Our Insights
What’s Special
Programs in engineering, health science and law; instruction for hearing impaired
The Downside
Graduation rate needs to improve
At Martin Van Buren High School students can enroll in themed programs including engineering, health and law and take college-level courses offered both on-site and at CUNY colleges. There's a nice range of options to keep kids engaged, including arts and music classes, sports teams, clubs and activities such as the robotics team.
Once a giant neighborhood school with a population topping 3,000, Martin Van Buren had gone through some tough years with dwindling enrollment and below-average graduation rates. In recent years, the infusion of extra resources and expanded partnerships with organizations is helping Martin Van Buren rebound. New York State has deemed the school in good standing and graduation and college readiness rates have increased steadily, though they still have a ways to go.
Sam Sochet has been the school’s principal since 2012. A former science teacher at Cardozo High School and assistant principal at Thomas A. Edison High School, Sochet has bolstered learning opportunities such as internships at Rockefeller University and Cornell Medical School and business courses through the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
In the health science program, students get hands-on exposure to the medical field through internships with Long Island Jewish Medical Center as well as guidance for college and careers. Students are encouraged to take courses that will help them pursue degrees in their chosen field. For instance, students are encouraged to take Advanced Placement biology, because college-level biology is required for pre-med or nursing studies.
Students in the law program take classes such as criminal law, civil law and forensics. Some take more advanced classes at John Jay College.
Engineering students can either pursue a sequence of classes in computer programming and robotics or one that is more design-focused with courses such as computer animation and web design.
A patient care technology program run by Queens College trains students in the kinds of skills—such as drawing blood and conducting EKGs—that will help them secure jobs with better wages than a nursing aide. Students who complete the program, which requires a substantial commitment of time after school, are prepared to take state certification exams upon graduation.
Regardless of the program they’re admitted to, all freshmen take a research class to bolster their skills. They are also assigned to a small learning community that has a dedicated staff of teachers and counselors who get to know their group of 9th-graders well. A program run by My Brother’s Keeper pairs 9th and 10th grade boys with older students who serve as mentors.
In addition to Advanced Placement courses, students may earn college credits by taking classes at Queensborough Community and York Colleges, as well as classes at Martin Van Buren that are certified by Syracuse University.
Spanish is the only foreign language taught.
Extracurricular activities include sports teams, and an array of clubs. There are also competitive academic teams such as math, mock trial, moot court, debate and robotics. Art and music offerings—either as classes or after-school activities—include piano, band, chorus, cartooning, fashion, graphic design and fine arts.
Van Buren shares its large building with Business Technology Early College High School. The two schools share use of common spaces including the gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium and library. Each school has its own entrance to the building.
SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are self-contained and ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes, SETSS, a program for hearing-impaired students and dedicated English classes for ELLs (English language learners). (Laura Zingmond, web reports, November 2018)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Physics
Advanced Foreign Language
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryAcademy of Communication, Media, & the Arts (Q38C)
Program Description:
The Academy for Communication, Media, and the Arts is a Humanities-based program offering scholars who are passionate about the Arts a 4-year track. Scholars in this program will develop 21st century skills needed to succeed. This program will develop the foundational skills for creative thinking in order to utilize the Arts to enhance their educational journey. Through various courses such as print, video, film, podcasting, and photography scholars will gain an appreciation of the Arts.
STEM Institute for Science Research (Q38K)
Program Description:
Students interested in Science Research and Medicine can choose courses in Anatomy, AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Forensics, Physics, AP Psychology, and STEM Research. CUNY College Now offerings include Algebra, Biology, and Health. Partnerships include: NASA, Wrigley Marine Science Center at USC, Cohen Hospital LIJ, and Queensborough Community College.
STEM Institue for Engineering and Robotics (Q38L)
Program Description:
Students interested in Engineering, Robotics, or Computer fields take STEM classes in Engineering I and II and Robotics III and IV, along with options for Chemistry, Computer Application, Computer Languages, Computer Science, Physics, and AP Calculus. Students will prepare for high level regional and national competitions. Partnerships include: FIRST, NYU-Polytechnic Institute, and UC-Berkeley Computer Science.
Institute for Law and Humanities (Q38M)
Program Description:
This program is dedicated to developing knowledge and experience in the legal fields through a partnership with the Justice Resource Center. Students spend three years studying civil, criminal, and constitutional law, AP Global, AP US History, Syracuse University Public Affairs & Personal Finance, and CUNY John Jay Criminology. Students take part in our award-winning experiential programs like Moot Court, Mock Trial, High School Law Institute, and Debate Team all in our new in-house courtroom. Partnerships include: Columbia University Law; NYU Law, CUNY John Jay, the Queens District Attorney's Office, and Winston & Strawn LLC.
Zoned (Q38Z)
Program Description:
Zoned students will have opportunities to choose from our three-year institutes-Health Science Research; Engineering and Robotics; and Law and Humanities.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Seminar, AP Statistics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Biology (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Chemistry (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Global History (College Course [Uncredited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Cricket
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
230-17 Hillside Avenue
Queens
NY
11427
Buses: Q1, Q27, Q43, Q46, Q88, QM36, QM6, X68
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the building with Business Technology Early College HS (B-Tech)
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