An arrest does not take away your right to an education. If you are or have been in detention in New York City, you still have the right to keep going to school.
Young people in detention go to Passages Academy, a school run by the Department of Education. You can take classes and earn credits. This applies whether you are in a secure detention facility, where school takes place inside the facility, or a non-secure placement, where students are bussed to a Passages Academy campus. If you have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a plan that lists your special education services, you can also continue getting those services.
When you leave detention, your credits transfer and you can return to your former school. A school cannot turn you away because of a past arrest or open court case.
For a more detailed guide covering school transfers, special education, Rikers Island, and more, see What happens to your education when you're in detention in NYC.
Last Reviewed: May 12, 2026