YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE 2015-2016 GUIDE TO CHOOSING A NEW YORK CITY HIGH SCHOOL DEAR FUTURE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, Congratulations! Now that you’ve reached the 8th grade, you’re ready to begin one of the most important journeys of your life — the path to choosing a high school. We know that choosing a high school can be challenging and sometimes overwhelming, but the process is all about you! This is an opportunity to handpick which schools really cater to your hobbies, passions and interests and best represent you. The high school selection and enrollment process is all about your voice and your choice! This guide is designed to help you and your family navigate the selection and enrollment process, explore your interests and learn more about schools that may be right for you. New Visions for Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that, since 1989, has helped to make public schools in NYC great places for you to learn, grow and become the best that you can be. Currently New Visions partners with 77 public district and charter high schools across the five boroughs, providing support in various ways to make sure that students, just like you, get the attention they need to succeed and move on to college and the workplace. Choosing your high school is an important step! Make the most of the 8th grade by asking lots of questions, attending the high school fairs, visiting schools during Open Houses and speaking with your guidance counselor and other adults in your school. The more you know, the more options you will have. Admissions methods vary by program and school. Some schools require students to take special tests. Other schools give preference to students who attend an Open House or other recruitment event. To see the full list of admissions methods, see page 5 in the 2016 New York City High School Directory. All schools are required to offer special education services and special services for students who are still learning English. Consult the NYC Department of Education’s website for additional information: schools.nyc.gov/Academics/ SpecialEducation and schools.nyc.gov/Academics/ELL. Additional information on each school and a comprehensive list of all offerings Photography by Philip Greenberg can be found in the 2016 New York City High School Directory published by the NYC Department of Education. This publication is produced by New Visions for Public Schools, which is solely responsible for the content herein. Information on the schools listed in this guide is current as of September 2015. The entire guide is available online. To download or print, visit www.newvisions.org/choices. Puede descargar la guía en español. HOW DO I USE THE GUIDE? All 77 New Visions schools appear in this guide, grouped by category (SMALL SCHOOLS, LARGE SCHOOLS, 6-12 SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND TRANSFER SCHOOLS). The CTE scREENED ARTS STEM icons listed on this page will help you identify SchOOL schOOL PROGRAMS FOCUS some of the programs that each school offers, Career & technical Admission to These schools Schools with including arts, community service, health education programs screened schools offer programs in Science, Technol- professions and even CTE (career and technical offer job train- is based on media arts, the ogy, Engineering education). You’ll also find schools listed as ing toward a academics, performing arts, and Mathematics Regents diploma audition, visual art and/or (STEM) education screened or selective, which means admission for information attendance design. integrate these is based on middle school grades and standard- technology, health and/or other important core ized test scores. Look out for these icons care and trades assessments. subjects to help at the top of each school profile, but also such as automo- students compete tive maintenance in a 21st-century be sure to read the profiles closely to learn and construction. global economy. more about the schools that interest you. UnIFORM DREss COMMUNITY FOREIgn schOOL CODE SERVICE langUagES These schools At these schools, These schools These schools USE OUR OnlINE FInd-A-schOOL TOOL require students there is a have an expecta- have a focus to wear school- recommended tion or minimum on the study of Want to find schools near you that offer programs branded clothing, dress code that requirement of foreign languages you like? Check out our online Find-a-School tool! usually for pur- may include student participa- and/or culture and Our interactive web tool will give you information chase through a specific colors tion in voluntary may offer bilingual about the school’s programs, sports activities and particular vendor. and/or types of work intended to programming. open house dates and will even tell you the best footwear. help the way to travel to school from your home! community. Visit www.newvisions.org/choices to use our tool! SMALL SCHOOLS pg 4 all-GIRls HEalTH COllEGE PSAL schOOL PROFEssIOns NOW SPORTS GETTING INTO HIGH SCHOOL pg 12 A step-by-step checklist These schools are Schools with These schools These schools open to girls only. programs in offer College Now, participate in health professions CUNY’s college interscholastic LARGE SCHOOLS pg 14 put students on readiness program sports teams in track for careers that allows the Public School 6-12 SCHOOLS pg 16 focused in the students to take Athletic League medical and public college credit- (or the Small pg 19 health fields. bearing courses Schools Athletic CHARTER SCHOOLS while still enrolled League, as noted). in high school. TRANSFER SCHOOLS pg 21 This publication is produced by New Visions for Public Schools, which is solely responsible for the content herein. Information on the schools listed in this guide is current as of September 2015. The entire guide is available online. To download or print, visit www.newvisions.org/choices. Puede descargar la guía en español. New Visions for Public Schools Guide to Choosing a NYC High School | 2015-2016 | www.newvisions.org/choices • 3 30 ACA students, and a week-long College BRONX ACADEMY OF SMALL SCHOOLS 101 course helps rising seniors finalize their college admissions. Through our Advanced HEALTH CAREERS ■■ Fewer than 600 students Placement courses students may earn up TOTAL STUDENTS: 470 to 18 college credits and must take science PRINCIPAL: Dawn Santiago ■ Personalized attention for each student ■ and math each year as well as complete 75 hours of community service. Our part- ■■ Challenging academic programs PSAL Dress STEM Health College nerships include Albert Einstein Medical sports code focus professions Now ■■ Opportunities through partnerships Center’s Einstein Enrichment Program, Bronx Academy of Health Careers (BAHC) College Now at Lehman College and Hostos provides all students with a rigorous and Community College’s Astronomy course. challenging academic program focusing on ACA has had multiple Posse winners, the science and math for all four years, with The Bronx latest earning a full scholarship to DePaul the goal of achieving an Advanced Regents University, as of 2014. Diploma and entry into four-year institutions. Our college partnerships allow students the 925 Astor Avenue, Bronx, NY 10469 ALFRED E. SMITH CAREER & opportunity to earn up to 12 college credits, (718) 944-3418 TECHNICAL EDUCATION HS taking college-level and credit-bearing [email protected] TOTAL STUDENTS: 430 courses. Our students are also exposed to a www.astorcollegiate.com PRINCIPAL: Evan Schwartz variety of health professions beginning in the HOW DO I APPLY? 9th grade. We partner with organizations like the New York City Commission on Human PSAL Uniform Screened CTE Arts STEM sports school school school programs focus Sign in at an Open House (contact the school Rights, which certifies and trains students for dates and times), attend a Bronx High to become peer mediators who assist in Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Educa- School Fair or schedule a “Spend an hour with settling student disputes. Upon graduation, tion High School aims to provide students the Bull” by contacting the guidance depart- with a stellar, integrated instructional pro- ment at (718) 944-3418. our students have become critical and inde- gram, resulting in a Regents or an Advanced pendent thinkers that are ready to pursue Regents CTE Diploma, both of which are careers in the health professions. recognized by universities and major cor- BELMONT PREPARATORY 800 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx, NY 10467 porations, nationwide. Through our NATEF HIGH SCHOOL (718) 696-3340 (National Automotive Technicians Education TOTAL STUDENTS: 446 [email protected] Foundation) affiliation and our ASE (Automo- PRINCIPAL: Stephen Gumbs www.newvisions.org/schools/entry/11X290 tive Service Excellence) certified teachers, we offer students solid preparation for col- HOW DO I APPLY? PSAL Uniform Screened Foreign College lege and training for employment in automo- sports school school language Now Priority is given to Bronx residents who attend tive trades, collision repair and refinishing. Belmont Preparatory High School was an information session, then to NYC residents Students work in paid internships with major founded in 2002 as a high school for aca- who attend an information session, then to automotive companies and dealerships such demically talented students throughout the Bronx residents and then to NYC residents. as BMW, Toyota, etc. In our certified graphic community. The curriculum is based in the Please contact the school for Open House arts program, students use our state-of-the- humanities and uses an interdisciplinary dates and times. art MAC lab, learn 3D printing and work in approach to infuse language arts throughout paid internships. the curriculum so that students are truly BRONX CENTER FOR 333 East 151st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 college- and career-ready upon graduation. (718) 993-5000 Belmont Prep has a 15:1 student-to-teacher SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS TOTAL STUDENTS: 466 [email protected] ratio, and students can earn up to 12 college PRINCIPAL: Edward Tom www.aesmithhs.org credits in their junior and senior years in the College Now program.