40 of the BEST
The Post’s highest-ranking public schools include these selective and zoned campuses
1Townsend Harris High School 149 -11 MELBOURNE AVE., QUEENS ADMISSION: OPEN TO NYC; GRADES 94-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 4.0-4.5; ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT......................... 1,110 GRADUATION RATE .............. 100% COLLEGE READY ................... 100% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 99.7% % TAKING SAT ...................... 97.9% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE ... 1970 AP PASS RATE ...................... 93.2%
An emphasis on humanities and the classics — every student takes two years of Latin or classical Greek — and a rich, well-rounded curriculum sets this Flushing school apart. It draws top students from all five boroughs: 6,213 applied for 306 freshman seats in 2016.
All classes are honors, AP (19 offered), or college level, and many students conduct research and earn credits at neighboring Queens College. Everyone takes a senior humanities seminar that culminates in a symposium where students give public presentations on their original research. Special facilities include a genetics lab and a TV studio.
A motivated, passionate student body excels in a range of extracurriculars. The robotics team competed at last year’s World Robotics Competition, and the Science Olympiad team has been the city’s best three years in a row. The school newspaper’s aggressive reporting on interim principal Rosemarie Jahoda helped lead to her removal in 2017. Its literary magazine has won national awards. 2Baccalaureate School for Global Education 34-12 36TH AVE., QUEENS ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO CONTINUING EIGHTH GRADERS; GRADES 93-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 3.4-4.5; ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT ..... 518 (GRADES 7-12) GRADUATION RATE .............. 100% COLLEGE READY ................... 100% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 97.1% % TAKING SAT ...................... 97.4% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1896 % EARNING IB DIPLOMA ........ 86%
Demanding, ambitious 7-12 Astoria school prepares Queens kids for the renowned International Baccalaureate degree, with a comprehensive high-school program focused on critical thinking and high-level analysis across disciplines. Juniors and seniors take multi-part IB exams in art, the sciences, math, literature, foreign language (Mandarin, Spanish or French), and history — and, new this year, those who achieve the IB degree can automatically earn 30 CUNY credits.
Required community service hours are logged at local venues like Socrates Sculpture Park and on creative projects that engage the school’s neighbors. Last year, juniors transformed a graffitied Rego Park wall into a neighborhood map mural.Clubs include the digital media group, which produce videos, podcasts, and blogs about school events. 3Eleanor Roosevelt High School 411 E. 76TH ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO DISTRICT 2; GRADES 93-100;
STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 3.8-4.5; ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT............................. 543 GRADUATION RATE .............. 100% COLLEGE READY ................... 100% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 93.8% % TAKING SAT ...................... 78.8% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1911 AP PASS RATE ....................... 79.6%
Popular, intimate Upper East Side school known for its warm atmosphere and commitment to community service. Comprehensive liberal arts focus includes accelerated classes across the curriculum. All students take univer- sal World History in 10th grade and AP US History in 11th; both science and math are required for all four years.
The STEM program is expanding this yea, with the addition of AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Computer Science Principles.
A lively roster of clubs includes jazz ensemble, Lego art, and the city’s first “F1 in Schools” team — a STEM competition based on Formula One racing that has students design and build miniature race cars -— that went all the way to the national quarter-finals last year.
4New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math 111 COLUMBIA ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO CONTINUING EIGHTH GRADERS; ON-SITE TEST; GRADES 86-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 3.3-4.5; ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT .. 1,745 (GRADES K-12) GRADUATION RATE ............. 99.5% COLLEGE READY .................. 96.3% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ......... 82% % TAKING SAT ...................... 90.4% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1793 AP PASS RATE ...................... 79.1%
Motivated high-achievers jostle for spots in NEST+m, the city’s only citywide K-12 school for the gifted. Admission is based mainly on a school-specific test; 3,361 tried for 160 ninth-grade seats last year. A pioneer high school in Harvard’s CS50 computer science program, NEST+m hosts hackathons and other programming events. Creative schoolwide projects develop writing skills — this year, high schoolers read the memoir of teen activist Malala Yousafzai, then taught the book to younger grades. An award-winning literary magazine, a comedy troupe, and sports like fencing and volleyball are among the extracurriculars. 5High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies 350 GRAND ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: OPEN TO NYC; GRADES 78-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 1.8-4.5; ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT ............................ 397 GRADUATION RATE ............. 99.1% COLLEGE READY .................. 92.1% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 89.7% % TAKING SAT ...................... 97.4% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1546 AP PASS RATE ...................... 91.2%
A mix of Mandarin-speaking and English-speaking students learn to read, speak, and write both languages by the time they complete the demanding college prep curriculum here, one of five small high schools sharing the Seward Park Educational Campus in Chinatown.
Asian themes are woven into all subject areas, a reflection of a student body that is 84 percent Asian. Students can join one of 14 PSAL sports teams, including badminton and bowling, and participate in school clubs devoted to taekwondo and lion dance. 6Scholars’ Academy 320 BEACH 104TH ST., QUEENS ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO CONTINUING EIGHTH GRADERS;
GRADES, STATE EXAMS, ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT 1,351 (GRADES 6-12) GRADUATION RATE .............. 100% COLLEGE READY .................. 99.1% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 94.1% % TAKING SAT ....................... 100% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1763 AP PASS RATE ...................... 62.5%
This 6-12 school sets a high academic bar, and gets results – every member of the class of 2017 achieved an Advanced Regents diploma. Students can choose from 12 AP classes, and everyone takes a three-year track in either music or visual arts. Clubs focus on Shakespeare, sculpture, the stock market, and more. Strong emphasis on community service, led by the Key Club and peer mentoring programs. Located in the Rockaways, four blocks from the new city ferry stop. 7Baruch College Campus High School 55 E. 25TH ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO DISTRICT 2; GRADES 90-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 3.2-4.5; ATTENDANCE; WRITING SAMPLE ENROLLMENT ............................ 440 GRADUATION RATE ............. 99.1% COLLEGE READY .................. 94.4% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 91.4% % TAKING SAT ...................... 93.5% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1638 AP PASS RATE ...................... 57.4%
The interdisciplinary liberalarts program at this Flatiron District school, located a block from Madison Square, was created in conjunction with Baruch College. All classes are taught at the honors level, and seniors create a thesis or project they must defend before an academic panel.
Sports like volleyball and wrestling are offered, and activities include the Lorax environmental club and InvenTeam for young inventors. Fresh electives arrive every year, like expository writing, computer science, and SAT prep. 8Columbia Secondary School 425 W. 123RD ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO CONTINUING 8TH GRADERS; GRADES 92-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 3.7-4.5; ATTENDANCE, INTERVIEW, WRITING SAMPLE ENROLLMENT 687 (GRADES 6-12) GRADUATION RATE ............. 97.6% COLLEGE READY .................. 81.7% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 96.5% % TAKING SAT ...................... 92.7% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE ... 1,624 AP PASS RATE ...................... 54.9%
Students are immersed in engineering, math, and science at this 6-12 school in Morningside Heights. Founded in partnership with Columbia University in 2007, it offers multiple research and service opportunities and, for upperclassmen, the chance to earn college credit in Columbia courses. A unique Philosophy for Thinking program fosters reasoning and decision-making skills. After-school STEM electives; clubs specialize in gardening, architectural design and neuroscience. Sports include rugby and biking. 9Millennium High School 75 BROAD ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO STUDENTS SOUTH OF HOUSTON STREET; GRADES 91-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 3.0-4.5; ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT ............................ 659 GRADUATION RATE ............. 99.4% COLLEGE READY .................. 95.9%
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 87.4% % TAKING SAT ...................... 87.7% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1710 AP PASS RATE .......................... 45%
Students meet high expectations at Millennium, which is housed on three floors of the grand 1929 International Telephone Building in the Financial District. Everyone takes four years of English, social studies, math, and science, plus three years of Spanish or Mandarin, and logs 20 hours of community service annually.
Literacy is a special emphasis across the curriculum, with a required thesis paper in 12th grade. Swimming and fencing are two of 11 PSAL sports. 10Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences 1830 SHORE BLVD., BROOKLYN
ADMISSION: OPEN TO NYC; MATH/SCIENCE GRADES 89-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 3.0-4.5; ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT ......................... 1,029 GRADUATION RATE ............. 95.1% COLLEGE READY .................. 81.9% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 85.7% % TAKING SAT ...................... 90.2% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1680 AP PASS RATE ...................... 56.6%
STEM-centered students flock to this waterfront campus in Manhattan Beach, tucked into a corner of Kingsborough Community College. Everyone takes four years of math and science, including physics and calculus, and can choose from technical electives like organic chemistry, robotics, and forensic science.
Top-notch facilities nurture the arts as well, with various studios designed for ceramics, photography, piano, drama, and more. Students also have access to the college’s facilities, including its pool. Golf and flag football are two of 10 PSAL sports. 11N. Y.C. Lab School for Collaborative Studies 333 W. 17TH ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO DISTRICT 2; GRADES 89-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 3.2-4.5 ENROLLMENT ............................ 531 GRADUATION RATE ............. 97.7% COLLEGE READY .................. 92.5% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 85.9%
% TAKING SAT ...................... 66.9% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1758 AP PASS RATE ...................... 48.9%
This Chelsea school emphasizes group learning methods that help all students thrive, including those on the autism spectrum or with other special needs. “Our students are all stronger and smarter for having experienced heterogeneous classrooms,” says Principal Brooke Jackson.
Seniors work together and with outside nonprofits to produce research projects that may combine map-making, oral history, expository writing, and web design. It’s the capstone of a four-year program emphasizing study skills, research methods, and writing techniques.
Electives include yoga, visual arts, and computer science. 12N. Y.C. Museum School 333 W. 17TH ST., MANHATTAN ADMISSION: PRIORITY TO DISTRICT 2; GRADES 82-100; STATE EXAMS: LEVELS 2.6-4.5; ATTENDANCE ENROLLMENT ............................ 454 GRADUATION RATE ............. 99.2% COLLEGE READY .................. 89.1% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ..... 90.9% % TAKING SAT ...................... 97.5% AVERAGE TOTAL SAT SCORE .... 1571 AP PASS RATE ...................... 52.1%
Students in each grade take specialized museum module courses in partnership with the Japan Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and others to enrich this Chelsea school’s college-prep curriculum. A feisty student body erupted into hallway protests of the dress code last spring. Extracurriculars include a new literary magazine, The Archive, and a sailing/boatbuilding program with Hudson River Community Sailing. They offer three languages and six AP classes.