Overview
M.S. 255 Salk School of Science, commonly called the Salk School of Science, is a public middle school in New York City. It is located at 320 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003, in Manhattan, and it describes itself as a “6-8 district 2 school specializing in educating the whole student, focusing on the academic and life-skills necessary for success” [1].
The school appears in New York City Public Schools materials under the school number M255, and its own FAQ directs families to the NYC Public Schools page at schools.nyc.gov/schools/M255 alongside the school website [2].
Location and School Identity
The verified campus address is 320 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003, which the school also uses as the location of the Salk School Gym for its events [1]. The school’s self-description places it in District 2, a Manhattan community school district within the NYC Public Schools system [1].
Readers should keep three things distinct that are often conflated: the school’s physical address, its district affiliation, and admissions eligibility. The sources examined here confirm the address and the District 2 affiliation; they do not describe an attendance zone, and they do not state which students are entitled to enroll by right of residence [1][2].
The school is identified in its own materials and in the NYC Public Schools URL by the number M255, which is the most reliable way to distinguish it from other schools with similar names [2].
Grades and Academic Programs
Salk serves grades 6, 7, and 8. According to the school’s FAQ, it is organized into grade teams — one for each grade — made up of teachers from every subject area a student studies, with a team leader for each team [2].
Subjects and course structure
- Humanities, combining English language arts and social studies [2]
- Mathematics and science [2]
- Art and drama [2]
- Spanish in grades 7 and 8 [2]
- Physical education [2]
- Advisory [2]
Classes are described as an hour or more in length [2]. Despite the “School of Science” name, the published course list covers humanities, world languages, the arts, and physical education alongside mathematics and science, so the school presents itself as a comprehensive middle school program rather than a science-only curriculum [2].
Eighth-grade acceleration and Regents examinations
According to the school’s FAQ, all students take advanced classes in mathematics and science in eighth grade and are eligible to take the Algebra Regents and the Biology Regents [2]. Students may also take a Spanish proficiency exam; the school states that this provides one year of language credit in high school and allows students to continue language study at a more advanced level in high school [2].
These statements reflect the school’s own published description of its program for the period covered by the FAQ document. Course offerings, exam eligibility rules, and credit policies are governed by the school together with New York State and New York City requirements, and they can change; families should confirm current details with the school [2].
Advisory and core values
Advisory is described as a class with a strong social-emotional learning component and an emphasis on community building around the school’s six core values. It meets regularly so that students can connect with one another and have at least one adult to whom they can bring issues and concerns [2].
The six core values the school lists are: to be open-hearted; to be open-minded; to have a passion for learning; to be true to yourself; to be responsible to your community; and to take action to improve the world around you [2].
Enrollment and School Data
The sources examined for this profile do not include school-level enrollment counts, student–teacher ratios, attendance rates, or assessment results for Salk, and no reporting year could be attached to such figures. Because those numbers change annually and are published with specific reporting periods, this profile does not state any. Readers who need enrollment or performance data should consult the NYC Public Schools page for the school and the New York State Education Department’s school directory and report card records, using the school’s official name and its NYC identifier M255 [2].
Admissions and Enrollment
The school’s website lists “Salk Morning Tours for 2027 Admission,” described as an opportunity for families to tour the school and consider whether it is a good fit “for your 5th grader” [1]. This indicates that the entry point discussed in the school’s own materials is grade 6, and that the school hosts tours for prospective families during an admissions cycle.
The sources examined do not describe the specific application method, eligibility rules, deadlines, or selection criteria for Salk. Middle school admissions in New York City are administered centrally by NYC Public Schools rather than by individual schools, so families should treat the NYC Public Schools page for M255 and the school’s own admissions communications as the authoritative sources for the current cycle [2]. Attending a tour, living near the campus, or residing in District 2 should not be assumed to establish eligibility or to guarantee a seat; the sources examined here do not support any such claim [1][2].
Student Services and Family Information
After-school programs
Salk’s FAQ states that the school has an after-school program run by Manhattan Youth. Enrichment classes listed include debate, coding, theater, Science Olympiad, art portfolio, Math Counts, cooking, playwriting, fashion design, chess, and DIY art. After-school sports listed include basketball, volleyball, and track and field [2]. The retrieved excerpt of the FAQ ends mid-list, so the published list may include additional activities [2].
Communication and family resources
The school maintains a public website with news, events, and a family FAQ, and it points families to the NYC Public Schools page for the school [1][2]. The FAQ document retrieved for this profile is labeled Fall 2025–2026 in its listing and carries a Fall 2026 heading; families should check the website for the most recent version rather than relying on a single dated document [2].
Services not covered by the sources
This profile does not describe special education services, English language learner supports, accessibility features, transportation eligibility, or health and counseling services at Salk, because the sources examined did not address them. Families with questions about those services should contact the school or consult the NYC Public Schools page for M255 [2].
Recognition and School Life
The school’s website states that Salk School of Science was designated a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School as an Exemplary High Performing School by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona [1]. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a federal recognition program, and the designation as described on the school’s site refers to the 2024 cycle [1].
The site also lists community events, including a Halloween party in the Salk School Gym on October 30, 2026, and a spring school dance listed for May 15, 2026 [1]. Event listings of this kind are maintained by the school and are subject to change.
History and Community Context
The sources examined do not state a founding date for Salk School of Science, nor do they describe its history, leadership, or enrollment trends over time. This profile therefore omits those details rather than estimating them. The school’s own materials emphasize its District 2 affiliation, its grade-team structure, and its six core values as the framework for its community [1][2].
How to Verify Current Information
Because admissions rules, program offerings, and school data change, readers should confirm details directly with official sources:
- The school’s official website, salkschool.org, for events, tours, the family FAQ, and program descriptions [1][2]
- The NYC Public Schools page for the school, schools.nyc.gov/schools/M255, for the district’s own information about the school and admissions [2]
- New York State Education Department school directory and report card records for state-reported enrollment, demographic, and performance data (not included among the sources used for this profile)
This profile was compiled from the school’s website and its FAQ document as retrieved on October 17, 2026; details may have changed since then [1][2].