The mission of The Urban Assembly Academy of Arts & Letters is to provide young learners, grades 6 through 8, with a highly rigorous, student-centered education that will prepare them for leadership and success in college and life. Through academic study and a sharp focus on the creative communication strategies students need to succeed, we will graduate tomorrow’s “ones to watch,” individuals who communicate and lead with courage, confidence, creativity, and clarity. On graduation day, our students will have the deep and abiding sense that every moment counts, that people are indeed watching, and that that is a good thing, because they are going places.

Our vision was born from a set of driving beliefs: We believe that connections—between people and ideas—drive learning. We believe growth matters. We believe that all people learn given the right opportunities and resources. We believe that people learn best through authentic, meaningful challenges, often by doing and showing what they understand. We believe that clear and high expectations are a key determining factor of success. Finally, we believe that school is a place where students should find and share their voices.