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Our Insights

What’s Special

Student work toward fluency in Mandarin and English in a friendly and supportive environment

The Downside

Limited electives classes though there are clubs, sports and activities after school

 Opened in 2013, Queens High School for Language Studies (QHSLS) is a well-run, high performing school modeled after the High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies in Manhattan. The school admits a mix of students fluent in English who want to learn Mandarin as a foreign language and native Mandarin Chinese speakers still learning English. The goal is for the blended population of English and Mandarin learners to support each other while all work towards fluency in their new language on top of taking a full load of academic classes.

 “Chinese is reinforced throughout the school day,” said founding principal Melanie Lee, who taught history and English as a second language at High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies. “You hear it in the hallways and at lunchtime because students are encouraged to learn and practice with their peers.”

Housed in the Flushing High School building, QHSLS has a calm and friendly vibe. In classes we visited, teachers were enthusiastic; students seemed engaged. The school gets very high marks from teachers and students in a range of areas based on responses to the annual NYC School survey. Overall, students say they feel safe in the building and bullying is rare; teachers say order and discipline are maintained and that Lee is an effective principal.

QHSLS follows a bilingual rather than dual language format, meaning that fluent English speakers take a daily Mandarin class for all four years, but all their other classes are taught in English. The English language learners (ELL) take Mandarin classes geared for their advanced level as well as classes in other subjects geared for non-fluent English speakers. In 9th and 10th grade they may also take science, math and history taught in Mandarin to ensure they do not fall behind in those subjects while working to improve their English skills; by 11th grade all core subjects are taught exclusively in English.

The school serves students at all academic levels and does a good job of giving them the opportunity to work at their own pace and skill level. For instance, math and Advanced Placement courses are taught in extended periods to ensure students get extra time to digest the lessons, which helps them perform better. In English-only classes, teachers give instructions in Mandarin to make sure all students understand the assignments. Conversely, in Mandarin for beginning learners, the teacher may explain a task in English before switching to Chinese for the remainder of the class.

Teachers in all subjects make time for class discussions and small group work. “It’s essential that students work in groups to help them process their lessons in their native language and their new one”, said Lee.

Typical of small schools, QHSLS offers a limited number of elective classes. Students may earn college credit taking a range of Advanced Placement courses as well as free courses at Queens College. In addition to core subjects, there are elective classes in, theater, computer applications and visual arts.

A local cultural and social welfare organization, AAFE (Asian Americans for Equity), helps with student support and family outreach. AAFE funds college tours for students and their parents and connects families with needed services such as counseling, immigration and healthcare.

Lee invites parents to tour the school several times each year so they may see the school in action and offer the administration feedback.

QHSLS shares the facilities with Flushing High School and Veritas Academy. Students at all three schools may participate in campus-wide sports teams and other extracurricular activities. There are some school-run activities that vary by year based on student interest. Recent options have included theater, creative writing, Key Club (volunteer work), math team, chess dance and student government.

The Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. also provides after-school activities for QHSLS students including physical fitness classes and academic help, such as SAT preparation and tutoring.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school offers ICT and SETSS and has two special education teachers who work with students in the classrooms and on an individual basis.

(Laura Zingmond, November 2015; updated via interview, August 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?
 
94%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
97%
Average daily attendance
 
90%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
27%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

436
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
76%
Students with disabilities
 
6%
Multilingual learners
 
20%
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?
 
90%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
18%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
11%
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?
 
88%
8.8
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
141
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?
 
83%
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

 
7%

Computer Science

Not offered in 2019-20

Physics

 
24%

Advanced Foreign Language

 
20%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
38%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
22%

Music

Not offered in 2019-20
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?
 
81%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
96%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
91%
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?
 
86%
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

Queens High School for Language Studies (Q62A)

Admissions Method: Screened: Language

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Mandarin

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus BC, AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Psychology, AP United States History, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Soccer, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Handball, Indoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

35-01 Union Street
Queens NY 11354

Trains: 7 Line to Flushing-Main St

Buses: Q12, Q13, Q15, Q15A, Q16, Q17, Q19, Q20A, Q20B, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q34, Q44-SBS, Q48, Q50, Q65, Q66, QM20, QM3


Contact

Principal: Brian Bligh

Parent Coordinator: Stephanie Huang

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with Veritas Academy and Flushing HS

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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