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Our Insights

What’s Special

Programs in engineering, health science, media arts, and law

The Downside

Graduation rate and student safety need to improve

At Martin Van Buren High School students can enroll in programs in engineering, health, law, and media arts, as well as a zoned neighborhood program. Students can take college-level courses on campus and at CUNY colleges. The school offers a nice selection of arts and music classes, sports teams, clubs, and activities including robotics.

Once a large neighborhood high school with more than 3,000 students, Martin Van Buren now serves just over 1,100. The school offers multiple career-focused programs and partnerships while continuing to work on improving graduation and college readiness outcomes.

Students have access to college partnerships, internships, and career training opportunities in areas such as science, medicine, law, and technology.

Health Science students can intern with Long Island Jewish Medical Center and a Patient Care Technology program through Queens College. They learn skills such as drawing blood and conducting EKGs. They are encouraged to take courses like Advanced Placement Biology to prepare for college and careers such as nursing, medicine, and patient care.

Students in the law program may take classes in civil and criminal law, mock trial, moot court, and forensics. Some take more advanced classes at John Jay College. 

Students in the engineering program build skills in computer programming, design, robotics, and technology. Through partnerships with FIRST Robotics and Vaughn College, students use robotics, 3D printers, and CAD software.

Media Arts students build skills in journalism, podcasting, writing, and digital media. They contribute to student publications, showcase artwork at museums, and perform through a partnership with Lincoln Center.

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. 

Students may earn college credit through Advanced Placement courses, classes at Queensborough Community College and York College, and select Syracuse University-certified courses taught at Van Buren. They write their college application essays in English class with guidance from teachers and the college office.

Spanish is the only foreign language taught.

According to recent NYC School Survey results, students at Van Buren are less likely than students citywide to say they feel safe at school. Students resolve conflicts through peer mediation, and student-led “table talks” where they discuss friendships, school and home pressures, and more. Staff use mindfulness and team-building activities in class to build positive relationships.

Staff work with mental health professionals from the CAPE Clinic, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and Zucker Hillside Hospital to support students’ mental health needs and connect families with resources.

Extracurricular activities include sports teams, and many clubs. Students can also join 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, chess, chorus, cartooning, fashion, graphic design and fine arts. 

Van Buren also offers Junior ROTC, a leadership program sponsored by the U.S. Armed Forces that emphasizes teamwork, citizenship, and leadership skills without requiring military service.

Van Buren shares its building with Business Technology Early College High School. The schools share common spaces including the gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium and library, while maintaining separate entrances.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school offers special education services including self-contained classes, integrated co-teaching classes, and SETSS. It also provides services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. (Laura Zingmond, official reports, June 2026)

 

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School Stats

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
83%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
85%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
64%
Average daily attendance
 
90%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
28%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
94%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
94%
From the 2024-25 School Quality Guide and 2024-25 NYC School Survey

Students

1140
Number of students
Citywide Average is 608

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
75%
Students with disabilities
 
15%
Multilingual learners
 
16%
From the 2024-25 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
1%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
74%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
53%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
42%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
64%
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey and 2023-24 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
64%
3.9
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 8
188
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 119

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
90%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey, 2024-25 School Quality Guide, 2022-23 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2025 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

College and Career Readiness

School
Citywide
How well are students prepared for college and careers after four years at this school? What is a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Score?
 
48
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
68%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
68%
From the 2024-25 School Quality Guide
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Academy of Communication, Media, & the Arts (Q38C)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

Program for scholars interested in pursuing a career through media literacy and the arts. Students develop 21st century media skills through Print, Video, Podcasting, and Photography. Students participate on our school s award-winning Newspaper and Debate teams. Art students have had art exhibited in major museums; students perform through partnership with Lincoln Center. Media Arts students can receive AP Capstone Diploma.

Institute for Law and Humanities (Q38M)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

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.

STEM Institue for Engineering and Robotics (Q38L)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

With a focus on innovation and creativity, students prepare for a career in engineering and robotics by designing and building robots to compete in the First Robotics Competition. Students work in a state-of-the-art Robotics room, complete with 3D printers and CAD software to design solutions to problems. Students have the opportunity to design, build, and fly drones through our partnership with Vaughn College.

STEM Institute for Bio Medical Research (Q38K)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

Sciences prepare for a career in Sciences via real-world experiences out of the classroom. Students can travel to locations like the Catalina Islands and Acadia National Park to work alongside scientists to conduct hands-on research. In our state-of-the-art DNA/Biotechnology Lab, students use technology and equipment to further research skills. Classes include AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, and STEM Research.

Zoned (Q38Z)

Admissions Method: Zoned Priority

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 Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), Algebra II (College Course [Uncredited]), AP African American Studies, AP English Language and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Statistics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Biology (College Course [Credited]), Biology (College Course [Uncredited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Chemistry (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (College Course [Uncredited]), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Uncredited]), Global History (College Course [Uncredited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), 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, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Cricket

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

230-17 Hillside Avenue
Queens NY 11427

Buses: Q1, Q27, Q36, Q43, Q46, Q48, Q88, QM36, QM6, QM68


Contact

Principal: Deborah Nettleford

Parent Coordinator: Russell Chew

Phone: 718-776-4728

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with Business Technology Early College HS (B-Tech)

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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