Our School Model

PBATs, not just Regents Exams

The Kurt Hahn School is a member of the NY Performance Standards Consortium, a group of schools granted alternative graduation requirements. Instead of one-size-fits-all standardized assessments, Kurt Hahn students complete Performance Based Assessment Tasks, or PBATs, based on in-depth reading, research, problem-solving, and writing in English, Social Studies, Math, and Science

PBATs are authentic, time-intensive, in-depth research projects and papers that require students to think like historians, solve problems like mathematicians, conduct experiments the way scientists do, critically interpret works of literature, and speak and write clearly and expressively. Students complete PBATs in place of Regents Exams in all subjects except English.

Performance Based Assessment Tasks known as PBATs are tasks that require students to demonstrate accomplishment in analytic thinking, reading comprehension, research writing skills, the application of mathematical computation and problem-solving skills, and the utilization of the scientific method in undertaking scientific research. PBATs are authentic, time-intensive, in-depth research projects and papers projects that require students to:

• Think like historians
• Solve problems like mathematicians
• Conduct experiments the way scientists do
• Critically interpret works of literature
• Speak and write clearly and expressively

PBATs help to better prepare students to succeed in college. A performance assessment more closely resembles the work that students must do to compete and stay in college than any standardized test. As a result, Consortium schools have higher graduation rates and higher acceptance rates to competitive colleges and universities compared to the citywide average. In addition, graduates of PBAT schools stay in college longer than students from traditional schools.

Student-Led Conferences

Twice a year students present their strengths, growth areas, and goals to an audience of their peers, teachers, and families.  These Student-Led Conferences take the place of traditional parent-teacher conferences and keep students accountable for their own academic performance and allow students to take the lead in their own learning.

Roundtables & Passages

Beyond Student-Led Conferences, students present their work and learning to a variety of audiences.  During Roundtables, pairs of students present and reflect on their work and growth to two evaluators.  At the end of 10th grade, students collect evidence and share reflections to prove their readiness for the upper grades in a Passages presentation to a panel of 11th and 12th grade students and teachers.

Every student at Kurt Hahn belongs to a Crew, a group of 15 students, and a Crew Advisor who meet several times a week and stay together through graduation. Crew provides academic support, character development, and opportunities for important self-reflection.

Our 5 Commitments

• I can show courage by actively participating.
• I can show respect and compassion in my interactions within my community.
• I can show stewardship by demonstrating responsibility and care for my community.
• I can show perseverance by working through challenges.

Adventure Week

All incoming students attend a five-day, overnight wilderness trip with their Crew, where they develop the individual and group leadership skills to communicate successfully, take individual initiative to overcome challenges, and support one another as members of the Kurt Hahn community.

Restorative Approaches