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About Hillside Arts and Letters Academy

At HALA we strive for academic excellence and student achievement, but more importantly, we want our students to thrive socio-emotionally. We believe that if we teach to the heart, the mind will follow. Our advisory program and distributive counseling model, where every student connects with at least one adult in the school, helps us keep a pulse on the well-being of every student. We place value and invest time in building relationships with our students, creating a space where they feel safe, cared for, and supported.

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News & Announcements

Family Literacy Night: Understanding Your Child’s Lexile Level

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 | 5:00 PM
Hillside Arts & Letters Academy invites all families to a special Family Literacy Night! We recently sent home your child’s Lexile reading level — now join us to discover what it means and how to support reading growth at home.

What to Expect:
Clear explanation of Lexile scores and reading progress
Personalized book recommendations based on your child’s level
Hands-on activities with reading apps and tools
Meet our literacy specialists and connect with other families

Location: HALA Library

The HALA Food Emporium is Open!

Need something? Just reach out—we’re here for you.

🚨 News Alert: Join Our FutureReadyNYC Data Science Track! 🚨

Hillside Arts & Letters Academy in Queens South is now enrolling 9th graders for our award-winning FutureReadyNYC Data Science Track! Master Excel, Tableau, and IBM Data Science certifications, dive into creative projects like AI-driven art or VR analytics, and unlock paid internships and CUNY CollegeNow credits. Prepare for high-demand tech careers ($80K-$120K salaries) in Jamaica, Queens. Don’t miss out!