The Cinema School

What The Cinema School does

The Cinema School is a selective public high school located at 1551 E 172nd St, Bronx, NY 10472, on the James Monroe Campus, operating under the New York City Department of Education. It admits prospective 9th graders through the centralized NYC high school application system (school code Y42A) using academic criteria — preference for ELA and Math state test scores at levels 3–4, course averages of 80+, and attendance of 95%+ — targeting an academically motivated cohort that seeks a college-preparatory liberal arts education integrated with creative filmmaking.

Its core offering is a four-year sequential filmmaking curriculum running alongside a rigorous college-prep academic program: 9th-grade Photography, 10th-grade Non-Dialogue Film, 11th-grade Short Film Screenwriting, and 12th-grade Sound Narrative Film, supported by dedicated physical production facilities (Computer Lab, Media Production Room, and a Production Office housing cameras, lighting, audio, and editing equipment). Students can pursue an Advanced Regents Diploma, take AP and advanced courses, earn free college credit through Lehman College's College Now program, and earn three credits from St. John's University via the R&R Media Services LLC partnership.

The business model is non-commercial: as a public school within NYC DOE, The Cinema School is funded through public education appropriations and charges no tuition. Its "go-to-market" is a community-led recruitment process — structured Fall Open House events, school tours, guidance counselor sessions, and current-student/peer mentor engagement — rather than sales or marketing. Supporting programs include the YABC alternative diploma pathway, a Peer Mentor Support Program pairing 9th graders with trained 12th-grade mentors, and PSAL athletics on the James Monroe Campus.

Name

The Cinema School

Legal name

The Cinema School

Website

https://thecinemaschool.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cinema School is a selective NYC public high school on the James Monroe Campus in the Bronx, serving 9th–12th graders with a college-preparatory liberal arts curriculum integrated with a four-year sequential filmmaking program. It charges no tuition and admits students through the NYC DOE application (code Y42A) based on academic criteria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bronx

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: The Cinema School operates as a selective public high school within the NYC Department of Education system, funded through public education appropriations rather than tuition or private revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Cinema School is a selective public high school delivering a four-year college-preparatory liberal arts curriculum integrated with a sequential filmmaking program that progresses from photography fundamentals in 9th grade through advanced sound narrative filmmaking in 12th grade. The school admits students via the NYC Department of Education high school application system and supplements classroom instruction with after-school tutoring, peer mentorship, PSAL athletics, an R&R Media Services partnership for industry exposure, and the YABC alternative diploma pathway.

Product overview

The Cinema School is a selective public high school offering a unified educational platform that combines a rigorous college-preparatory liberal arts curriculum with a comprehensive four-year filmmaking program. The core academic program includes AP courses, Advanced Regents Diploma preparation, and College Now courses through Lehman College. The filmmaking curriculum progresses through four sequential stages: Photography (9th Grade), Non-Dialogue Film (10th Grade), Short Film Screenwriting (11th Grade), and Sound Narrative Film (12th Grade). Supporting offerings include after-school tutoring, peer mentorship, and the R&R Media Services partnership for hands-on media experience. Student support services encompass counseling, social work interns, and the YABC alternative diploma pathway. Extracurricular options include PSAL athletics and various clubs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Four-Year College-Preparatory Program with Filmmaking Concentration
• YABC (Young Adult Borough Center) Alternative Diploma Pathway
• R&R Media Services Academic Enrichment Program
• PSAL Athletics Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Students eligible for Advanced Regents Diploma
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• R&R Media Services LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cinema School partners with R&R Media Services to provide students with hands-on experience in film, television, journalism, and digital media. Students develop technical and creative skills through collaborative projects and by working with industry leaders while earning three college credits from St. John's University.
• YABC (Young Adult Borough Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Young Adult Borough Center provides eligible students with an alternative pathway toward earning their high school diploma. Through flexible scheduling, individualized guidance, credit accumulation, career preparation, and social-emotional support, YABC helps students overcome challenges and work toward graduation and their future goals.
• Lehman College (College Now Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQualifying students are able to apply for free College Now courses through Lehman College, allowing them to earn college credits while in high school.
• St. John's UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the R&R Media Services partnership, students can earn three college credits from St. John's University.
• PSAL (Public Schools Athletic League)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudents have access to competitive sports and athletic opportunities through the Public Schools Athletic League on the James Monroe Campus, including baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, flag football, badminton, swimming, and cheerleading.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• BRIT School: UK free performing and creative arts school (ages 14-19) sponsored by the British Record Industry Trust. Comparable as a free, selective school integrating artistic and academic curricula, with strong industry partnerships — though non-urban and UK-based.

Direct peers

• Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts: NYC public specialized-arts high school serving grades 9-12 with audition-based admissions. Closest analog to The Cinema School as a selective NYC public high school with a dedicated arts curriculum, although LaGuardia emphasizes music, dance, visual arts, and theater rather than film.
• Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS): NYC middle and high school offering specialized training in dance, instrumental music, vocal music, acting, and visual art. Comparable as a performing-arts-focused NYC secondary school with selective admissions, although it operates as a private school rather than a DOE public school.
• Baltimore School for the Arts: Maryland public magnet high school providing pre-professional arts training in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and film/media. Comparable as a public arts-focused high school with a dedicated film/media production program.
• Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts): Illinois public arts high school serving grades 9-12 with conservatory programs in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and film & media production. Comparable as a public specialized-arts high school with a film production concentration and selective admissions.
• Duke Ellington School of the Arts: Public magnet high school in Washington, D.C. offering college-preparatory academics alongside pre-professional arts training in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and media/film. Directly comparable as a public arts-focused secondary school with a media/film track.
• Frank Sinatra School of the Arts: NYC public specialized high school in Queens offering conservatory-style training in dance, vocal music, instrumental music, theater, visual arts, and film. Directly comparable as a selective NYC public high school with a dedicated film concentration and an adult-supervised, scholarship-equivalent arts program.
• Boston Arts Academy: Massachusetts public arts high school (grades 9-12) serving Boston students with conservatory training in dance, music, theater, and visual arts alongside rigorous college-prep academics. Comparable as a public arts-focused high school with selective admissions and a college-prep mission.
• Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA): California public arts high school serving grades 9-12 with conservatory-style training in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and film. Closely comparable as a public arts high school with a dedicated film track and selective admissions.

Broad incumbents

• Interlochen Arts Academy: Boarding arts high school in Michigan offering pre-professional training in music, dance, theater, visual arts, creative writing, and film. Comparable as an arts-focused secondary school with a dedicated film program, though it operates as a private boarding school rather than a public institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-cinema-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cinema School