The Door hosts several Department of Education programs, including the Key Academy; Unity High School, an alternative school; a range of GED classes, including Arts Access; and Supplemental Educational Services (SES).
The Key Academy
The Key Academy provides students who have been given one-year suspensions for major infractions with a supportive school environment integrating intensive counseling and supportive services in small classes. The goal of the Key Academy is to enable students to successfully return to the general population after their suspensions. The Door integrates the program's academic component with supportive counseling services, including art, music, dance and drama therapy. Traditional counseling services, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention and support services are also available.
Enrollment in the Key Academy is arranged through the Department of Education. The Door cannot enroll students into this Department of Education program. For more information on the Key Academy - The Door School, please call Supervisor Katherine Hammer at (212) 941-9090 ext. 3272.
Unity High School
Unity High School is a four-year, diploma-granting alternative high school located in the same building as The Door. Unity began in 1992 as a public/private partnership between the New York City Board of Education, The Door and Citibank. Unity annually enrolls about 200 students who are required to take an academic program that includes three years of college preparatory math and science, computer literacy and career explorations activities. The goals of The Door/Unity High School Academic Enrichment Program are to expand and increase Unity students' opportunities for educational attainment and achievement and to promote a more positive transition from high school to college and career for these students. The Door provides access to tutorials, remedial and enrichment courses and career exploration and vocational training.
If you are interested in enrolling in Unity, or for more information,
please call (212) 343-8038.
GED (General Equivalency Degree) programs
The Door offers GED (General Equivalency Degree) programs in conjunction with the New York City Department of Education, to prepare students for the GED exam. In order to enroll, a young person must complete a membership interview and a placement exam. The Department of Education requires that students bring a copy of immunization records and a transcript. Students must be at least 16 years old to start the program. A 16-year-old student MUST reach his/her 17th birthday within the school calendar year (September-June).
A unique component of The Door's GED programs is Arts Access, a literacy-based studio art class that prepares students for the GED. By the end of the class, students have gained not only the academic skills they need, but also have created an art portfolio. Arts Access graduates have been accepted to many prestigious colleges and art schools, including Cooper Union.
The Supplemental Educational Services Program (SES)
The Supplemental Educational Services Program (SES) is a partnership between The Door and The New York City Department of Education. Our program provides intensive individual and group tutoring services in the areas of Math, English, and English Language Arts to students in low-performing New York City Schools. In addition to services offered at The Door, we also provide SES at Unity High School and East Side Community High School.
