The school was founded in 1985 as a public school in Community School District 4 in New York City. It operates in partnership with District 4, the Alternative High School Division of the Board of Education, and the Coalition for Essential Schools. Application to the school is open to all students in New York City, particularly those entering seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. The enrollment at its full size is 450 students. The philosophy behind this program is that students are part of a larger community, and they should participate in and benefit from regular community service.
Students spend a minimum of three hours each week in a wide range of community service activities.
The time that students spend in service activities also helps provide time for teachers' collaborative planning. Community service activities occur between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday. With students out in the community during these hours, teachers are allowed one morning per week, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., for collaborative planning. Four groups of teachers divide up the four mornings available. No one is out on Friday mornings - all teachers have class in the morning and students go home at 1 p.m.