School Without Walls (Rochester, New York)

School Without Walls, located in Rochester, New York, United States, is a high school for students in grades 9-12, and is an example of an alternative school.

School Without Walls
Address
480 Broadway Rochester , New York US
Coordinates	43°8′51.6″N 77°36′0.6″W
Information
Type	Public high school
Motto	Where Learning Has No Limits
Established	1971
School district	Rochester City School District
Principal	Idonia Owens
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	~250
Color(s)	Black and white
Website	http://www.rcsdk12.org/Domain/5459

Demographics

• Hispanic 16.5%
• White 24.3%
• African American 57.0%
• Asian 1.5%
• Native American 0.8%

The free/reduced lunch rate is 68% of students.

History

In 1968, students at Monroe High School presented an idea to the principal for an alternative education program. In October 1969, teachers began helping students attain their goal. Parents, teachers and students soon joined forces. Led by Lew Marks (1932-2010), an English teacher at the school, they presented a proposal for the School Without Walls to the District Superintendent in January 1971. On February 4, 1971, the Board of Education approved the proposal that created the School Without Walls, which opened in September 1971 at 4 Elton Street, sharing space with the Visual Studies Workshop at the time.

Subsequent locations included the 5th floor of the building at 50 West Main Street, and a floor of the building at 400 Andrews Street, both in Rochester. School Without Walls moved to its present building, the former Sears Automotive building located near Monroe High School, in 1987. The middle school was closed in 2013.

Notable alumni

• Branden Albert
• Nicholson Baker
• Jim Hilgartner
• Joy Ladin

See also

• Rochester City School District

External links

• School Without Walls