J.H.S. 157 Stephen A. Halsey
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Insideschools review
JHS 157 is a large junior high school with a strong sense of community—even though children speak more than 60 languages. A monthly "school spirit day;" activities like an annual school musical; and regular classes in music, drama and art bring together children from different backgrounds.
The office staff speaks Russian and Spanish; Principal Vincent Suraci, who speaks Spanish and Italian, grew up in the neighborhood and welcomes parents even if they don't have an appointment. More than two-thirds of the students speak a language other than English at home. The school offers classes in English as a Second Language for parents afterschool.
It's a demanding school: Nearly half of all students take and pass Regents exams in Algebra, Earth Science or a foreign language, Suraci said. Students told us they have up to three hours of homework a night. Most academic classes mix students of different abilities, although some students are placed in honors classes. Students are tested frequently to assess their skills levels.
Students choose a "talent"—band, chorus, drama, art and computers and technology—which they take four times a week. Students from outside the zone may audition for one of the talents.
The building is huge, but each grade has its own floor, making it easier to navigate. Class changes are orderly. We saw a few stragglers, but teachers pulled them into their classrooms before too long. It's a safe school with a low suspension rate.
Some 250 students receive special education services and about 140 are studying English as a Second Language.
JHS 157 still has a 9th grade, in part to help ease crowding at Forest Hills High School a few blocks away. One benefit: 9th grade class size ranges from 12 to 24, much smaller than those at Forest Hills. However, there are no 9th grade honors courses.
Most 9th graders and about a third of 8th graders go on to Forest Hills High. High-achieving students tend to leave after 8th grade. We met two 8th graders in the art program working on portfolios for their applications to LaGuardia and Frank Sinatra.
Girls and boys have gym separately in the school's two gymnasiums. Sixth grade boys and girls also eat separately at lunch. Unfortunately, since all students share one cafeteria, older students must eat lunch as early at 9:47 a.m.
All students get recess in a fenced-in courtyard with a basketball hoop and handball courts. Half of the courtyard is sheltered, so even on rainy days students still have outdoor recess. After school sports include handball and basketball.
Special education: JHS 157 has the largest special education population in District 28, with 11 self-contained classes and 6 SETSS classes. Students may move from self-contained to ICT to SETSS classes. During our visit, we saw a class of mentally retarded students taking a Tai Chi lesson. The school also has a large population of English language learners.
Admissions: Neighborhood school. Any District 28 student may audition for the school's performing arts programs. Open houses are held in November and in the spring.
(Anna Schneider, November 2011)
The auditorium has new seats, new lighting and a new sound system. Performances include an annual musical.
There is also a new science lab and new computer lab.
The building is old and was undergoing a face-lift during our visit. Windows and doors are being replaced.
Forest Hills is a quiet, residential neighborhood. Halsey is a safe school with a low rate of suspensions.
...and a basketball hoop.
All students have recess after lunch. They play in a fenced-in courtyard with handball courts...
Because there is only one cafeteria, some older students have to eat as early as 9:47 am. But 6th graders have lunch around noon.
The library is bright and cheery, with plants, student art work, and computers students use for research.
All students must dress for gym.
There are two gymasiums and boys and girls have gym class separately.
Halsey has the largest special education population in the district. This is a self-contained special education classroom.
Class changes were orderly, and most students get to class before the bell. The building is huge, but each grade has its own floor, making it easier to navigate.
Halsey has an honors program for high achieving students.
Most students are engaged as they work in small groups.
Most students are engaged and pay attention to their teachers.
We enjoyed this eighth grade drama class, where students acted out 60-second improv skits.
Halsey is a neighborhood school, but any student in the district may audition for one of the talent programs.
In addition to art, other "talent" programs are music (band and chorus), drama and computers and technology.
At Halsey, students choose a "talent," which they take four times a week. Art is one option.
Halsey is one of the few remaining middle schools with a 9th grade. More advanced students usually choose to leave because there are no 9th grade honors courses.
Some students go on to specialized or selective high schools. Here, 8th-graders work on portfolios for applications to LaGuardia and Frank Sinatra.
Nearly half of the students take Regents exams in algebra, science or a foreign language.
Students are frequently tested to assess their skill levels.
Students told us they have up to three hours of homework a night.
Halsey is an academically demanding school.
Children at Halsey speak more than 60 languages. More than two-thirds of the students speak a language other than English at home.
J.H.S. 157 Stephen Halsey School is a large 6th-9th grade school with a strong sense of community.
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