Celia Cruz High School of Music, housed in the Walton Educational Complex, offers students great opportunities to perform at places such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Students take many of their music classes at nearby Lehman College.

The school’s award-winning musical groups include a Latin jazz essemble, a vocal jazz ensemble [see photo from Lehman College] and one of the best choirs in the city.

“It’s an incredibly impressive music program,” said Cass Conrad, an official with the City University of New York who provides support to the school. “The focus of the school is really grounded in performance.”

Founding principal William Rodriguez, who grew up in the Bronx, is a musician himself who encourages students to try out for various city wide competitions. Students have interesting visitors to the school, such as Latin singer-songwriter Juanes.

Academics are a mixed bag. While most students graduate on time, all but a few graduates need remediation when they go to college. Teachers complain about low academic standards, according to the Learning Environment Survey. Most teachers say the principal is an ineffective manager and more than half say there are problems with order and discipline in the school.

Students say they feel safe in class, but there are some concerns about the area around the school, according to the survey. Students must pass through metal detectors to enter the building, which is shared with other small schools. About 60 percent of the students are girls and 40 percent are boys.

Special education: The school has limited special education services

Admissions: Audition. Details about the audition can be obtained at the open houses offered in the evening and on a Saturday in October. (Clara Hemphill, interview, web reports, and statistics, September 2012)