Aviation High School, Queens
Is this the school your child attends now
Yes. Freshman, Class of 2028
Please write a review of your experience
I have nothing but high recommendations for Aviation High
School. The school has been around for 89 years and is well-regarded. The FAA
program is intense and rigorous -- students work on the FAA curriculum on top
of the Regents academic coursework. It is not for students who want to phone it
in or like a lot of arts. It is excellent for engineering enthusiasts and kids
who like working with their hands, and enjoy math and science. Administration
is excellent, somehow the principal shows up at every single school activity
and event, including on weekends. The kids really like and respect him and I
think that shows in the wonderful community-feel and school culture. Oh and as
a cool factor... the school has its own airplane hangar with 16+ or so
aircraft. Yes, in the middle of Queens! I met Senior students who did a
self-directed project and got an old helicopter working again. They did this
before and after school, and on weekends in the hangar. ...Just because they
wanted to! That is the kind of opportunity students have at Aviation HS.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
Yes!
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
It is perfect for budding engineers who want the Venn diagram of mechanical,
electrical, aerospace. Students do not have to go into the aviation field or
higher ed -- the skills learned can translate to many industries -- and LIFE!
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Give CTE schools another look. There is still a stigma that they are for "not college bound kids" but that is not true. Aviation has Seniors this year accepted to MIT, Stanford, and Columbia. CTE schools are true gems of NYCPS. Take advantage.
****************************************************************
Beacon HS
Is this the school your child attends now?
Yes - Junior Year now as of March 2024
Please write a review of your experience
Beacon has been a great school for my daughter, who is
self-motivated and organized. Like all schools, there are some amazing teachers
and some less-than-amazing. At the heart of the school is the philosophy that
involves Project Based Assessments (PBA's) that are very demanding - these
research reports generally take the place of Regents exams. So for example, in
Chemistry, my daughter had to write up an entire experiment and then present it
in front of two other teachers (neither of whom taught her) and explain it. The
work can be very demanding for kids who cannot plan ahead. There is more
writing than a typical high school - for example, she had to write a paper for
a Math class! All of this has given her a very good education. She loves her
advisory group, which has remained the same for all 4 years. Even though she is
not "best friends" with any of those kids, she has grown to love them
as a group with the teacher who leads them. While there was an amazing
principal when she arrived (Brady Smith), he left after her sophomore year.
There is an interim principal for 2023-24 that not many people like, and he has
given the school a new vibe that is hard to get used to. That being said, the
PTA and SLTs are incredible and not everything has changed. Now that we are
beginning the college process, I'm happy for the College Office but have yet to
see them "wow" me.
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
I do have a SN child - but he does not go to Beacon. I am
not too familiar with special needs at Beacon but I would just say the school
is not going to accommodate everyone and really ask about this for your kid.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
*
yes,
Please add some details related to your answer to
the recommendation question here.
Know your child! This school is not for everyone. It's a
large school with some high demands (especially starting junior year)
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Have your child talk to students who are already attending.
*********************************************************************
The Brooklyn Latin School
Is this the school your child attends now
yes – senior as of March 2025
Please write a review of your experience.
Brooklyn Latin has been a good fit for my kid -- she knew
what she wanted and chose affirmatively, not because it was the SHSAT she had
the score for (she could have gone to any SHSAT school). I that is important
because it is a unique school. All students have 4 years of Latin (unless they
choose to opt out for ancient Greek in junior-senior years); declamation and
Socratic seminar are very much part of the curriculum. And students don't have
a lot of choice: it is unapologetically liberal arts so that all students will
get a specific, well-rounded education. I think this is hard for many students
who would like to self-select into specific areas earlier. The school does
offer a decent cross section of math and science courses-- HL IB Biology and HL
Math (equivalent of AP Cal AB in terms of college credit) and then also HL IB
Chemistry and SL Computer Science as electives (your student can only choose
one elective junior-senior year). And the counseling and science departments
off good guidance on summer internships and college admissions are very strong
(not sure about engineering schools, but I haven't checked recently). I think
the teachers are strong and there are so many supports for students -- strong
counseling department, decent special ed (there are ICT classes!). The school
and PA have made great efforts in the past few years to increase the number of
extracurriculars, including PSAL sports teams. Mock trial, MUN and a burgeoning
debate team are very strong options. For my kid, having access to an after
school team that was her thing was important for her experience -- and she
really enjoyed the differences in the Brooklyn Latin curriculum compared to
usual NYC DOE curriculum for the first 3 years. I hear families talk about the
heavy workload -- that has not been my daughter's experience. In fact, her
senior year, she mostly complains because she doesn't feel she is learning
enough new: the IB classes are 2-year courses and she is a bit bored by just
learning a new couple of things adding on to a base from past years. She has
mixed feeling about the IB program -- I think the longer interim assessments
and extended essay where she got to choose her own topic were the things that
have most engaged her this year. But she really does not love taking the same
classes for 2 years. She has not found the workload too much or too
overwhelming. Brooklyn Latin has been great with scaffolding to help kids get
work done. The size of the school is nice, I think: it's small enough to know
everyone but not know them too well. There are whole class events, and the
overwhelming majority of classmates go.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
Yes, for the right kid who is interested in a broad liberal arts education.
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
I think the curriculum is very well thought out: that's an upside of having a set for all students. Teachers can really work together in teams to hone things over time. But it is limiting, too. So it depends on the student. Similarly, there are some great after school programs and teams that everyone can participate in, but there aren't the same breadth and depth as larger schools.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
There are so many miserable things about the NYC high school
process; a good thing is that there really are a decent range of school vibes
and curricular. Take advantage of that and look for the right fit.
Brooklyn Technical High School - Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now?
Sophomore as of March 2025
Please write a review of your experience
My son has fit in well to BT. He has a lot of homework but
doesn’t seem to mind it too much. He works very hard. He is learning which STEM
areas excite him most and I’m grateful he will have more of a clear focus by
the time he graduates. He has not been able to make the sports team he wants to
play on, which has been a bummer. We signed him up for a travel league outside
the school, but that is a huge financial strain for us. Socially he has had no
trouble making friends. He is learning to advocate for himself. There are a
handful of bad teachers (so says the WhatsApp chat) but thankfully he has only
had one so far, whom he managed to adjust to. The PA is very active. I’ve
volunteered in the library and it’s just amazing how comfortable and homey the
school feels despite its size. The staff are just amazing. Freshman year he
really connected with his pre-AP World History teacher and has maintained that
relationship. The teachers really do get to know the students, especially if
they participate. All in all really happy. It was a good fit for MY CHILD. I
have heard that it can be hard for very shy students. I enjoyed dinner with the
principal in December and got to meet a bunch of other parents and food from
Sophie’s Cuban. Just a great school with so much opportunities.
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
*
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
Tech is best for students who are self-motivated and have
great organization and work ethic OR the potential for growth in these areas.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Spend time with your child asking them questions to help
them better get to know themselves.
Brooklyn Tech
Is this the school your child attends now?
I had a class of 24, 27 and 29
Please write a review of your experience.
3 kids - all a bit different/introverted/do well academically but like balance. Tech you won’t get individualized attention, you need to be resourceful, advocate for yourself, be proactive with your teachers, self starter, driven to get what you need etc. it can be hard to make friends given the size and if you are shy but my kids didn’t mind having a small circle Large to me means less social pressure. There is no popular crowd. You find all kinds of kids so you can find your crew but you have to work at it Kids are general awkward, “nerdy” which fits well for my kids Overall my kids had great teachers. There were a handful that were bad but I told my kids you’ll have bad bosses, co workers, so deal with it. More important to learn how to deal with that and when things are unfair, even if your grade suffered My kids find the work very manageable. I think I’ve seen my oldest one stay up late twice maybe. But they don’t do activities every day. We make sure they aren’t overbooked and first years didn’t try to jam too many classes/APs Love the principal approach. He wants the kids to be balanced. For example Junior year cap is 3APs. Before Junior year max I think is 2 and in most cases people take 0 or 1. He’s not letting kids skip lunch.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
I can't directly answer since I have no experience
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children?
yes
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
The parent community is amazing. Everyone really helps each
other out. That is the go to before contacting the school . Crowd sourcing I
equate tech like NYC. People think NYers are rude but if you ever stop someone
for help they will help you. I’ve found the administration and 90% of the
teachers to be approachable, caring, responsive. But you have to reach out.
Tech is a big adjustment for many families but my view is that it’s the best
prep for college not so much academically but because the transition will be
easier. College is big, you have to seek out information and help, you don’t
get individualized attention, you have to seek out social activities, as a
parent you have to be hands off and guide your kid. I told my middle one, you
can go with the more “comfortable “ option or be “uncomfortable “ at the
beginning at tech but really grow as a person. You’ll also see a lot of
variation on what each teacher teaches or how they teach. That frustrates
people but that’s how it is in college. Tech isn’t for everyone.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Find a school that helps you become who you want to be,
rather than reinforce who you already know you are.
****************************************************************************
City-As High School (District 79 school)
Is this the school your child attends now
Yes, in 11th grade as of March 2025
Please write a review of your experience
My son was given a Superintendent Suspension that lasted 30
days within the first week of school for a reason that I don't want to
disclose, but basically, he was spectating a fight after school. He has a
diagnosis of ADHD, and I was under the assumption that the school had
restorative justice practice and did not use suspension. The school is
supposedly based on internships but I have not seen any high quality
internships offered - the internships are mostly at arts organizations and day
care centers. So far my son has only chosen "internships" that are
school based and led by a teacher. The school is extremely lax and it may be a
good fit for some students who have struggled with behaviors in school due to
neurodivergence, although it is not a good fit for my son. There is gang
activity and it serves mostly underprivileged students.
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
I am not sure that the school or teachers are aware of my
son's IEP but I've given up at this point with the DOE
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children?
No
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
This school may be a good fit for other students but it is
not for mine. Maybe a self-motivated creative student who has self discipline
could possibly excel here but I am not aware if this is true.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Go to a private school if your child needs more support than
a regular classroom with teachers not trained in ADHD behavior issues.
*******************************************************************************
Essex Street Academy, Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now?
Sophomore
Please write a review of your experience.
I have found it to be a highly engaged and supportive
community. I was concerned it wasn't as academically rigorous as I was hoping,
but I think it's been just right for my son. Middle school was a zoo and the
size and approach at ESA has been a good way to get him reengaged with school.
The collaborative and project based learning has really been working for him.
I've liked all the teachers I've interacted with and the administration is very
communicative. They are always sending out emails with lots of cultural and
activity opportunities.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children?
Yes!
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
It's a small, inclusive school which works for my kid. If it
sounds like what you and your child want, I have no complaints!
*******************************************************************************
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and
Performing Arts, Manhattan, vocal major
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Yes, Senior (as of march 2024)
Please write a review of your experience
Very large school with lots of opportunities - many different types of classes academically and for a performing arts major, some very cool experiences performing around the city. Teachers were for the most part really great! However, it's a high pressure environment, especially in the arts - students are talented and ambitious! Though, they are all very supportive - it's really amazing to see! It can be easy to get lost in the shuffle - students definitely needs to learn to self-advocate (a good life skill!)
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children?
This is an amazing school for the right student
Please add some details related to your answer to
the recommendation question here.
For a motivated student, LaG can be a great experience, but finding your way in a big school is not for everyone.
***************************************************************************
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Queens
Is this the school your child attends now?
Graduated June 2023
Please write a review of your experience.
Some teachers were great. A few teachers were duds. The long
commute from Brooklyn to Queens compounded by a long day because of art classes
was a challenge. You and your child need to be aware of this extra layer, which
makes it harder than a regular school.
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
We found working with the school around accommodations
particularly unhelpful. I would NOT recommend the school to students who need
special education services. Our child is very bright (she received a score of 5
on every AP test she took, and very high grades in many of her classes). She
also has attention and executive function difficulties. The school was not
proactive in helping our child succeed there. Almost every semester we had to
alert teachers, the AP in charge of special education, the IEP coordinator, and
our child counselor, that our child was not able to meet some of the homework
requirements (math was particularly unreasonably onerous) and was receiving low
marks because of that. The school agreed multiple times that showing mastery of
the material in alternative ways was desirable, but never implemented this
option. As a result, she had to drop some classes and in general had a pretty
miserable experience in high school.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
*
Not if they need special education services.
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
*
N/A
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
You know your child better than anyone (sometimes better
than your child knows themselves). Steer them accordingly.
Manhattan Hunter Science High School
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, he's in 9th grade as of March 2025
Please write a review of your experience
It's a small school. Students do their 12 year at Hunter
College. The academic support is exceptional. Teachers and support staff are
easily accessible, answer emails, are attentive.
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
The special ed coordinator is very knowledgeable and
helpful. As a small school, they are limits sometimes to what they can provide.
We have SETTS and OT , but were given vouchers. This might be deal breakers for
some families. Having said that, they are comfortable with students who are
neurodiverse and can offer supports, like lunch in a classroom setting and
alternatives to all school event.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
*
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
*
It's wonderful to be in a small school where the principal
knows your child, and all the teachers work together to provide a positive
setting. Because it's small, there are fewer choices for electives.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
You have to make a lot of compromise. You need to know what you are giving up. I was willing to give up a lot to be in a supportive environment where the teachers would meet my child's needs.
***********************************************************************
Stuyvesant High School
Is this the school your child attends now
Yes, graduating 2024
Please write a review of your experience
Believe the hype. Stuy is all that — but only if your kid is
very high functioning, resilient and self motivated. Otherwise, it will chew
them up and split out a husk. That said, it has been a valuable experience for
my child who never took hard work seriously or had met their intellectual match
before. Despite its strong reputation for STEM, the humanities are extremely
strong thanks to amazing faculty.
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
No, although some kids receive extra time for homework and
tests, that just turns 3 hours of nightly work into six.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
*
Please see above
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
*
Students need to be independent, high functioning and
resilient.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Be careful what you wish for.
*******************************************************************************
Stuyvesant HS
Is this the school your child attends now
yes, graduating june 2025
Please write a review of your experience
Our kid had a surprisingly good experience, made nice
friends, and got a very good education. My impression is that there IS far too
much intensity/competition, but she got in and wanted to go and in many ways,
she thrived.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
i think so
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children?
if your kid is serious about their schoolwork and likes to
be challenged and is willing to do alot of homework.
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
There are plenty of great schools in NYC and there is no
reason to stress about getting your kid into a specialized high school
including Stuy.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Visit the school, have your kid soak in the atmosphere, do
your best to let your kid assess whether it is the right fit. Try to contain
your own impatience and anxiety about the process, this too shall pass.
Urban Academy Laboratory School (transfer school) Manhattan UES
Is this the school your child attends now
junior/half-senior as of March 2024
Please write a review of your experience.
We transferred to Urban after Murrow was a bad fit (she went
to Murrow 1 full pandemic year remotely, and the next year in-person). She
started at Urban mid-year, and they integrated her beautifully. It's a small
school (140), one of the Consortium schools (portfolio-based assessment rather
than Regents exams), and likely the most progressive public high school in NYC
in terms of educational methodology and curriculum. The school starts each term
with a Project, which is 2 weeks of working in a small group on a particular
area of interest before the academic term begins in earnest. They spend a lot
of time on trips, in museums and elsewhere, and I love that my kid is getting
very familiar with NYC's cultural and art institutions, not just visiting once
or twice. At Urban it can certainly seem like nothing is happening for long
bouts, and I admit to feeling like they could "get on with it
already," but I feel overall that she is getting a good education in a
safe space. The teachers are all fantastic and they KNOW your kid, so there is
very little flying under the radar, which is what my kid likes to do. Their
grading is what frustrates me the most, they are not good at communicating what
students need to do to bring up a grade or to make an A, and to my mind
sometimes giving grades that seem like they were arrived at arbitrarily and
that really don't seem to have a basis in numbers. A teacher told me "we
don't tell the kids their grades until the end of the term as a matter of
philosophy" and as an educator I have not seen anything good come of that
tactic, as the feedback the kids get is extremely vague and sometimes
nonexistent. It sometimes takes a very long time to get a response to a
question or issue, other times someone responds right away. One overwhelmingly
positive aspect is that the school is highly diverse racially and
socioeconomically, there is a strong social justice lens throughout the
curriculum, and the social-emotional scene seems about as decent as can be in a
high school. The administration and SLT heartily reflect the diversity of the
student population. Overall I really like the school, and my kid is happy
there. One thing to note is that they have a 2-year minimum commitment, NO
exceptions, no matter how many credits your kid has, so if you think you might
want to transfer to Urban, make sure you understand when your child's earliest
possible graduation date is. Urban partners with Hunter for College Now classes
and they have made it very easy for students to take those classes. There are
no AP classes at Urban. The building houses several high schools and they
combine to form sports teams (soccer, basketball, volleyball, and other sports)
under the JREC umbrella.
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
They are well versed in IEPs and 504s.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes absolutely
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
*
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
*
I think Urban is a great school for kids who may fly under
the radar elsewhere, might need a little extra guidance, would thrive in a
small community, and do well with projects and highly participatory classes.
The school would not be a great fit for a kid who needs an all-AP course-load,
tons of extracurriculars and clubs on campus, and highly competitive sports
teams. Visit the school (the tours are small) and you'll get a very good feel
for fit.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Aside from the obvious things to take into account, look at
not only the commute but the school's neighborhood amenities. My kid had to
take 3 trains to get to Murrow, and there is very little around Murrow to do
(in terms of encouraging socializing after school). We were so excited that
she'd gotten into the audition-based music department and the academically
competitive M-STAR program that we didn't really consider how exhausting that
commute would be and how the surroundings might contribute to difficulty
developing friendships outside of school. In hindsight, it was a huge mistake
not to take the location and environs into account.
******************
Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design (WHSAD)
Is this the school your child attends now
yes, 10th grade as of March 2024
Please write a review of your experience
My son is in 10th grade and had an excellent 9th grade
experience which has only gotten better in 10th grade. If you have a STEM kid
this school is a great option (with Brooklyn priority). You don't have to want
to be an architect just interested in visual/digital art, model making, and
STEM/Maker work. He will come out certified in Autocad and the first week of
school they had kids do some research on colleges to get a better understanding
of how they can apply what they are learning in college. The homework load is
light so that the kids can fully participate in the after-school maker
activities, internships, and mentor programs. This link tells you about their
after school maker-space:
https://www.whsad.org/learn-about-whsads-makerspace-and-after-school-clubs In
addition to attending the after-school program every day my son was also in the
ACE mentor program which is a citywide program where high school students
choose a participating architectural firm to attend weekly sessions that
introduce the kids to careers in the design and construction industry and
create a pseudo-design project as a part of the mentorship. Each team has
mentor representation from architects, engineers (structural, civil,
electrical, and mechanical), and construction managers. My son also
participates in Work Based Learning Internships with the Gensler Architecture
firm. All to say it's a great school for a kid who is seeking a hands on
experience. The academics are strong as well and since my son passed the 8th
grade math/science regents he took geometry and earth science in 9th grade and
Chemistry and Algebra II in 10th and looking forward to physics, and calculus.
They have several APs for those that are interested in that and you can get an
advanced Regents diploma alongside the Autocad certification. But if your kid
is more into the Liberal Arts vs. STEM this is probably not the best fit. They
also reward kids on the honor roll with field trips and he takes other field
trips for his internships e.g. recently went to Freshkills to survey the site
with a drone that he was in charge of flying. This year he has also been
programming VR headsets and participated in a community service project with
architects from the NYC Dept. of Buildings and he created the 3D digital model
for their joint "canstruction" project (to learn more
https://bfplny.com/canstruction/) They have gym 3x a week which I like. The
school shares the building with 2 other high schools but they all get along and
the principals work together to create a positive environment. There doesn't
seem to be any tensions between the three schools which share a gym and
cafeteria (no out to lunch).
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
My son has had a supportive experience at WHSAD. The school
leadership team is very responsive. The school is a great fit for creative
thinkers who learn best with hands on experience. It's a small school and every
teacher knows my son well and supports him.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children? *
*
yes
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
*
The principal and teachers are all very responsive. My son
has been really engaged, made friends, and is taking advantage of all they have
to offer. No kid gets left behind here, they know the students very well and do
extensive parent outreach. The amount of internship experience has been
astounding and has given him so much experience in communicating with
professionals in the real world and to see his work contribute to real
projects. I love that he will come out with professional skills, a portfolio/resume,
and a great overall education.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who
are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best
fit for them/their family.
Think about what type of school will give your particular
kid the most positive high school experience in which they personally will
excel vs. what are considered the most "elite" high schools as the
brass ring.
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