Our Insights
What’s Special
Friendly place with lots of spirit and a sought-after middle school
The Downside
Many windowless classrooms
Housed in a former Macy’s warehouse in the heart of Long Island City’s industrial and commercial center, Wagner Secondary School for Arts & Technology attracts students looking for a small, welcoming alternative to large, traditional schools. Students generally work together in groups or in pairs at small tables, generating lots of class discussions and collaborations. Classes last 51 minutes and meet four times a week. Every Friday there is an all-school Town Hall meeting.
Some interior classrooms lack windows and the low-ceilinged gymnasium is inadequate but there is a friendly feel to the brightly painted building, from the round tables in the cafeteria to the Chill-out Area where kids relax after school.
Students representing 20 countries collaborate on projects and edit one another’s work. There is less emphasis on test prep and worksheets than many students were used to at their more traditional elementary schools.
High school students take frequent trips, such as to Ellis Island and a day-long trip to Philadelphia. Students take four years of science, including chemistry and physics. The biology lab is covered with plants and are part of the classrooms community and population, the teacher explained. Some teachers require students to re-do sub-par work until their grade comes up to an 85 or 90.
There are several advanced visual arts classes in addition to intro to art and intro theater classes in 9th grade. Tenth-graders all take a theatre class and some continue in 11th grade, performing updated version of Shakespearean plays, such as Twelfth Night done to disco music. Middle-schoolers get piano lessons four days a week and art every semester.
Despite the lack of a proper gym, Wagner has an active and successful sports program, sharing 16 teams shared with two other local schools: International High School at LaGuardia and Middle College High School.
(Pamela Wheaton, December 2011; updated October 2017)
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School Stats
Is this school safe and well-run?
From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey
From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card
From this school's most recent Quality Review Report
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
How do students perform academically?
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
Who does this school serve?
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
How does this school serve special populations?
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryArts and Technology (Q31J)
Program Description:
Opportunities in the arts, career education, athletics, college classes, trips, and conferences.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Golf
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
47-07 30Th Place
Queens
NY
11101
Trains: to Rawson St-33rd St; , , to Queens Plaza; to Long Island City-Court Square
Buses: B24, B62, Q100, Q101, Q102, Q32, Q39, Q60, Q67
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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