Segregation is a real issue in New York City‘s public school system, and one of the biggest contributors to this is admissions practices. More schools are “screened,” meaning they base admissions on academic records, rather than character, and the process is very competitive. It tends to favor families with the requisite resources and savvy. As a result, minority students are disproportionately underrepresented in1 New York City’s high schools.
East Campus
The East Campus of Manhattan High School is comprised of two three-story limestone buildings connected at the rear by a covered annex. The buildings were constructed in 1928 and have two separate gymnasiums. The school’s dance team performs at many home sporting events and on the sidelines. Students can try out for the competition dance team every year and take some of their routines to regional competitions. The school also has a music ensemble that performs at many events, including a Winter Gala.
The Manhattan High School West/East Campus serves 1,844 students in grades 9-12. The school’s academic performance is strong, placing the school in the top 50 percent of Kansas high schools for overall test scores and reading proficiency. The school’s student-to-teacher ratio is slightly higher than the state-required level of 13:1.
New York City’s legacy high schools
In Union Square Park in Manhattan, Keyla Marte called a crowd of about 200 people to order and declared that there is “ain’t no power like the power of youth!” She is a senior at the Legacy School for Integrated Studies, which has a capacity of 350 students. Though city officials have labeled the school a failure, students are rallying to save the school.
While many schools were closed during the early 2000s, legacy high schools have managed to survive. Most of these schools are small neighborhood schools and serve a select group of students. In fact, some of them are not even close to achieving city-wide attendance rates. The average attendance rate at Legacy High School is below the city-wide average of 86 percent.
Many legacy high schools serve a diverse student body, with a high percentage of English-language learners and students from lower-income households. In addition, these schools tend to have higher percentages of white, Asian, and non-Hispanic students than their counterparts in newer, small public schools. While these schools are not as large as the alternative and charter schools in the city, their average SAT scores are slightly higher.
New York City’s legacy high schools face a great challenge and are ripe for transformation. The late nineteenth century saw the evolution of secondary education in America, and the first wave of high schools were mostly private institutions for elite children. Students were selected for college-preparatory programs in these schools.
East Campus’s newspaper
The Phantom Press, East Campus’s student newspaper, provides students with the opportunity to learn about print publication and the business of journalism. The student editions are overseen by a faculty advisor and are responsible for content, photography, design, layout, and advertising sales. Student journalists are encouraged to explore stories based on personal experience and are given a wide amount of freedom in developing their content.
East Campus’s CTE program
Career Technical Education (CTE) is a high school course that develops academic and technical skills. The curriculum provides hands-on experiences and creates pathways to future education and employment. East High School’s CTE Pathways program offers students over 33 career paths that match the demands of local industries.
The program consists of elective courses that teach students about various careers. New York City has more than 130 schools and 260 CTE programs for students. After completing a program, students are better prepared for college and make better career decisions. Additionally, students learn essential life skills such as financial management and workplace skills. These courses are taught by industry certified teachers.
The school offers 20 college credits and an extensive list of extracurricular activities. Students have the opportunity to join a drama club, participate in bands, and take part in community service. Besides the CTE program, there are also eight APs and 10 electives. In addition, students can take part in paid internships and participate in job shadowing and mentoring opportunities.
Students can choose their classes as early as ninth grade. The Tech-focused school offers AP courses beginning in ninth grade. Students also have the option to take college-prep support courses offered by the College of Staten Island. ElRo High School offers 30 clubs and 16 PSAL sports. It also has a new indoor track team. Additionally, the school recently renovated its music room, providing 200 square feet of new teaching space.
East Campus’s performance on the SHSAT
The SHSAT is a test of students’ math and English language proficiency. Students who take it must live in one of the five boroughs of New York City. The exam is administered in February or March of the following year. The school’s performance on the SHSAT is the highest of its peers.
The SHSAT is a two-and-a-half-hour multiple-choice exam. Students in New York City take this exam as part of their application process for admission to one of the eight Specialized High Schools in New York City. These schools are highly selective. Only 18% of the 28,000 applicants for admission were accepted. Ultimately, the performance on the SHSAT is the determining factor in admission.
The SHSAT is not used in every high school in New York City. In Manhattan, there are three high schools that use it as a requirement for admission. The three schools are Brooklyn Latin, Brooklyn Technical High School, and Staten Island Technical High School. In Brooklyn, the High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College New York is another option.
