Academy for Careers in Television and Film—LIC (CTE in video and film production and is an ASD Nest site).
Is this the school your child attends now? Current junior
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
This is a small boutique school where it is impossible to fall through the cracks. There is an advisory program where groups of 12-15 students and an advisory teacher meet four periods a week for their entire high school careers, and that teacher is a point person for the parents for all issues. The video/film program is unique and excellent. Students specialize in upper grades in everything from post-production work, to set design, to costume/makeup, to camera work. There is a 9am start and block scheduling. There is a partnership with BMCC that allows students to take college classes for credit with strong support from the high school, and students can choose to continue to a free associate’s degree with BMCC after graduation. The downside is that the small size results in a limited selection of courses and extracurriculars.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
I have a complex IEP student who is not in the school’s Nest program. They have all the things in-house—OT, ST, PT, ICT classes at AP level, excellent social work/counseling programs.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes. Option of single-stall any-gender bathroom is available for anyone more comfortable with that.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children?
Perfect for mine, but may not offer enough advanced coursework or extracurriculars for highly academic and competitive students.
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
It’s a chill school. More focused on the whole person and the film/video production program than advanced academics. Great opportunity for artsy kids looking for a path to practical application of their interests to a potential career.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Know your kid and their needs/interests.
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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.
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Baruch High School
Is this the school your child attends now? 2026
Please write a review of your experience.
Small, challenging, extremely supportive school
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.
Plenty of academic support, excellent social worker, staff that strongly supports the students, strong college counseling
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Look for a school that offers the kind of support you need for your child.
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Baruch High School
Is this the school your child attends now? Junior, September 2025
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
This school touts itself as having strong academics and lots of support. I have found it to be true. It is a very small school so every student is known by most adults in the building and they will form strong relationships. They offer advanced coursework in all 4 core subjects and I have found the curriculum and teaching to be very strong. My child has had very good teachers so far. I would consider the homework load to be average/manageable. I would say my child has homework in 3-5 subjects daily but often assignments are very short - a few sentences in Spanish, a page of journal writing, 5-7 math problems. Tests and quizzes are quite frequent and most classes will have 2-3 small group projects in a semester. For a school this size the sports program is quite robust and lots of kids participate. Extracurriculars outside of sports are limited. The biggest benefit and biggest drawback is the size of the school. If I was picking schools for my child again I would definitely make the same choice and it has been a really wonderful place for her.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
This is a great school for a strong student who needs support in various areas. They offer ICT in all 4 core subjects all 4 years plus SETTS and special classes to support kids struggling in math or English. It is very small so every kid is given a lot of attention. They also have a robust guidance team and 2 part time Speech teachers.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Unknown but it is very supportive in many ways so I would think so.
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 a really nice community that cares a lot about all the students in the building. It is very small so be sure that there is enough to interest your kid for all 4 years.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Involve your child and make sure that they have input in the process. Sometimes it makes sense to go with your gut feelings about a school.
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Beacon High School, NYC
Is this the school your child attends now? Graduated June 2025
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
2021-2025 was a challenging period for Beacon in large part because the school went through 3 principals over 4 years. This created instability especially when the 2nd principal (interim) was a person who had no experience as a principal and was in the position for almost 2 years. My hope is that the current principal, who just started in spring 2025, stays and provides the leadership the school needs. Overall, the quality of teachers varied a great deal as did the quality of the advisors. My son had 3 different advisors in 4 years when the design is to have one that moves with you from 9th-12th grades. This made his experience very disjointed--a good advisor/advisory can make all the difference in feeling connected to and supported by the school and my son never had that. The clubs, arts, sports, and student government are all there but Beacon favors students who are outgoing and take initiative. If there is any nurturing and encouragement it's uneven--in my son's case it was completely lacking. The school especially failed in the subject of math. My son's 10th grade math teacher went on leave at the beginning of his 10th grade year and they never replaced the teacher, using a patchwork of subs instead. This really set him back in math, previously a strong subject area for him. He had the same experience with a film class, but instead of even trying with subs they just gave the students a free period without telling families. Some parents I spoke with said their children really thrived at Beacon, others I spoke with were even more disappointed than I was. So the full range is there and it can depend, as mentioned, on what kind of student your child is, if they're independently geared towards getting engaged, and if they luck out in terms of teachers and advisory.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? I don't know directly, but seems like it.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Not at this time
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
The principal for 2025-26 just started in the last couple of months last year. Time will tell if they are able to provide strong leadership and revive the positive culture for staff and students that I heard had largely characterized the school in the past.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Location & start time may be more important than you expect. Beacon starts at 8am, a time that the research on adolescent development says does not support high school success.
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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.
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Brooklyn High School of the Arts
Is this the school your child attends now? 2025 Graduate
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
My child attended 9-12 grades here and it ended up being the perfect school for her. She was committed to being at a school where she could pursue her passion of visual arts and in an unexpected but much appreciated bonus was where she came out of her shell and shined academically. She benefitted from having amazing AP teachers who were supportive and challenged her. In 10th grade her AP Lit teacher was the first person to waken her love of reading (thank you Ms Grau!); and she found staff to support her in the process of getting a 504, which made all the difference.
The kids all receive 4 years of Pre-Conservatory Arts Training from teachers who are accomplished and talented in their various Arts.
The school is big enough that my child found her “people”, but small enough that it still feels personalized. The hallways are filled with artwork and most of all, it felt like a safe, well run school. Principal Vecchiano is experienced and knowledgeable. His door is open to visitors, parents and the kids.
The Support Staff and clerical staff are all part of the community and kids support their friends across the Studios, and some even choose to double Major. While my child do not choose to double Major, she did take up learning guitar outside of school.
The College list this year was very impressive, with kids being accepted to Ivy Leagues, International schools, Performing Arts Schools as well as the SUNYs, and CUNYS.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
My child had an IEP in elementary school and we realized she needed a 504 in 11th Grade. The school was willing and able to work with her and she felt well supported.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Yes. Like all schools, not every child will find their groove her, but the ones who do, thrive.
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
All children have their own individual needs. Having been a high school parent for the past 14 or 15 years, I have seen kids transfer out of most schools in NYC for one reason or another.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Let your child lead the way. Each child is different and they often have a good sense of what will work for them when they go on tours/ look at websites etc. but also know your child and know if they are being persuaded by their friends or following their own intuition.
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Brooklyn High School of the Arts - Theater major
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes
Please write a review of your experience.
My daughter has been very well supported academically, and the classes are challenging enough to keep her engaged. There's a good variety of AP classes. Administration is thoughtful and responsive.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
IEP mandates are met and reviewed thoughtfully with my daughter involved in the process.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Absolutely!
On Fridays kids have shorter days. That's nice for your kid when the rest of the week feels so rigorous. There's a great variety of clubs!
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
There are many schools other than the handful on so many parents' lists - and limited seats everywhere mean we have to really look at many options. There's a just-right school for every child.
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 Tech
Is this the school your child attends now? yes
Please write a review of your experience.
The thing Tech is most known for is its giant size, which makes sense as indeed its huge. My daughter does not seem fazed by that all and even in her freshman year said she "knew everybody in her class" (!) She is more of a humanities kid and did not like the pressure cooker of the first two years, though now that she's a junior in the Law and Society major she's loving it. I still think she should have chosen Beacon, where she got in, over Tech, but she was drawn by the prestige and that's her deal. She has finally found lots of friends, and there are certainly tons of extracurriculars. I think for a kid who is really driven, ambitious, can deal w/ a lot of homework and likes the majors system, it's a good choice. I'm sad that there are no art opportunities there, and in general you really have to find your way - it's like a college. Also, you can choose to have as much or as little parent involvement as you want. I have none and have only been in the building once.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? yes with a lot of caveats
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
Must be for the right kid.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Don't be swayed by name or reputation! Really look for what feels day-to-day right for a kid. Visit and have them imagine being there every weekday for four years. Focus on the lived experience.
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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 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.
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Brooklyn Technical High School
Is this the school your child attends now? junior
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
Love the school. It's a big school (6000 kids) and that may not be for everyone. Our kid did fine with that right from the beginning. He's more challenged than he was at his previous schools. The school is well run, easy to communicate with. We've had good experiences with his teachers, though we see others aren't as lucky based on our grade's parent group. For his last 2 years, he was able to select a major, which is something that sets Tech apart from the other specialized high schools. I have 2 main complaints. First is that it's hard to get on a sports team since there's so much competition. My son who has been playing soccer since he was 3 years old hasn't been able to make the soccer team, but he has made track which he has enjoyed. My other complaint is that it seems like the only place to have lunch is in the cafeteria. My son prefers to hang out in the auditorium and no eating is allowed. He doesn't think he can eat in class either. When I was in high school, you could eat anywhere as long as you were respectful about it. Overall, the school is excellent. It's the first public school that my son has been in where I don't feel stressed about what's going on at the school.
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.
Challenging school that offers a lot to its student body.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Don't overthink it. Go with your intuition.
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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.
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Clinton School
Is this the school your child attends now? Class of 2027
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
A beautiful school with amenities you don’t see at other public schools. It is an IB program so rigorous in junior and senior years. Sophomore year had a few terrible teachers (chem, mainly) but the bad math teacher left, thankfully. My daughter is about to enter junior year and I hear the teachers are great. They offer school trips (Spain, Costa Rica, Vietnam) - my daughter enjoyed the trip to Andalucia this year. The guidance/college counselors are on top of sending kids and parents the many internship opportunities offered around the city and seem excellent for college advising. There are some great sports teams and clubs. The one downside I see is that the school is filled with extremely wealthy white families in District 2 who could afford private school (but know their kids have a better chance at ivys coming from an elite public school). And it is reflected in the non-diverse student population. My daughter came from an extremely diverse middle school so this was a bit of a culture shock. I wish there was more economic and racial diversity. My daughter has found a few close friends but stays away from the clique dynamic which has been great. Overall, though, the kids seem generally nice and I don’t hear reports of bullying. It is a 6-12 school so it can be somewhat challenging in the beginning to make friends as many of the kids know each other from middle school years. My daughter made a few close friends quickly with other students who didn’t attend Clinton for middle. Lastly, it is located in a fantastic part of town, Union Square, and it has a start time of 8:50am which is a great start time for teens!
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
My daughter has a 504 and they abide by the rules for extra time. I’ve heard mixed reviews about IEP support but can’t speak directly.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? I don’t think it’s an artsy quirky school so there may be less lgbtq representation overall. I don’t think it would be an unfriendly environment but possibly less opportunity to meet peers
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Yes if you have a motivated, high-achieving child.
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
IB in junior and senior years is very rigorous so it’s good to know this going in.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
A great principal is key. And look around at the student body. Is it a decent commute? It’s impossible to know exactly the right fit but make sure it aligns with what your kid is looking for.
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Essex Street Academy
Is this the school your child attends now? I have twins and they’re in the 11th grade
Please write a review of your experience.
No one has mentioned yet that the Seward Park campus has a beautiful, graffiti art covered rooftop, as well as a pool. ESA kids are allowed to “opt in“ if they are interested in swimming. (my sons are too concerned about their hair to partake -lol).
There are some teachers that are much more rigorous than other teachers, but honestly I think that is because they do their best to focus on experiential learning and are always updating their content to reflect important strategies/ issues.
There are an amazing amount of sports offered with students from all four schools on the campus and the directors overseeing the programs are quite dedicated.Tons of clubs offered as well as a plethora of outside opportunities, both cultural, artistic, academic, and internship/job opportunities.
The college advisor leads workshops for all of New York City high school parents on occasion (20+ years in the field) They focus on every student having a post high school plan and gives them time and assistance with that entire process.
The principal Wallace knows everyone by name and signs his letters home “love, Wallace”. ESA has no screens and was our first choice. It seems that one of the goals of the school is to keep it representative of the population in the city and that is why there are no screens for admittance. The parent coordinator is amazing…commutative, extremely competent and kind.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
One of my sons has an IEP (McMurdo reasoning & executive functioning). There are already two teachers in most of the classes and frankly I have found ALL of the teachers to give him the accommodations that he needs I don’t really keep track of which classes are specialized IEP and which are just regular wonderful ESA classrooms.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? For SURE (for the right kids I guess)
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
I’d say you want to think about the neighborhood I guess. My boys have been traveling around on the subway since eighth grade on their own, are pretty street savvy (and tall) so they have actually been totally fine. I only mention this because although the lower east side has many wonderful things… great food, many parks, musical, and cultural events… there are also quite a few unhoused, drug addicted, andor unstable individuals that you need to be conscious of. There are many subways around though and the walk is not too far from most of them.
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Essex Street Academy, Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? Sophomore as of March 2025
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!
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Essex Street Academy -- Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now Current senior, as of March 2025
Please write a review of your experience.
I'd say the best aspect of the school is its size. Every
single teacher and every single administrator will know your kid. There's no
way a student can fall through the cracks. Quick story to prove my point: the
first in-school event after the pandemic, I was standing in the entryway of the
school waiting for things to begin. The principal came up and introduced
himself. I told him my son's name and he immediately knew who he was -- not
only that, but gave me thoughtful, detailed impressions of how my son was doing
that year, compared to the year before. It was incredible. And then he pulled
the assistant principal over, and introduced us and the AP talked about my son.
I think that says a lot about ESA. Our only qualm has been that not all the
classes are terribly rigorous. Math and science are particularly disappointing.
ESA doesn't offer any AP classes (which didn't impact his college choices at
all). The language classes don't get very advanced. Like all schools, some
teachers are better educators than others. But all of the teachers are
enthusiastic and engaged. We haven't come across a teacher who was checked-out
and just phoning it in. I've read reviews that say that the club offerings at
ESA are slim. We haven't found that at all. My son started a few clubs, with
the full, enthusiastic support of the principal and teachers. The staff is so
incredibly supportive -- if your child expresses a passion or interest in
something, the school will do whatever it can to assist them. My daughter went
to Beacon, which was a great school as well. And it was perfect for her. The
difference in resources at Beacon vs. ESA is so huge, it's almost comical. But
our son didn't even apply there. It wouldn't have been a good fit for him. We
felt like we won the lottery when he got into ESA (which, in fact, he literally
did).
If you have a child who receives special education
services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
Our son has ADHD. He doesn't have an IEP or 504, so I can't
speak to the special ed. services, per se. But we've felt that the teachers are
pretty well versed in understanding ADHD, executive function issues, etc. They
have a weekly 'coaching' class, which I thought was going to be time set aside
for exec. functioning and study skills -- it's not. It's just a time for the
kids to do homework (which my son appreciates, but I wish it was time better
spent).
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Yes, for the right kid!
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
ESA is a gem of a school and we were 90% delighted with it. If you think your kid will want a super challenging curriculum, or have an interest in STEM, this is not the school for you. I asked my son if he's getting a good education there, and he said yes, though it depends on the class. He thinks math isn’t great because they don’t track students in math. Everyone is thrown into the same class so what you’ve learned previously isn’t taken into account. He thinks it’s too easy. But his social studies and English classes have been excellent. He feels he uses the things he’s learned in those classes in his “real life”, which he feels is the mark of a good education.
LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now?June 2025 graduated
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
LaGuardia High School is a specialized institution focused on the Arts, catering to students who excel in various creative disciplines such as Dance, Drama, Fine Arts, Music (both Instrumental and Vocal), and Technical Theater. It offers an exceptionally rigorous program where students dedicate several hours each day to their chosen art form. This environment is ideal for those who are passionate about the arts; however, it may not suit every student.
The school is quite large, with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. While there is a wealth of talent present, the competitive atmosphere can be intense. Though occurrences of bullying are not common, a sense of competitiveness amongst students is prevalent.
LaGuardia operates with a long school day, spanning ten periods. This includes 3-4 periods devoted to Arts Studio classes. The academic curriculum is challenging, and there can be a disconnect between the demands of the Arts and the expectations of the academic courses.
For instance, students often face a situation where they leave late from performances or rehearsals—sometimes returning home as late as 11 PM—(students live across all five Boroughs) only to have exams scheduled for 8 AM the next day. For many students, this can create an unsustainable routine, leading to high levels of stress and homework overload for students engaged in both academics and the arts.
Due to its large size, communication within the school can be a challenge. However, there have been improvements in this area under the leadership of Principal Marwah, fostering better connections among students, faculty, and parents.
The parent community at LaGuardia is notably active and influential, contributing significant resources and support to the school. Their involvement plays a vital role in enhancing the overall educational experience.
It's important to acknowledge that issues related to drugs, vaping, and alcohol do exist within the school environment, although they may not be as prevalent on campus itself.
The notable advantages of LaGuardia include its strong Arts programs, diversity, and conservatory-level training for young artists. However, there are considerable challenges as well—particularly in terms of the rigorous academic demands, extensive homework, and standardized testing. While many parents advocate for a "dual mission" approach that balances arts and academics, this can be overwhelming for some students and not all parents/guardians want the demands for their students.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
If your student has an IEP or 504, the parents the past 4 years have worked extremely hard to change things for the better. They created a new Executive Board PA position in Special Education and on the SLT. They have worked hard to work with the school to establish a rapport to further change. The school is not equipped to manage all students with learning differences or learning disabilities- some teachers may desire to work with the students but many just don’t have the time. The school has gotten better with compliance. But, sadly and unfortunately regardless of the compliance obligation, do not necessarily expect for your student’s needs to be fully met.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? yes definitely
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children?
Very hard question to answer/ please read my other notes and you can decide for yourself. Definitely it is not a decision to attend to take lightly.
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
I think it’s best that you read what I’ve written above which hopefully will explain well.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
advise- don’t listen to what anyone else’s kid is doing or wants to do- only and always look at your own child and what works or doesn’t work for them. If you decide not to pursue LaGuardia, they still can pursue the Arts but it is true that the Arts training is unparalleled anywhere else. But know it’s not perfect at all.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Gramercy Arts High School
Is this the school your child attends now? Will be a senior!
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
We have loved Gramercy Arts. Teachers are kind and devoted. There is JOY all throughout the school. Plenty of AP opportunities but not a lot of academic pressure. Unusual courses like Forensics and Astronomy. The theater productions are outstanding. Principal is amazing. You know how many principals love to say, "My door is always open?" Of the 7 schools I've known in NYC, I've only felt a completely welcoming vibe from all staff at this one. I wish they emphasized a foreign language for all four years. Last year my son didn't have any. Communication can be unpredictable. Some staff members reliably send updates but dates for trips/performances etc. seem to appear out of nowhere at times.
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.
My son has been thriving at Gramercy. I wish they were stricter with cell phones but I believe that will change this year state-wide.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Trust your gut. Avoid any place that emphasizes students' future (college/career) at the cost of the present.
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High School for Math Science and English at CCNY (engineering track)
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes, senior
Please write a review of your experience.
HSMSE has been a great experience for my daughter. She has made great friends l. I think her class feels like a cohesive group and she has great relationships with her teachers. In a small school you have a few teachers multiple times and also have them as club advisors and for advisory so they get to know you. The kids have the same advisory teacher for 4 years. And it seemed like they organized advisory classes by borough, which was helpful early on. Kids choose HSMSE because they want something smaller and more friendly than bigger SHSAT schools might be and the administration encourages a kind environment.
My daughter decided halfway through HS that she did not want to pursue math, science or engineering. But still loves the school and is happy with her choice. Some of the engineering classes have been helpful in learning to problem solve and brainstorm and some were just a fun hands-on break from regular classes.
She would have liked liberal arts options for her senior academic elective but because it’s a small school she found other ways to explore that interest. There are liberal arts and creative elective-period electives. Her history teacher let her do an independent study with him and the administration looked into getting permission for her to take a CCNY class (it didn’t work out but has in the past). And there are clubs for art, creative writing, drama, knitting/crochet, etc.
An outside organization runs a mental health wellness center and this is a gift. It’s valuable in de-stigmatizing therapy and lots of students go there for help managing stress and a range of other issues.
It’s also a fairly diverse school, in general and especially for a SHSAT school, which we appreciate.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes. The principal and several staff members are part of the community, and they strive to make sure everyone feels valued and accepted. I know of individual situations where kids in this community were struggling with their identity and teachers, guidance, etc. were very understanding and supportive.
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 don’t think i would encourage a student to start out here if they know they are very much a humanities student. There is 4 years of math and 4 years of science and there are no optional humanities APs, aside from German, Art and Music though that could change. There seems to be movement to add more civics to the curriculum. Also, the English and history teachers are some of the best and most popular. If you are not sure if STEM is your thing it’s a great place to find out. The science program has expanded since my daughter has been there and i think the engineering track is unique. And those teachers have tremendous backgrounds in engineering fields.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Don’t be afraid of a long commute if the student is really excited about a particular school. Getting out of the neighborhood and meeting kids across the city is broadening and teens that travel for school and to see friends get very subway savvy and independent very quickly. For me the number of transfers and complexity of the commute was an issue more than the length. My daughter had hit delays that made her late to school about once a year.and the train ride home is often social time. They learn to use the subway to read, study or just have down time.
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The High School for Science Math and Engineering at CCNY (HSMSE)
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes, they are a senior.
Please write a review of your experience.
Overall very impressed with the school, no complaints. STEM oriented but some of my child's favorite classes have been art history and architecture. Lots of clubs and opportunities to create new ones. Child loves the teachers. Homework amount is not high. Friends are tight. Expected to take multiple AP classes but the students are at this level.
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.
Small, smart, caring environment that fosters curiosity and learning.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Know your child's learning style.
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High School for Math, Science & Engineering at CCNY
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes as of March 2025
Please write a review of your experience.
HSMSE is on the CCNY campus in a building on the original quad. The quad is one of the best features of the school. The kids sprawl across it at lunchtime and sometimes hang out there after school in the nice weather. When they can’t be outside they go to the CCNY cafeteria or one of the cafes, delis or pizza places in Amsterdam Avenue. They also use the CCNY gym for gym class and various auditoriums and the ballroom on campus when they need them. The kids also have some access to the CCNY library. It can sometimes be awkward not having their own gym or auditorium or library. And the school had to work around some of the recent campus protests in small ways. But they have the protection of their own security, plus campus security and the local police precinct, which works closely with the campus security, HSMSE and APR, another high school that borders the campus. So the school and the area quite feel safe. The kids are allowed out for lunch and most mix bringing lunch with buying pizza or something from the schwarma truck on campus. The upside of a small school is that you encounter the same teachers over and over. Your advisory teacher isnalso your history teacher, your math teacher is also an advisor to one of your clubs. Your math teacher one semester is your comp sci teacher the next. So kids have the opportunity to build close relationships with teachers. Even teachers my daughter hasn’t has know who she is. This is valuable if they need help or an informal accommodation (.ie: an extension on homework after being sick) and of course when they need recommendations for college and summer programs. There is a good variety of afterschool activities and sports and students can propose a new club if they want to. The academic load seems heavy—8 classes in total. But there is an A/B schedule. So each academic class meets every other day, which helps to space out the homework. Helping them to learn time management and how to plan out homework and projects is one if the best things parents can do when they are freshman. Electives meet for a shorter period every day but are meant to be fun, no pressure classes like photography, gastronomy, python coding, history through film, creative writing, etc. Some extra-curriculars like band and the newspaper are electives. And 3 AP classes, art history, music and German, are electives. The school’s former AP became the principal 3 years ago and has done a lot to improve the school and expand its offerings. It now has a science research track in addition to a math or engineering track and a small program with Mount Sinai. The Sinai program is great but can only take 18 students who are off-campus at sinai for half of every day in junior and senior year. So having a bigger science track at the school is valuable. Kids commute from all over Brooklyn, queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. For the most part they just adapt. The afternoon commute is socializing time. And my daughter sees the morning commute as an hour she has to herself to read, listen to music, crochet or cram in extra studying. The one downside to the small size is that there isn’t an infinite numbers of class choices that Brooklyn Tech or Bronx Science has. But the engineering classes are unique and the teachers have all had amazing jobs in engineering or architecture before becoming teachers. The limit of options is morenon the liberal arts side than the STEM side. Some of the STEM teachers are quirky and the kids feel some could communicate better, but no matter where you go you’ll like some teachers more than others. The Children’s Hospital runs a wellness center in the building, which is a great resource. In general my daughter has had a great experience, pursued an eclectic variety of after-school activities and made teachers great friends.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes, key faculty members are LGBTQ and strive to make sure every kid feels valued and respected.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for
their children
Yes, if your child is a strong STEM could and would benefit
from a small community this school is a bit of a unicorn. A well-staffed,
fairly well equipped STEM school that is also small. Most STEM schools are big
because good STEM programs need money.
Please add some details related to your answer
to the recommendation question here.
My daughter decided halfway through her time there that she
was not a STEM kid and was more interested in history and politics. Her
opportunities to pursue that interest were limited. She has developed a close
relationship with one of her English teachers and a few of the history/social
studies teachers and is doing an independent study in her senior year with a
history teacher as advisor. But seniors have room in their schedules for 1-2
academic electives and the only class options were STEM classes. She is taking
architecture and a product design class that is wide-ranging and that she
actually really enjoys. But she would have liked an AP option that was history
or government. The history and English teachers are some of the best and most
popular at the school. And they might expand their civics opportunities in the
coming years. But you have to like math and science enough to take it across
all 4 years.
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.
Kids interests can evolve and change over high school. And
going to a school that emphasizes one thing or another doesn’t lock them into
anything. So as long as a school can meet their interests it will probably be
okay. My liberal arts daughter found a lot of outlets in the after school
offerings like drama or creative writing club, model UN and so forth. Think
about the size school you think is right for your kid. Some thrive in a huge
place, others need something smaller. That probably matters more than anything
else. Let your kid decide what kind of commute they can handle. My daughter is
NOT a morning person and has been fine with an hour-long train ride. Other kids
will want to stay closer to home. Also, the length of the commute matters less
than the complexity of it. Sitting on 1 train for an hour or taking 2 subways
and a bus are very different experiences.
High School of American Studies (HSAS) at Lehman College
Is this the school your child attends now? 2024 and 2028 graduates (two kids)
Please write a review of your experience.
HSAS is one of the smaller Specialized High Schools, with just about 300 kids in grades 9 to 12. Kids take 2 history classes each year.
Things we love:
- Small size overall, and small class size
- Really wonderful teachers for the most part. They are also very approachable and available.
- A larger than usual number of DIscovery kids means that it is more diverse than the other specialized HSs.
- a surprisingly robust athletic program for some sports
- the guidance counselors have done their part in making sure everything gets in on time to colleges without any stress on our part.
Things you should know (i.e. the less good and the neutral):
- Basically no arts. What they have is really not great.
- No options/ electives in 9th and 10th. Options open up in 11th and 12th, but still, it's a small school so the options are limited.
- In 11th and 12th, you can take a class at Lehman College. Our one experience was 'eh' My son enjoyed the class because there wasn't the daily homework grind of regular classes.
- It's very test-focused. Plenty of APs. Teachers look at quizzes and tests as a way to develop study habits, as a way for kids to be constantly reviewing classwork. This can work really well for some kids, and cause undue stress for others.
- Spanish is the only language option
- Check what after school sports your kid is into. It could be great (or not).
- PTA is fairly active and very well run, but there isn't a whole lot of opportunity to develop a parent community -- though maybe that's just high school.
- If your kid is at all a history nerd, it's a must check-out. If your kid is not a history nerd, I think they'll have an easier time of it if they are fairly nerdy as in serious-ish about school work.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
Extra time on tests - the school is totally open to it, but the tight schedule means a little bit of wiggling about to make it happen.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes. There is certainly meanness but seems to be a lot of openness and kindness as well
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Overall, yes -- but if based on the above, it feels like a good fit for your kid. It's maybe not for everyone to have so much of an academic-y test-y environment.
It's important to see if your kid is a good fit.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Keep talking, make separate lists of what's important and then compare (example: commute, class size, language offerings etc.). Know that priorities change when it's decision time. It can be a really good family conversation (conversationSS). And yeah - whatever your family chooses will be the right choice (or you can work on transferring). :)
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High School of Art and Design (Manhattan)
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes. Rising Senior
Please write a review of your experience.
We could not be happier with our daughter's high school experience. Art & Design is a good size but not too big. The teachers are great. My daughter took a number of AP and Honors classes and did very well. The Art courses are rigorous. My daughter's artistic skill has grown impressively. It some ways the school feels more like a college (the culture, the different Art majors, etc.) My daughter has made many friends - all extremely smart kids. They have a lot of fun but are not into weed or partying (although I am sure some of that goes on, as in every high school). It is a very accepting culture. She is not aware of any bullying. I have gone to the art shows - there is some serious talent there. I really can not speak highly enough about Art & Design. I think it is NYC gem. My daughter actually looks forward to going to school. Among her graduating friends, several were accepted to Rhode Island School of Design (14% acceptance rate), one was accepted to Cooper Union and another to NYU. If you think creative thought matters then I don't think you can do better than this school.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Definitely.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? 100%
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
My wife and I have always believed that the arts should be as integral to education as ELA, science and math. The art classes at Art & Design are college-level classes. The school offers plenty of AP an Honor's courses so your child's can have a rigorous course load if that is what they want. The school has many clubs, after-school activities, weekend Draw-a-Thons, free admission to MOMA and other museums. It is located in the East 50s not far from Central Park. Easy commute from Brooklyn.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Let your child choose where they want to go. Students today work hard . . . I think it is also important for them to have fun and enjoy their teen years. It's all about balance.
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High School of Art & Design
Is this the school your child attends now? 2025
Please write a review of your experience.
Pros: Great school if your child is set on a career in the arts. It is very professional future focused. Students are called Young Professionals and there are a lot of opportunities for kids to work with professional organizations on projects both in the summer and as part of the school's in-house advertising agency. Cons: In-class phone disruption was huge his first three years, but it's gotten better this year and I think NYS just passed a law to support reduced phone use. It doesn't have a huge offering of non-major classes until senior year, and I don't think they do enough writing in the early years.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
My son has an IEP and has been mostly in ICT classes. He was an anxious mess his first two years and while they didn't always know how to respond to some of his breakdowns, they did always call me and we tried to work through issues together. They did ask that he pursue outside therapy or they'd have to consider asking him to leave the school. Thankfully, the therapy and maturity made his last two years issue free. I did feel like they really cared about him, but just weren't equipped for the big emotions he was having for awhile.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes, it's very orientation-diverse.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children?
If you have a student strongly focused on the range of art programs the school offers, it's top-notch for picking up those skills.
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
The school is focused on training students for careers in the graphic design, film, animation, photography, fashion industries. The students do get professional certifications in various Adobe programs and graduate with a CTE degree in addition to the high school diploma. That focus is great for kids really driven on those kinds of careers, but I think it results in a less rigorous general education.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
There's what you want for your kid and there's what they want. So, try to find the balance that keeps them happy but checks the boxes for skills you know will serve them well in the future. Listen to your gut when touring campuses. If you don't get into the school you absolutely wanted, don't fret. We've found after-school programs to round out my son's education and fulfill his other interests.
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High School of Art and Design
Is this the school your child attends now? 1 graduate 2025. 1 sophomore (transferred out)
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
The level of artwork the kids at the school do is astounding. The Art Teacher’s are amazing. And the kids that go to the school get into a lot of the best art schools in the country for college. A lot of kids go on to general universities and study things other than art after finishing here. Academics are generally good and there are lots of opportunities to take AP level classes. My kid is starting college with 15 credits from high school APs. One of my kids graduated and got into all the art schools she applied to for college. The other one was there for one year and decided to transfer because they didn’t feel like any of the majors suited them. The school is a great place for trans, gay, and non-binary kids. There are a lot of kids from Queens at the school and my kid’s social life was entirely in Queens although we live far from there. The stairs are difficult- it’s on a high floor.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here. My kid had an IEP and school was supportive.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Very!
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.
Great school for artsy kids - must be motivated to make art and improve skills.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Don’t be afraid to switch schools. We are doing it despite thinking this is a good school. It has to be the right fit.
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High School of Art & Design, Film
Is this the school your child attends now? Graduated 6/23/2025
Please write a review of your experience.
My daughter transferred in as a sophomore and was placed in Cartooning. As a junior, she switched majors to Film, where she really found her voice and her people. The school has very engaged teachers, especially in the majors, and a really active and well resourced PTA and alumni association. There are many opportunities for internships and professional engagement. Students are referred to as "young professionals." Engagement with parents is very strong. The arts focus is incredibly intense - and while my daughter loves Film, she doesn't plan to have a career in the arts. So at times she wished there were a bit more respect for other paths, in terms of the emphasis on academics and college admissions.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Yes, especially those who want a career in visual arts
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here. If your student does not want a career in the arts, at times they may feel de-emphasized.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Transfers can be made successfully, so freshman placement isn't the end of the world, although it can feel like it.
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High School of Art and Design
Is this the school your child attends now? My eldest graduated in June 2025
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
The pros of this school are obvious: 90 minutes of art a day, whether that's fashion, architecture, etc. Additionally, the school attracts creative, inclusive, progressive kids, and my daughter definitely found her people there. The cons are related: the 90 minutes of art means that there's less of a focus on a foreign language and academics in general. My kid was accidentally placed in Algebra 1 twice (and it was too late for us to change it by the time I realized), and there's not a lot of support for things like SAT prep. My other kid goes to Museum, and the amount of resources for college readiness are mind boggling. If your kid is an art kid who wants to go to an art school, this is the place for them. If your kid likes art, but is equally into academics and wants to go to a non art college, you and your kid need to supplement and pay attention from the get go. Make sure the classes starting in 9th grade allow for APs later, make sure they've got the language, the test prep, the internships that are all part and parcel of other city schools. Also, the communication between the school and families is SUBPAR. I emailed the principal maybe four times in our four years there; I think he replied to me once.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? VERY
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Only if they're obsessed with art. If they aren't, they need to really focus and get supplemental resources.
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
If your kid likes art, but is equally into academics and wants to go to a non art college, you and your kid need to supplement and pay attention from the get go. Make sure the classes starting in 9th grade allow for APs later, make sure they've got the language, the test prep, the internships that are all part and parcel of other city schools.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people: Listen to your kid, but listen to your own gut as well.
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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.
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Manhattan Village Academy
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes. Sophomore as of March 2025
Please write a review of your experience.
This is a small school in a great Manhattan location. Yes
they do wear uniforms, but they aren’t bad and it reduces a lot of outfit
drama. The teachers have been very dedicated. They offer AP courses. The parent
coordinator is easy to reach and very responsive. My daughter feels safe there
and has found a good group of friends. They are very focused on getting kids
into colleges that are a good fit. Their gym is small but they offer PSAL
sports.
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.
My daughter transferred in sophomore year and we’ve found it
to be more academically focused and a much better fit than her freshman school.
There is homework but it isn’t overwhelming.
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.
I’m sure most kids would do well at most schools.
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Millennium HS (Manhattan)
Is this the school your child attends now? Graduated June 2025
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great.
My kid made friends who are from every borough, of different cultures and economic backgrounds, which was great for perspective. The school being small is limited in what they can offer as courses. The admin can feel like communicating to three brothers of varying interests and abilities. My child’s 504 wasn’t always followed by teachers and it was a lot of work to get their attention at times. By the end, my child is thriving at her first year away in college, mainly because she’s so relieved to not be in the rigid public school system and because we gave her extracurricular support over years. Millennium is great if you can work and thrive within a rigid system, which there were many kids who did and excelled. Those who don’t had a difficult time. The location is great because there’s so much around, not a food or transit desert. The academics are ok and there isn’t much in terms of space for movement like a gym. The promise of a gym was discussed as we entered in 2021 but no gym yet but there’s a floor allotted in the building. And three elevators are used for everyone going in and out of school and you’re often marked late for waiting in line for the elevator. Limitations to facilities drives a large part of the experience. The culture is not for every kid and they won’t change for you so choose any school wisely; it is four years and junior year is most taxing. Good luck.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
My child has a 504 and some teachers were supportive and some work not because they didn’t know how to work with the disability. Similar experience with admin. They seemed stretched and limited in what they could do. Relieved to be out of the public school system for this child. She’s thriving in the less restrictive yet supportive college environment with lots of prep and support in place that was developed for her specifically.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes for the most part.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children?
I don’t usually recommend this school to our friends unless they are seeking a small school with limitations in a good location.
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
Small school in an office building with rigid course load and few options for interests. Location is great though for food options and transit.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Try to understand what type of supports and environment your child would thrive in and look for that match. It’s four years which is long for a teen and they are important years because it feeds into where they go next. And teens may look and sound like they don’t need you but they still your support and guidance. Be around for them.
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New Design High School - Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? currently attending, senior
Please write a review of your experience.
Admin and teachers really care about the kids, are super accessible and respond quickly.
All kids have a coach (this changes each year) and weekly advisory.
Seniors have to apply to college, 12th grade advisory helps kids prepare the application during their advisory period. Most graduates attend 4-year college.
Interesting environment, good light and great rooftop event space.
AP classes include: World History, US History, Pre-Calc, AP Lit, and AP Studio Art. Electives include: art, fashion and textile design, music production, podcasting, chess, and calligraphy.
Internship opportunities: kids can work at the on-site coffee shop (Stumptown is a partner), work with design clients, or work at the campus Library which hosts book events with Yu & Me Books.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Very!
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Yes but it really depends on your child and situation.
Please add some details related to your answer to the recommendation question here.
If your child wants a highly rigorous school whose primary focus is academics, this is NOT the school for you.
If your priority is your child’s mental health or if you want a smaller, nurturing community, then this is a good option. Note this is an Ed. Opt. school - there is no screening - so there will be a wide range of learners. This means the grades and test scores will be different from an academically screened school.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people :
HS years are tricky - there is so much pressure. It can be advantageous for a smart/academically capable student to attend a less popular school and be the big fish in a smaller pond vs. competing with students at the same or higher levels and struggling to reach the top.
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New Explorations in Science, Technology and Math
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes 11th grade
Please write a review of your experience.
At Thanksgiving going around the table saying what we each are grateful for, our daughter said she’s thankful she landed at Nest+M, that she believes it’s the perfect school for her. The right size - small but not tiny - truly amazing humanities teachers, which is an added silver lining since the school’s name focuses on the sciences and maths. The theatre teacher is a true rare gem and all students fortunately get to pass through his curriculum, where he helps set the culture for each incoming class.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? Yes, enthusiastically
We are very impressed by Principal Lynch, all of their staff, including the college application guidance. Our student loves going to school on the Lower East Side.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Take the tour. Get the feeling of the building. Talk to students in the school.
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
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.
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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.
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Urban Assembly Maker Academy
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes - Sophomore
Please write a review of your experience.
It's been a good experience for my son - the school is about 500 kids, the teachers really know my kid well. Kids have advisory all 4 years and stay with the same group/advisor throughout. Lots of proactive communication from teachers, very responsive administration. The school uses a competency-based learning model. This is a CTE school focused on technology and innovation, from their sophomore year onwards, kids choose either a computer science pathway or a digital media pathway. The school is 100% college focused but the kids also graduate with some marketable job skills like using adobe products or coding. There is a strong focus on hand-on learning and problem-solving through prototyping and other tech innovation-based methodologies, as well as work experience (the school also functions as a SYEP partner). Kids are allowed out lunch every day (only with parental permission) which is not my favorite aspects, but is one of my son's favorite perks.
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.
Really caring and committed team of educators and administrators at this school!
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
There are great schools to explore beyond the well-known schools that everyone is trying to get into! Don't worry about if people have never "heard of" the school your kid goes to -- at the end of the day, a lot of kids from schools "under the radar" of NYC parents end up at the same colleges and universities as the kids who go to the more coveted, well-known NYC high schools (speaking from experience with my older kid, now at school out of state with a bunch of NYC kids from many of the more well-known High Schools, whereas my daughter went to BHSA, another "under-the-radar" NYC HS).
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Urban Assembly Maker Academy, Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? Yes, class of 2027
Please write a review of your experience.
I confess I had reservations about whether Maker would be rigorous enough, but I'm so happy I trusted my kid's instincts and allowed the program to play out. The curriculum here begins with a lot of scaffolding at first, to build trust and confidence. And it WORKS. Our kid, who has ADHD and wasn't sure at all what he wanted to do, is thriving at Maker. He went from middling grades to honor role, and is seeking out challenges of his own volition (3 APs this year and part of a new science club). The admin and faculty seem to work together really well as a team, and respond to suggestions in concrete ways. In the three years we've been here, the number of advanced offerings, facilities, and overall performance have grown enormously. I think things will only improve for future classes.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
Maker has been doing a great job with accommodations and has IEP sections of every AP class we've taken with 2 teachers.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly? YES. School went above and beyond to get DOE email changed after a name change.
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.
This school is improving dramatically every year, and the leadership and faculty truly care.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Listen to your kid, and don't assume that the most competitive, most elite schools are the only way to get a top tier education.
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West End Secondary (High School)
Is this the school your child attends now? Graduated in June 2025
Please write a review of your experience. Try to cover some details of what made it great or what made it not great. *
This is a relatively small school with a Social/Emotional curriculum and talented teachers. My daughter, who is not the easiest student, ended up getting a good education there. It's a relatively new school which started as a middle school and built its high school grade by grade. I think it's graduated three classes at this point and the kids go to a good range of colleges. There isn't much drama at WESS in terms of drugs or fights, and when bad things do happen, the admin seems to address it quickly. My criticism is that because 2/3rds of the 9th grade class had been together in middle school, it can be hard for kids joining the school in high school to feel integrated. I know I felt that way as a parent. My child started WESS during the pandemic so that might be an additional factor. There has also been lots of turnaround with the founding principal leaving the school and the college counseling position being constantly changed up. And the communication from the school could use improving. There are a few things lacking: the high school doesn't seem to have a band or choir, although their middle school does; and it could be a DOE budget thing but office hours suddenly disappeared last year. Overall, I think WESS is a good school and I would recommend putting it as one of your 12 choices if you have a child that does well in a smaller environment. Just a note that there are lots of AP classes and you can't always avoid them as sometimes they are the only option for a subject.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
There are two ICT sections per grade, I believe. Most of the special ed teachers were good but as in every school, they vary in talent and patience. Overall, I would say their program is good.
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.
This is a good, solid option for kids going to school in Manhattan. You child will be safe and well-educated. It's small and it needs better communication with parents but it seems like a school with lots of potential.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people:
Look at where your child is right now and let that guide you. Don't try to imagine them as the student you would hope they would be and pick a high school that way.
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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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