DREAM Charter
high school

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Currently enrolling

20 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10454

Welcome to DREAM
Charter High School

DREAM Charter High School was born to create powerfully literate young people who recognize that their capacity to read, write, and speak are tools to drive social change. At DCHS, students have access to AP courses, one-on-one college counseling, free afterschool and summer programming, and so much more. As a result, DCHS graduates are both highly skilled and critically conscious – and every day, they’re out in the world making a difference.

At a glance

96%

DCHS graduation rate

100%

Class of 2023 college acceptance rate

100%

of students are engaged in summer programming, extracurriculars, and college prep

Meet Daniela

Daniela immigrated to New York on her own from Mexico in seventh grade, speaking only a little English. She joined the DREAM family as an eighth grader, but when it came time for high school, she was hesitant about DCHS. After all, the school was in its founding year, just starting out. For a high-achieving, ambitious student like Daniela, we had to prove ourselves to her.

For Daniela, our village of teachers, youth workers, advisors, and other support staff did deliver–and so did Daniela herself. Once shy about talking in class or making friends, she flourished in high school. Now, Daniela is a student at Stanford University. “I look at my past decisions and realize I’m not scared,” she said. “DREAM made me stronger.”

Learn More About the DREAM Graduate

Meet Principal
Brandon Taylor

Brandon serves as Principal at DREAM Charter High School. Originally from South Jamaica, Queens, NY, he wants to ensure that future generations are prepared to address the major social and environmental issues of the future. 
Read his bio

place matters

At DREAM, we believe that every child deserves a beautiful space to play, learn, and grow. DREAM Charter High School is located at 20 Bruckner Boulevard, a brand-new, state-of-the-art school located in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx that is also the future home of DREAM Mott Haven Elementary and Middle Schools.

The building at 20 Bruckner Boulevard is iconic—a 200,000 square foot, 120-year-old former icehouse given new life as a learning institution. Built to serve 1,300 scholars at capacity, 20 Bruckner features:

  • Rooftop that functions as an outdoor classroom, play space, and garden
  • State-of-the-art gymnasium that meets the standards of a regulation court gym
  • Double-height, light-filled, cathedral-type library space
  • STEM Quad featuring specialty classrooms and laboratories
  • Double-height art wing with built-in spatial flexibility
  • And more

our curriculum

DREAM’s curriculum prepares students for college and beyond by developing critical literacy skills needed for their success as professionals and as agents of social change.

Throughout their time at DREAM, students assemble a portfolio of college-level performance assessments. This portfolio is representative of students’ ability to learn, apply, and reflect across all disciplines. In their Defenses of Learning, 10th and eventually 12th grade students present and defend their portfolio as a capstone activity and rite of passage. A successful Defense of Learning signals to graduates, families, and the school community that the student is well prepared for the rigor of college and challenges that lie beyond.

COURSES AVAILABLE

Freshman Courses
  • Algebra
  • American Literature I
  • Global History
  • Living Environment
  • Performing Arts
Sophomore Courses
  • American Literature II
  • Earth Science
  • Geometry
  • Global History II
  • Visual Arts
Junior Courses
  • Algebra II
  • AP Seminar
  • AP US History Algebra II
  • AP Environmental Science
  • Spanish II
Senior Courses
  • AP Literature
  • AP Research
  • AP Bio
  • Statistics
  • Calculus

Free Afterschool & Summer Programming

Every DREAM student is guaranteed a spot in our free afterschool and summer programming. That's because we believe that an extended-day, extended-year model is key to nurturing scholars' whole selves, keeping students engaged all day long and all year long through a mix of academic support, social-emotional learning programming, sports-based programming, and enrichment activities like field trips. For our high school students, summer programming includes youth employment opportunities.

Once your child is enrolled for the fall, they can get a head start on their DREAM journey that summer; all incoming students are guaranteed a spot in our summer programming.
Learn more about summer at DREAM

College Access & Postsecondary Support

91%

of the Class of 2022 enrolled at a 4-year or 2-year institution

1:1

All juniors and seniors have monthly one-on-ones with college counselors

100%

of alumni receive 6 years of formal support after graduation

College Access

DREAM Charter High School’s Office of College Access & Postsecondary Success (OCAPSS) leads a robust college access program that ensures all students and families receive the personalized support, services, and resources required to successfully enroll and graduate from a best-fit college, university, or quality postsecondary program.

Composed of the Lower House Youth Development Center and the Upper House College Counseling Office, the OCAPSS Team is charged with leading and facilitating relevant and impactful studio sessions, workshops, and programming to ensure that all students in grades 9 - 12 develop and strengthen the following:

- Social Emotional Learning
- College Readiness
- Student Life Programming
- College Access
- Career Readiness & Life Satisfaction

By the end of their senior year, students will be committed to their best-fit postsecondary program, be it a 4-year college or university, 2-year community college, or workforce preparation program.

DREAM has affiliations with multiple college access and admission organizations, including CACNY, NCAN, NACAC, NYSACAC. For more information about OCAPSS at DREAM, contact Briana Avery, Director of College, at bavery@wearedream.org.
Explore DCHS's school profile

Postsecondary Support

And support from DREAM doesn’t end after high school. All DREAM alumni graduate into our Legends program, which provides six years of formal support and resources as youth pursue their postsecondary pathways.
Learn more about DREAM's alumni programming

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a charter school?
Charter schools are public schools, free and open to all, that have the autonomy and freedom to design classrooms that meet the needs of all students. Every charter school network has its own principles and practices, which can result in different outcomes for students and families. At DREAM Charter Schools, all teachers are NYS-certified and we are committed to a model that welcomes every child and serves all of their needs - academic, social-emotional, and physical.
What is DREAM’s application process?
Students are selected through a lottery process, and it’s free to apply. Applications must be submitted by the lottery deadline, which is in early April; applications received after the deadline will be placed on a waitlist in the order in which they are received. You can apply online or by using a print application, which are available in English, Spanish, and French. You can access online and print applications at www.wearedream.org/enroll.
What are DREAM’s hours? Does DREAM offer afterschool programming?
Breakfast is from 7:30-7:55. The school day begins at 7:45 am and ends at 4:00 pm, with afterschool continuing until 5:45 pm. In a typical year, Friday dismissal is at 1:00 pm or 5:00 pm for scholars participating in afterschool. All DREAM scholars are guaranteed a spot in our free afterschool programming, as well as our free summer programming.
Where is DREAM Charter High School located? Does DCHS offer busing?
DREAM Charter High School is located at 20 Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx. Busing is currently only available for students who have an IEP that requires transportation.
What kind of support does DREAM offer for children with IEPs and/or special needs?
DREAM believes in every child, and 29% of our students have identified special needs. All our classrooms are have an integrated co-teaching model (with two teachers in every classroom) as well as onsite counseling, speech language therapy, physical therapy, hearing support services, occupational therapy, and paraprofessional services. 100% of IEP services are provided in person. For our students without IEPs, DREAM offers Tier 2 Support services in the form of both academic and social-emotional interventions.
Do you offer English language learner services? If so, what services are offered?
DREAM offers two models for English Language Learner Teaching, depending on the student’s needs. In the Stand-Alone Model, ELLs/MLLs are taken out of the mainstream classroom for a block of the day to receive language support through a designated ELL curriculum. Lessons emphasize building speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills to improve both academic and social language and accelerate progress in the core classroom. In the Integrated Co-Teaching model, the ELL/MLL teacher comes into the mainstream classroom and works with the content area teacher to provide extra language support to ELLs/MLLs. It is a collaboration between the general education or content teacher and the English as a New Language teacher.
Who can I contact if I have additional questions or want more information?
You can reach out to enrollment@wearedream.org. We’re here to help and will get back to you as soon as possible!
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