Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design Welcomes Its First Ninth-Grade Class

NEWARK, N.J. – The site that once was place for healing is now a place for learning and building.

The Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design is Newark Public Schools’ 65th school, and it has now opened its doors to ninth graders who will become the new high school’s first graduating class in 2029.

“Welcome home!” said Principal Soraia Mendes to freshmen who had gathered in the cafeteria for their orientation on Friday. “This is your home. We made history today.”

Indeed, they had. For decades, St. James Hospital served Ironbound residents as a community hospital until its closure in 2008. Today, students at this new high school will have opportunities to learn about plumbing, electrical work, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), as well as architecture, interior design, and real estate.

“You start building your future today. The future is not something you wait for; it’s something you create.” said Mendes, who grew up in the Ironbound neighborhood and attended the Wilson Avenue School. “And that's what our school is all about. You start learning skills that will help you achieve what you want in the long run.”

“The Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design represents the very best of what our district has evolved to through our historic 10-year strategic plan,” said Superintendent León. “We are preparing our students for careers, right here in Newark, while giving them the opportunity to learn by doing. These students will graduate with a high school diploma and the skills, experiences, and confidence to build futures of limitless possibility.”

The Superintendent thanked and acknowledged Havier Nazario, Chief of Staff, Dr. Maria Ortiz, Assistant Superintendent of the district’s high schools, and Assistant Superintendent Sandra Marques, who served as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director for their leadership in establishing the new school.

“The Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design is proof that when we invest in our students, our city, and our future, we create opportunities that transform lives,” said Board President Hasani K. Council. “On behalf of the Board, I commend Superintendent León, his administrative team, and the teachers, staff, and families who are part of this historic freshman class.”

Before they graduate, students will take part in completing a new building, giving them the rare opportunity to learn by doing.

In this endeavor, the school building itself could be a source of inspiration. Natural light pours into the classrooms and laboratories, where the furniture and teaching technology is all brand new.

As students ascend the five-story building, they can see the world that awaits them from the school’s main stairwell. To the east, Newark City Hall’s golden dome glistens in the sunshine. To the south, past the Ironbound’s rooftops, the control tower of Newark Liberty International Airport stands in the distance. To the west, the angular cranes of Port Newark are ready to unload cargo from all over the world. When the school’s auditorium, gymnasium and media center are complete and the northern end of the building, the Manhattan skyline will be visible.

Guiding the students on their educational journeys are the teachers – many of whom have previously worked in the building trades – and the rest of the school’s administrative team:

• Denise Lopes, Vice Principal
• Karin Leon, Department Chairperson of Mathematics, Science, and World Languages
• Fay Carr, Department Chairperson of English Language Arts, Social Studies, and English as a Second Language
• Anthony Drejaj, Department Chairperson of Career and Technical Education Programs and Physical Education

As was the case with Newark Public Schools’ other ten new schools, the student population will grow by one grade each year until all grades are enrolled in the school.