Martin Van Buren High School
Grades: 9-12Our 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
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity
College and Career Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryAcademy of Communication, Media, & the Arts (Q38C)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 DirectoryAdvanced 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
Contact & Location
Location
230-17 Hillside Avenue
Queens
NY
11427
Buses: Q1, Q27, Q36, Q43, Q46, Q48, Q88, QM36, QM6, QM68
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the building with Business Technology Early College HS (B-Tech)
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