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Queens School of Inquiry, The

Grades: 6-12
Staff Pick Staff Pick for Special Ed

Our Insights

What’s Special

Students take classes at Queens College; challenging instruction and support for all students

The Downside

Limited extra-curricular activities

Queens School of Inquiry (QSI) offers students in grades 6 - 12 challenging academics and lots of support. The school is designed as an early college program, which starts in earnest in the high school and culminates with 11th- and 12th-graders attending classes part-time at Queens College. Motivated students can amass up to two years worth of college credits by graduation.

The school was designed around two ideas: inclusion and college culture. A majority of the classes are co-taught by a subject teacher as well as one certified in special education. High school students sit in the hallways chatting and doing work before their classes on the college campus and at QSI; they take seminars co-taught with guidance counselors on topics such as health and wellness. Middle school students take a weeklong immersion course at Queens College to give them some exposure to the college experience.

Writing, research and projects are emphasized. Eighth-graders take Regents Algebra and Living Environment, which puts them on track to tackle college level math and science before graduating from high school. Older students enjoy the independence that comes with taking courses at Queens College.

QSI uses a “mastery” approach to instruction. Teachers focus on student’s progress in specific skills rather than overall performance on an assignment or exam. For instance, feedback on a student’s research paper is broken down into a skillsets such as the steps taken to build their analysis, the quality of their writing and understanding of the content. Rather than a letter or numeric grades, students are told whether for each skill they are performing above, at, approaching or below the standards level.

Students learn Spanish and take visual arts and drama, depending on the grades.

One downside: limited extra-curricular activities. For middle school students, there are lunch clubs and some after-school options. High school students can join sports teams, contribute to the literary magazine and participate in clubs.

QSI shares a building with the Robert F. Kennedy Community Middle School and PS Q255, a District 75 program for autistic children.

Meredith Inbal became principal in 2010 after QSI’s founding principal, Elizabeth Ophals retired. Inbal taught 6th grade at the school and was a member of its founding faculty.

The school has a full-time college advisor. Rising seniors have the opportunity to travel abroad to European cities such as Paris, Barcelona, London, Florence and Rome as part of study-abroad program in partnership with Queens College. During their time abroad, students attend classes at a local university in the morning and then spend the afternoon on organized excursions.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school has self-contained and ICT (Integrated Collaborative Teaching) classes. This school also hosts an ASD Nest Program for children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASDs). Students with ASD learn in a classroom alongside general education students, taught by two teachers who have been trained in the program’s specialized curriculum and teaching strategies.

(Laura Zingmond, web reports, November 2018)

 

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School Stats

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

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
85%
81% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
44%
52% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
86%
78% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
2% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
82%
80% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
12.1

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
46%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
55%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
99%
60% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
95%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
580
Asian
40%
Black
14%
Hispanic
26%
White
17%
Other
4%
Free or reduced priced lunch
61%
Students with disabilities
17%
English language learners
4%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
94%
86% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
14%
45% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No

How does this school serve special populations?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
91%
85% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
7% Citywide Average
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

Queens School of Inquiry (Q77A)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

Interdisciplinary program with a strong, comprehensive focus on the humanities.

The Queens School of Inquiry ASD Nest Program (Q77Y)

Admissions Method: ASD/ACES Program

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

French, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, Arts (College Course [Credited]), Calculus (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Global History (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages), World Languages (College Course [Credited])

Boys PSAL teams

Basketball, Soccer

Girls PSAL teams

Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

158-40 76 Road
Queens NY 11366

Buses: Q25, Q34, Q46, Q64, Q65, QM1, QM31, QM35, QM36, QM5, QM6, QM7, QM8


Contact

Principal: Meredith Inbal

Parent Coordinator: Rosemary Moyano

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares a building with IS 250 and a District 75 program, Q255

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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