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Our Insights

What’s Special

Science research program; lots of college-level courses and extracurricular activities

The Downside

No outdoor fields

Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics offers expansive facilities, lots of extracurricular activities, and an impressive selection of advanced and college-level courses that’s on a par with the specialized high schools and large, neigbhorhood schools.

The school does a good job with students who are strong in math and science but who might need extra help in English. In addition to their regular English class, all 9th-graders take a yearlong writing intensive with class sizes capped below 20. Time is set aside each week for everyone—students and staff—for quiet reading.

A tiny group of students take part in the Advanced Science Research (ASR) program that grooms participants for science competitions. Participants work one-on-one with research scientists from local colleges and hospitals. They collaborate with students and teachers from around the world via virtual communication. For instance, one year they worked with Singapore and Hong Kong students on a Columbia University–led study on Thailand’s rain forest. Students apply in the 9th grade and must commit to a heavy workload that includes after-school and summer research on top of a daily ASR class.

Students may choose from a nice range of math and science electives such as astronomy, electromagnetism, environmental science, psychology, financial algebra and computer programming. Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered in biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science and statistics.

There are fewer humanities electives offered, but typical options include creative writing, journalism, history of film and constitutional law, as well as AP courses in English, U.S. history, world history and Spanish.

Many students also take college courses for free through College Now (CUNY schools) and Columbia University’s Double Discovery Center.

For students in the Spanish bilingual program, there are core math and science courses taught in Spanish as well as classes taught in English that are geared toward English language learners.

Overall, students give high marks to the school based on responses to the annual NYC School Survey. The school also received the highest rating on its Quality Review.

All students attend weekly advisories that help teachers keep tabs on social and academic concerns. Foreign languages taught include French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

Manhattan Center shares space with the Isaac Newton Middle School inside a stately, 1930s-era building that once housed Benjamin Franklin High School. Both schools have access to an on-site health center and share use of the cafeteria, gymnasium, library and auditorium. There are no outdoor fields. The school is next to the East River, a healthy walk from the nearest subway.

There are many PSAL sports teams and a large selection of clubs and activities. The Mount Sinai Scholars Program provides internship and summer research opportunities at the medical center.

There is a full-time college counselor. Every year the school sends graduates to CUNY and SUNY schools as well as private colleges including highly competitive schools such as the Ivy Leagues and MIT.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are ICT (Integrated Collaborative Teaching) and self-contained classes. (Laura Zingmond, web reports, April 2018)

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
99%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
98%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
100%
Average daily attendance
 
97%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
8%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
95%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
97%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

1648
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
78%
Students with disabilities
 
18%
Multilingual learners
 
6%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
0%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
97%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
16%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
12%
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
100%
15.2
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
329
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 157

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
77%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey, 2021-22 School Quality Guide, 2019-20 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2021 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Advanced Courses

Which students have access to advanced courses at this school? Learn more

Calculus

 
26%

Computer Science

 
4%

Physics

 
28%

Advanced Foreign Language

 
71%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
74%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
42%

Music

 
14%
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2021-22 school year provided by the New York State Education Department, brought to you by

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
86%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
97%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
89%
From the 2020-21 and 2021-22 School Quality Guide
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
83%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought you by
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

Science & Mathematics Research (M16J)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

Our mission is to provide each student with the best possible and greatest number of college admissions choices by senior year. Students are prepared to be college ready by providing them with challenging courses, academic supports ensuring achievement, and detailed enrichment programs to help construct a strong college resume. While math and science are their strengths, we focus on college-readiness, reading, and writing. More than 50% of our students are enrolled in AP courses.

Bilingual Spanish Science & Mathematics (M16K)

Admissions Method: Screened: Language & Academics

Program Description:

Bilingual students follow the same academic programming and rigor of general education students, while guaranteed language support ensuring equitable college-ready opportunities.

Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics D75 Inclusion Program (M16U)

Admissions Method: D75 Special Education Inclusive Services

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

French, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Macroeconomics, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Spanish Literature and Culture, AP Statistics, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Table Tennis, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

260 Pleasant Avenue
Manhattan NY 10029

Buses: BxM10, BxM6, BxM7, BxM8, BxM9, M101, M102, M103, M106, M116, M15, M15-SBS, M35, M98


Contact

Principal: James Nicotri

Parent Coordinator: Zaida Santiago

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with the Isaac Newton Middle School for Math & Science

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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