the second floor, the two clusters are divided by a cafeteria space fenced in by small rails. The two clusters on the third floor are separated by a dance studio, now used as the music room. The third floor also features a multimedia center complete with a library, computer lab, study space, and another classroom. The entrance is on the first floor and is accentuated with a long curved industrial-styled staircase. The designs for the school were completed in 1996 within a time period of 12 months[2][3]
The school observes a strict uniform policy. Students are required to wear gray slacks with a white button-down shirt or white polo with the school logo, and black shoes. Clothing must be ordered from Flynn & O'Hara, an Irish uniform company in The Bronx.[4]
Students applying for admission to Manhattan Village Academy are screened and a specified level of academic achievement is required for admission. In the 2009 school year, there were 2,883 applicants for admission for only 100 seats available for 9th grade.[4]
The school is partnered with New York University, Bard College, John Jay College, and Hunter College.[4]