New York City schools are arranged into districts and neighbourhoods (zones), with most kids attending the elementary school they’re zoned for. But the picture gets more complicated at middle and high school level with many sought-after schools now offering choice seats via a new lottery system.
Stuyvesant, for example, is famous for its ability to get graduates into Ivy League universities. But it’s also a great school for students with special needs.
1. Stuyvesant High School
When it comes to the best public high schools in New York City, Stuyvesant is at the top. Students here are some of the most academically talented in the nation, and the school is known for its rigorous curriculum and unique course offerings. It’s no wonder that four Nobel laureates are among its alumni.
The school is one of the eight specialized high schools in New York City, and students must take an entrance exam to gain admission. Every year, thousands of kids take the test, but only the highest scorers are admitted to Stuyvesant.
Students here are often surrounded by brilliant and motivated peers, but they also face enormous academic pressure to succeed. The school’s college-prep curriculum includes four years of English and history, a lab-based science, three years of math (though many opt for more), foreign language, and a semester each of introductory art, music, health, and computer science. In addition, Stuyvesant offers more Advanced Placement courses than any other high school in the country, and students often achieve mastery.
But some students say the crush of academics is taking a toll on their mental health. A recent post on a student Facebook group showed that some of the school’s sophomores feel burned out, exhausted, and like they can’t keep up. A counselor is on hand to provide support.
Despite its focus on STEM subjects, Stuyvesant also has a strong history of arts and culture. The school’s theater program puts on a variety of productions each year, and students can participate in musicals, operas, and dance performances. The Performing Arts Department also hosts an annual showcase where students can showcase their talents.
In terms of extracurriculars, the school offers 32 varsity teams. Stuyvesant students have the opportunity to play football, swimming and diving, basketball, golf, tennis, volleyball, baseball/softball, cricket, gymnastics, wrestling, and more. The school has even produced several National Merit Scholars and Intel Science Talent Search Semi-Finalists and Finalists. Its facilities include a state-of-the-art gym, an indoor pool, a modern library, and a large multipurpose room. Stuyvesant has also been home to two Olympic gold medalists in gymnastics and a champion ice hockey player.
2. Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science is one of New York City’s most prestigious and selective public high schools. It was established in 1938 and is part of the Specialized High School system for academically gifted students. It is a co-educational school with an enrollment of around 1000 students. The curriculum includes a broad range of subjects including English, Biology, Physical Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Foreign Language and Advanced Placement courses. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including a research program.
The research program allows students to conduct scientific research that goes beyond the limits of lab space usually available at other high schools. The students can access cutting-edge equipment and materials as well as a variety of support services that enable them to publish their results and compete in national competitions. The school is also known for its first-rate teachers and staff. Notable alumni include Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Jon Favreau, Ronald Lauder, Harold Bloom and Min Jin Lee as well as eight Nobel Prize winning alumni.
To get into Bronx Science, students must take the SHSAT (Science Talent Search Assessment Test). The SHSAT is open to all current eighth graders and first-time ninth graders who live in New York City. Unlike most other elite NYC public high schools, students do not have to submit any prior standardized test scores or transcripts to apply for the SHSAT. Students are admitted based on their performance on the test, which is given in October and November of each year.
In addition to its extensive science programs, Bronx Science offers a wide range of electives, including American Studies, Algorithms, Microbiology, Game Theory and Analytical Chemistry. The school is also home to one of the most competitive science competitions for high school students in the United States, the Regeneron Science Talent Search.
The latest development for the Bronx Science campus is a new research laboratory facility called the Manne Institute, which was built through a generous donation from an alumnus, Stanley Manne. The Manne Institute is equipped with modern, professional-grade labs that are similar to those found in top research universities and companies. The facility will allow Bronx Science students to undertake a wide variety of cutting-edge scientific research and compete in national research competitions.
3. Beacon High School
Beacon High School is a highly-selective college-preparatory public high school in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It offers a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities to students in grades nine through twelve. The school’s academic programs include mathematics, English, science, social studies and foreign languages. It also offers a broad range of athletic activities, including basketball, bowling and swimming.
In addition to the standard New York State high school curriculum, Beacon High School offers a variety of engaging elective courses. These classes are designed to give students a taste of the university experience by allowing them to choose their own class schedule on a band-by-band basis. In this way, Beacon’s students are able to explore subjects that appeal to them and find what truly interests them in the course of their academic career.
The school also offers a number of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which allow students to take college level courses and earn college credits. This helps students to develop critical thinking skills and prepare for the world of work. Currently, the school offers AP courses in Biology, Calculus and Physics.
Beacon also offers numerous extracurricular activities for students, such as a dance club, art club, film club, book club, rock climbing club and a literary magazine called “Beacon Ink.” Students can also join the debate team, Model United Nations, math club or the Senior Committee, which is populated by seniors and responsible for helping to plan graduation and the annual senior trip.
The school’s facilities are modern and well-equipped with a library, science labs and 40 general education classrooms. It has a more than 990-seat performing arts theater equipped with audiovisual equipment to support live productions and presentations. It also has a cafeteria and a computer lab. In addition, the school has a gym and recreation center. Its sports related activities help students to stay fit and inculcate leadership and team spirit. The school also organizes community service drives to help students become empathic and caring individuals. The school also has a weekly cable television program that features various events and happenings to the students and parents of the high school.
4. Roosevelt High School
Roosevelt High School inspires students to serve, equips them to lead, and prepares them to positively impact the world. The school is located in the Standish Erickson neighborhood and offers high-quality arts and academics with a characteristic focus on social justice and community service. It is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and provides students with the opportunity to participate in either the IB Diploma Programme or IB Career-related Certificate Program.
In the IB Program, ninth and tenth grade students follow a curriculum that combines core subjects with international perspectives, allowing them to develop skills for lifelong learning and preparing them for college and careers. In addition to the IB curriculum, the school also offers a variety of advanced courses and dual credit opportunities with University of Washington through the UW College in the High School program. Students may earn college credit for classes with a UW instructor that use the same UW course materials, activities, texts, tests, and grading scales as University of Washington courses.
Overall, the school ranks within the top 30% of New York schools based on its state test scores for math and reading proficiency. Its 65% proficiency rate for math is higher than the city average of 55% and its 78% reading proficiency rate is better than the city average of 62%.
The student population at Roosevelt has stayed flat over the last five years. There are 82 teachers, which makes for a teacher:student ratio of 12:1.
The school has a diverse racial makeup with 60% of students being Hispanic and 38% Black. Its students are very talented in sports, as evidenced by the fact that many alumni have gone on to have successful careers as professional athletes. Roosevelt High School is home to several talented varsity sports teams, including the girls’ varsity volleyball team and boys’ varsity basketball team.
The school is dedicated to celebrating its African American history throughout the year, and during Black History Month, the school displays various images that represent important aspects of this heritage. In addition to their cultural celebrations, the school’s faculty and students are very active in supporting civil rights. For example, they are involved in a nationwide campaign to increase awareness of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
