The newest public high school in Newark prepares students for careers in architecture, design, and the building trades, with a curriculum developed in partnership with Pratt Institute.
The Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design, the city’s 65th school and the latest addition under the Newark Public Schools’ 10-year strategic plan, is among the first in the state to focus on careers in these disciplines. The school, housed in the former St. James Hospital, welcomed its inaugural class of 212 ninth-grade students in September and will grow by one grade level each year.
Pratt, serving as the district’s post-secondary education partner, plays a key role in developing the school’s academic framework. Faculty from Pratt’s School of Architecture and School of Design, alongside the Office of Research and Strategic Partnerships, will develop the curriculum for all four years, introducing students to foundational principles of architectural and interior design, as well as allied fields such as planning, real estate, and construction management. The curriculum will align with building trades coursework that covers plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems, which will help students build essential knowledge across both design and technical domains.
“We are proud to partner and launch the Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design, bringing Pratt Institute’s world-renowned expertise to expand youth access to the creative disciplines through the public school system,” said Pratt President Frances Bronet. “This partnership builds on our long history of creating cradle-through-career pathways for young people, from the opening of our Saturday Art School program in 1897 to our more recent collaboration with Bank Street College of Education and New York City’s Department of Education to found Design Works High School.”
Pratt’s Saturday Art School continues to welcome students to Pratt’s campus with the goal of expanding access to art and design education to local New York City children. The Design Works High School prepares students for college and careers while empowering them to become changemakers in their communities. The Institute further partners with public schools through the Pratt Research Yard, where students from Design Works High School, STEAM Center (grades 7-12), and the Pratt STEP Program work alongside Pratt faculty to study and address real-world challenges.
“The Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design represents the very best of what happens when vision, collaboration, and persistence come together,” said Newark Superintendent Roger León. “This school transforms a place of healing into a place of building and learning, and it gives our students a pathway into industries that will shape the future of our city and our world.”
By combining strong community roots and a future-focused curriculum, the new school is laying the foundation for a generation of students to lead in architecture, design, and construction.
“I couldn’t be happier for these Newark students who have begun their journey to learn how to make spaces that give people a sense of self and belonging to a community; a sense of safety and order; a sense of beauty and inspiration,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “I hope they will someday apply what they learn here to building our city’s future, with spaces that spur even deeper connections with each other and our environment.”