Neighborhood Charter Schools' mission is to provide the children of Harlem with new educational opportunities through a rigorous, comprehensive K-8 program that cultivates the intellectual, social and emotional development of each child. Our students, who include high functioning children with autism spectrum disorders, will become independent learners and critical thinkers, will acquire the academic skills that they need to succeed in college preparatory high schools and will exhibit the social and emotional skills that will allow them to reach their full potential. The school provides a rich, rigorous and fully inclusive education to a broad range of Harlem children, including English Language Learners, students with disabilities, students who struggle academically and gifted students. The school has a specialized program for high-functioning students on the autism spectrum (ASD students) in each grade. The ASD program, which is modeled on the successful ASD Nest program currently operating in 16 New York City Department of Education (DOE) schools, is the first of its kind in Central Harlem.