east harlem
elementary school

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Currently enrolling for Grades K-5

1991 2nd Ave, New York NY, 10029

Welcome to
East Harlem Elementary School

At DREAM East Harlem Elementary School, everything we do is guided by our Whole Child model: the belief that every child needs and deserves not only rigorous academic instruction, but also social-emotional support, physical health and wellness, and the strength of a community behind them. When children are known, seen, and loved, that’s when they have the space to grow into the leaders, innovators, and changemakers of tomorrow.

At a glance

14:1

student/teacher ratio

2

teachers per classroom as part of our unique integrated co-teaching model

4

years in a row of our scholars outperforming their city and state peers in testing

voices from our community

“DREAM has changed my family for the better and my boys love it there. I remember when Jonathan first started. He was being bullied at his current school; his grades were low and so was his confidence. DREAM helped him build that confidence in wanting to push forward and do better. Now he’s in high school and on a great path.”

- Vanessa Castillo, DREAM Mom

Meet Principal
Renee Canales

Renee holds a Masters Degree in Special Education from Hunter College - and that’s the passion that led her to DREAM. She’s been a member of the DREAM family since 2008.
read her bio

Renee Canales

Elementary School Principal

Renee Canales, DREAM East Harlem Elementary School Principal, joined DREAM in 2008 as a REAL Kids Summer Coach. Renee fell in love with the mission and vision of DREAM and has called DREAM “home” for 13 years. Renee taught 1st and 2nd grade and served as Grade Team Lead. She moved into the Academic Dean role in 2016, and in 2019, she became EHES Principal. Renee holds a Masters Degree in Special Education from Hunter College. She is a graduate of Bucknell University, where she studied Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Renee also has a a certification in reading instruction from Lesley University and completed the New Leaders Program in 2017. Renee’s passion for special education is what drew her to DREAM.

place matters

At DREAM, we believe that every child deserves a beautiful space to play, learn, and grow. East Harlem Elementary School is located at 1991 2nd Avenue, our flagship location and headquarters.

Built in 2015 as part of the East Harlem Center for Living and Learning, the space features a playground and park, window walls, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, and even an outdoor classroom.

And of course, just beyond the walls of 1991 sits the Field of Dreams, the ballfield where DREAM was born three decades ago and where our scholars play, learn, and grow to this day.

our curriculum

Rigorous Academics:

  • Literacy: Guided Reading, Interactive Read Aloud, Phonics Instruction, Shared Text, and Close Reading
  • Math: Cognitive Guided Instruction (CGI) Math Routines, and Math Workshop
  • Art: Visual and Performing Arts
  • Music: Theory of Music and Instrumental Music
  • Physical Education: Sports, Health, and Games

Social Emotional Learning:

  • Explicit SEL Instruction: RULER (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence)
  • SEL Skills: Small Group Instruction, and embedded SEL Instruction, Responsive circles & Morning Meeting

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.

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

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 April 1, 2022; 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 East Harlem Elementary School located? Does EHES offer busing?
DREAM East Harlem Elementary School is located at 1991 2nd Avenue. EHES does not currently offer busing.
What kind of support does DREAM offer for children with IEPs and/or special needs?
We welcome all kids at DREAM, and 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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