IN A CLASS BY ITSELF
9Hunter College High School 71 E. 94TH ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: ENTRANCE EXAM FOR SIXTH GRADERS ENROLLMENT ...................................... 806 GRADUATION RATE .......................... 98% COLLEGE READY ............................. 100% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT .................. 99% % TAKING SAT ................................... 94% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .......... 2214 AP PASS RATE ................................ 96.3%
The Hunter College HS experience begins in middle school. Academically gifted students are admitted as seventh-graders, based on an entrance exam taken the year before. The school — run by CUNY instead of the city’s Department of Education — takes no transfer students.
The rigorous core curriculum covers high school requirements – including four years of science, math and English, three years of social studies and foreign language, computer science, and the arts — by the end of junior year. Seniors pursue challenging electives and AP courses, take college classes at Hunter College, and work at internships.
Instead of taking state-issued Regents exams, students complete demanding historical research and social-studies writing projects, and put together a graduation portfolio — a year-long undertaking that includes a term paper and a creative presentation — during junior year.
Writing is a major area of focus in a school that counts “Hamilton”s Lin-Manuel Miranda as an alumnus. A staggering 200-plus students were recognized this year at the prestigious Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Faculty members oversee projects in science research, journalism, theater, and other subjects.
After school, students compete in 29 PSAL teams and top-ranked chess and