Core elements of the educational design include:

In grades 9-10, Uncommon Charter High School's literacy program includes 90 minutes of daily literacy instruction, at least 30 minutes of required independent reading each night, and required summer reading accompanied by fall comprehension assignments.

UCHS does not use an off-the-shelf curriculum. The school develops its curriculum directly from the New York State Learning Standards that ensures students master a core set of basic academic skills before they can master higher-level, abstract material.




To ensure that every student masters each and every standard, UCHS provides more time on task. This means a longer school year, an extended school day, mandatory homework help and afterschool tutoring and required four-hour Saturday School for struggling students.




UCHS uses internally developed Interim Assessment Exams to diagnose student needs, measure instructional effectiveness, adjust curricula, and build a culture of continuous reflection and improvement.




Students will be actively engaged in the college search process from day one of high school. College Counselors and Grade Level Deans will coach students throughout high school to ensure that students explore their academic and extra-curricular interests, successfully complete all testing and college application requirements, and pursue financial aid opportunities. The school will support students to find summer internships in New York City and will also aim to provide students with yearly opportunities to travel abroad. In addition, UCHS will partner with local universities to provide opportunities for our students to take college electives for credit. The goal is for the freshman year of college to become a natural extension of graduating from high school.




Students need a safe and orderly environment to be productive. UCHS creates a calm, composed, and disciplined environment to maximize the amount of time on-task, including a strictly enforced school dress code, a merit and demerit system that defines clear expectations for and immediate responses to positive and negative behavior, a rubric system that provides constant feedback to classes, and a common Blackboard Configuration consisting of a Do Now, Objective, Agenda, and Homework.