HSMSE is one of New York City‘s 9 specialized high schools. It offers a first class education in STEM, as well as a rigorous general academic program.
Students are far above the state average in key measures of college readiness. The school is accessible via the 1 train and a variety of bus lines.
Math 1
If you are a high school student who intends to major in science at college, it is important that you take as many advanced math courses as possible. These classes will help you understand complex concepts better and increase your potential for success in related subjects, such as chemistry.
Moreover, these classes can also prepare you for the college entrance exam. In fact, some colleges may even require that you pass these classes to get admitted.
This one-year course includes Algebra 1 and Geometry, and it prepares students for pre-calculus and calculus. The course combines connections and active learning with a simple daily lesson format including enjoyable activities and games. It is highly recommended for all students.
The College Board offers two SAT Subject Tests for mathematics: Math 1 and Math 2. Both are designed to assess the same concepts, but Math 2 is intended for students who have taken two years of algebra and one year of geometry, while Math 1 is more challenging because it covers more advanced topics.
These advanced math classes include graph theory, which teaches high-schoolers how to represent mathematical results pictorially. This is an important skill for engineers and scientists, as well as for anyone who wants to become a computer scientist. These classes also introduce students to a variety of concepts, such as least squares regression and linear equations.
Moreover, the course explores more creative and less conventional areas of mathematics. For example, a class called Graph Theory and Combinatorics teaches students how to use graphs to model relationships between variables. This is an important concept that helps in many different disciplines, from finding the shortest route to a destination to designing integrated circuits.
Math 2
High School Math Science and Engineering at CCNY (HSMSE) is one of NYC’s specialized high schools. This public, free to attend high school focuses on STEM fields and provides students with a rigorous education through its core subject program.
HSMSE is a small high school, with a student population of around 485 ninth through twelfth graders. The school is located on four floors of CCNY’s Baskerville Hall. HSMSE’s small class size and diverse student body contribute to the high quality of its academic program.
Students begin their high school journey taking either Math 1 or Integrated Math 2. Depending on their placement test results, they then progress to Geometry or Algebra 2 in their freshman year. Students in the integrated pathway study a blend of topics, such as algebra, geometry, and statistics, each year. This approach takes the traditional course sequence out of silos, allowing students to see connections between different math topics.
Integrated Math II builds upon the skills learned in introductory math classes, focusing on developing students’ computational fluency, deepening conceptual understanding, and building critical thinking. Problem solving is a key aspect of the curriculum, with students constructing and testing their own solutions in the process. Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and use modeling activities to practice reasoning abstractly and quantitatively. Journaling and performance tasks prepare them to synthesize their knowledge in novel real-world scenarios.
Many colleges that require or recommend SAT Subject Test scores, such as Harvey Mudd and Caltech, accept both Math 1 and Math 2. The two tests cover similar material, but the Math 2 test is more challenging and includes additional complex math concepts like quadratic equations and functions.
Math 3
The curriculum at HSMSE is designed to give students a broad education that will prepare them for a variety of careers. It offers a full range of academic courses, AP and honors classes and many clubs and activities. Students are able to take advantage of its affiliation with CCNY, by taking college-level classes and earning college credit.
Students study algebra, geometry, number and quantity, functions and modeling and statistics and probability. They begin by reviewing the basic concepts of algebra, solving equations and inequalities, graphing and analyzing lines, circles, ellipses, parabolas and hyperbolas. They then move on to trigonometry, rational functions and geometric sequences and series.
In the final semester, students learn about data analysis, computer arithmetic, and advanced topics in algebra. Students also explore a range of discrete mathematics topics including graph theory and combinatorics. They analyze the determinant of a matrix, use Gaussian elimination with pivoting, and learn about Gram-Schmidt and Householder methods, and linear transformations. Students will also learn about recurrence relations, and write and solve simple linear functions.
HSMSE is one of NYC’s 9 specialized high schools, and students attend from all over the city. It is a competitive school to get into, and applicants must score highly on the SHSAT to be admitted. The school’s teachers are highly qualified and passionate about their subjects, and the curriculum is rigorous. The school also offers a variety of opportunities for extracurricular activities, such as sports teams, affinity groups and community service projects.
Math 4
Students develop computational fluency and deepen conceptual understanding in this precalculus course that builds upon algebraic concepts, functions and trigonometry learned in previous high school courses. Throughout the course, students engage in problem-solving tasks and solve real-world scenarios using their algebraic skills to investigate complex patterns and relationships. Students will refine their mathematical communication by verbally and written explanations of their work while analyzing and responding to the reasoning of others.
The curriculum in Math 4 is aligned to the NC Standards for Mathematics, and it enables students to make sense of complex problems by analyzing patterns and structures. Students seek efficient ways to represent and solve problems, including finding reasonable intermediate results. They use graphing technology to analyze and model problems, but they also recognize that not all tools are appropriate for every situation, and they are able to make informed choices about the use of a tool.
Math classes are important because they teach students to solve real-world problems in a variety of different settings. These problems may include making money, building cars and houses, designing websites, or even figuring out how to keep food from spoiling in the fridge. Having the ability to solve these problems helps students understand the role of STEM fields in our world and prepares them for college and careers in STEM fields.
The curriculum in each of the high school math classes varies, but most high schools follow a traditional path with Algebra 1 during freshman year, followed by Geometry, then Algebra 2, and finally Pre-Calculus. Students that complete these classes will be ready for the academic rigor of college, and many will be prepared to take Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus and other AP courses.
Math 5
A small, college-like high school on the City College campus in Hamilton Heights, HSMSE offers students a full range of specialized subjects. The school is very competitive; in the 2022 enrollment process, only 485 of 28,000 eligible applicants received an offer to attend. Located on four floors of the Baskerville Hall, it has small classes and an engaging curriculum. Students take a more rigorous set of math courses in grades 9 and 10 than at traditional high schools, as well as a series of engineering core courses through 11th grade sponsored by Project Lead the Way.
HSMSE has a strong community of students and teachers. Students learn to work collaboratively and make decisions together through group tasks that allow them to discuss, critique, and support one another. They are encouraged to express their views through written or verbal arguments and are challenged to look for patterns in problems and structures. The curriculum is designed to help students develop their mathematical reasoning through meaningful and challenging problem sets and activities.
In addition to the standard math curriculum, HSMSE students participate in AP and IB coursework and exams. The school ranks fourth within NYC and 38th nationally in our rankings of Best High Schools based on student performance on state-required tests, graduation rates, and how well schools prepare students for college.
