High school comes with its own vocabulary, and no parent is expected to know it all before the first day — especially if this is your first time sending a child to high school. So we made you a cheat sheet. This is part 1 of our Decoding High School series covering the terms you’ll hear most at United Charter High Schools (UCHS). You may want to bookmark this for your teen’s course-selection night or your next parent-teacher conference!
The UCHS Signature Terms
Portrait of a Graduate. Our shared picture of who every student should be by the time they cross the graduation stage. This includes what a student knows, as well as how they think, lead, and show up for their community. Built by UCHS teachers and school leaders, it guides everything from how lessons are taught to how we measure progress. In plain terms: it’s the promise of who your teen is becoming, not just the grades they earn along the way.
Summer Bridge Program. A one-of-a-kind orientation built just for incoming 9th graders and transfers, held prior to their actual first day of school. It’s where new students meet teachers, make their first friends, and learn how UCHS works. Our students report that they walk in on day one already feeling like they belong. Think of it as a running start before the school year even begins.
Advisory (and Peer Group Connection). A regular class period where the same group of students checks in with the same trusted adult all year long. It’s the place where your teen is known as a person and where someone is paying attention to how they’re really doing. At some campuses this pairs with Peer Group Connection, where upperclassmen mentor freshmen through the leap into high school.
Learning Specialist. A teacher trained to give students extra academic support. This is not only for students in special education. Whether your child needs a tough concept explained in a different way or is ready to be pushed further, a learning specialist works right alongside classroom teachers to make sure they get exactly what they need. If you’ve ever worried your teen might slip through the cracks, this is one of the people whose entire job is to make sure they don’t.
Senior Capstone Project. A year-long “legacy project” every senior takes on, where students identify a real problem in the community (school, local, or global), research it, and present their solution to a panel of judges. Past projects have ranged from peer mentorship programs to civic campaigns tackling issues across New York City. It’s the moment four years of learning culminate into a cohesive and meaningful project that often becomes part of their college applications.
NY State Seal of Civic Readiness. An official distinction printed right on your teen’s diploma, earned by students who demonstrate real civic knowledge and complete meaningful, real-world civic work. Colleges and employers recognize it as a signal of a young person ready to lead and contribute. Over two-thirds of UCHS graduates earn it — a number we’re genuinely proud of.
Up Next in the Series
That covers the language that’s uniquely ours. Next in Decoding High School, we translate the vocabulary of college prep — the words on the forms, from FAFSA and financial aid to transcripts, the SAT, and what a college counselor really does across all four years.
In the meantime, if you have questions about life at UCHS as a prospective family, we invite you to come see it in person. Our campus tours and family events are the perfect chance to bring your questions and meet the teachers, counselors, and specialists who will know your teen. Contact us to set up a tour or learn more about enrollment for the 2026-27 school year.
About United Charter High Schools
United Charter High Schools is a network of seven award-winning and tuition-free charter schools serving 9th-12th grade students and families across the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. We are united in our mission to close the opportunity gap by ensuring equal access to rigorous STEAM and Humanities academics and unwavering support for post-secondary readiness. Get to know us at unitedcharter.org and follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is open now.
