DREAM east harlem
middle school

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Currently enrolling for Grades 6-8

1991 2nd Ave, New York NY, 10029

Welcome to
DREAM East Harlem Middle School

At DREAM East Harlem Middle 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

30:2

student/teacher ratio

2

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

Every year

DREAM scholars outperform their city and state peers in testing

voices from our community

“I know high school will be hard, and college will be even harder. And then there’s medical school. But I won’t give up. At DREAM, I’m building a mindset to persevere. I will become a neurosurgeon.”

- Celine, East Harlem Middle School scholar

Meet Principal
Alison Browne

Alison first joined DREAM in 2015 and served as a social studies teacher at East Harlem Middle School, then grade team lead, then Academic Dean, and most recently, Principal in Residence. Today, she leads East Harlem Middle School as Principal.
READ HER BIO

Alison Browne

Principal

Alison Browne, Middle School Principal, leads grades sixth through eighth at DREAM East Harlem. Alison began her career in 2013 as a Teach for America Corps Member where she was a high school social studies teacher in Metro Atlanta. During this time she supported the development of 9th grade social studies curriculum and became certified as an AP teacher.

Alison transitioned to DREAM in 2015, where she was a 6th and 8th grade social studies teacher at East Harlem Middle School. She continued to grow and develop as a leader at DREAM as she became a grade team lead, Academic Dean and most recently Principal in Residence. In this role, Alison fell in love with adult learning, building capacity in others, and leading with excellence in mind. After serving as an Academic Dean for 4 years, Alison is honored to transition into the Principal role where she can continue to serve the staff, students and families of East Harlem Middle School.

Alison earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Emory University and her Masters Degree at Georgia State University through Teach for America. Alison also completed the New Leaders Aspiring Principal Program in 2020. Alison is committed to being a lifelong learner, a partner with all families here at DREAM, and supporting a school environment where students can fail, persist, and exceed.

place matters

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

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

Our middle school curriculum is built upon the foundation that students learn best when they grapple with engaging content that is rigorous and relevant. That means rigorous instruction that allows children to think critically and imaginatively. Subjects include:

  • English Language Arts
  • Math
  • Intervention
  • Science
  • Social Studies and Debate
  • Advisory
  • Physical Education
  • Electives: Art and Music

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 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 East Harlem Middle School located? Does EHMS offer busing?
DREAM East Harlem Middle School is located at 1991 2nd Avenue. 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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