In order to make way for the newly formed High School for Leadership and Public Service, the Board of Education of the City of New York, leased the building, 90 Trinity Place, from NYU.

Ada Rosario-Dolch, the second principal of the school (1995–2004), tried hard to make sure that the students passed the New York State Regents exams.

She suspected immediately that her sister, a Cantor Fitzgerald employee, very likely hadn't survived the first attack and focused on evacuating students and teachers safely.

Dolch, school secretary Lisa Quigley, AP Ted Bronsnick, and Dean of Students Neil Marks, assisted by Police Officer Ryan Baldwin of the 001 precinct evacuated the 14-story building from the top down in minutes, out the south-east entrance and down to Battery Park.

Julia Martinez and Margaret Espinosa, who worked as special ed, one-on-one paras at the school risked their lives by carrying two teen-age students to safety after the girls' wheelchairs broke down from being pushed through the rubble.

[2] Randy Spotts, a dean, and John, a security officer at the school, stayed behind after the evacuation and assisted people outside who had been harmed by debris.

[6] Lessons in school management and support in the wake of disasters could be taken from the Department of Education's handling of the relocation and aftermath of the attacks.