Harlem Community School District 5 Home

Student smiling
Student artwork
Group photo in front of a painting
Student painting of Faith Ringgold
Group of people smiling together in a formal setting.
Students sitting in a group smiling
A joyful group of children performing with raised hands in a festive setting.
A diverse group of musicians playing drums on stage at a performance.
Student drawing
Student painting titled "Harlem"
Student smiling in front of their art
Student artwork
Harlem Community School District 5 is among the top 3 districts in NYC for progress made in ELA for the 2023-2024 school year!

District News & Updates

Faith Ringgold's

Family Night at the Guggenheim

May 27, 2025. Harlem Community School District 5 families celebrated a special night of art and community under Faith Ringgold's "Tar Beach" at the Guggenheim museum.
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Welcome to the MECCA!

These five overarching principles outlined above relate to the areas of focus that are necessary for long-lasting success and change within the school communities that are housed in the district. The MECCA ideology relates to the time period during the 1920s and 1930s when Harlem flourished in areas including dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, and politics.
A visual diagram of the following information

Mindfulness - Priority #1

Relationships, Restoration, & Healing

-Professional development in transformative SEL rooted in equity and social justice
-Restorative circles
-Mindful practices
-Culturally responsive pedagogy rooted in liberation and anti-oppression
-Strength-based approaches

Excellence - Priority #2

Leadership & Instructional Best Practices

-District-wide best practice expectations
-Research-based instructional strategies
-Common assessments
-Culturally-responsive leadership and equitable systems & structures

Capacity-Building - Priority #3

Growing Skills & Abilities Across Stakeholders

-Cohesive and aligned district-wide systems and structures
-Cohort-based professional development
-Supporting and scaling what works

Collaboration - Priority #4

Co-creation, Co-liberation, Equity, & Inclusivity

-Elevating stakeholder voices through various mediums
-Actionable & collective engagement
-Collective decision-making
-Fostering relationships through transparency & belongingness

Action - Priority #5

Progress-Monitoring & Data-Driven Decision-Making

-District-wide progress monitoring
-Common assessments & measures
-Data-driven decision-making with support
-Setting crystal clear expectations & goals
-Action planning & implementation with feedback & support

What's Happening in Harlem

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Students sitting on stage for graduation

Congratulations to Our Graduates!

Congratulations to our Harlem Community School District graduates! Just like the vibrant culture and rich history that surrounds you, we know you'll continue to shine brightly as you embark on your next exciting chapter. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!