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University Neighborhood High School

Grades: 9-12
Staff Pick for Special Ed Noteworthy

Our Insights

What’s Special

Business classes, Mandarin, free college classes

The Downside

No regular-sized gymnasium

University Neighborhood High School is safe and well-run, and offers business classes, Mandarin and college classes. The school does a good job helping students master English, including Spanish-speakers and recent immigrants from China. Most students graduate on time.

The school has increased its Advanced Placement offerings over the years and now has half a dozen options, including in math, science, Mandarin and art. Seniors may take business, economics or English classes through Baruch College or LaGuardia Community College. All students major in dance, music or visual arts according to the school website.

Even though not all graduates go to college, the school wants to make sure those who do are well prepared. “I want all my students to know how to take notes, how to write reports,” said principal Elizabeth Collins in an article in DNAinfo.

University Neighborhood opened in September 1999 in what had originally been Manhattan's PS 31, a Lower East Side landmark built in 1902. Its name reflects the school's founding collaboration with New York University. (The high school has no connection to University Neighborhood Middle School, despite the similar names.)

The five-story Beaux Arts building features high ceilings, large windows and ample natural light, but also narrow hallways, a tiny library and no gymnasium (although it does have an indoor weight room and dance studio). A nearby park provides an athletic field.

Fights were common when Collins became principal in 2010, but she quickly brought order, and trimmed clubs and electives to concentrate on improving math, reading, writing and other core academics. A native of Poland and a former high school math teacher, she uses data to help identify areas in which students may need help. 

Graduates have been accepted to private schools such as Pace University, St. John's and Penn State, as well as SUNY colleges in Binghamton, Stony Brook, Buffalo and Albany. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, March 2018)

School Stats

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
98%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
84%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
97%
Average daily attendance
 
84%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
52%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
85%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achive the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
88%
From the 2020-21 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

522
Number of students
624 Citywide Average

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
83%
Students with disabilities
 
20%
Multilingual learners
 
14%
From the 2020-21 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?
 
93%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
8%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
7%
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?
 
95%
3.9
Years of principal experience at this school
7 Citywide Average
164
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
157 Citywide Average

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
85%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey, 2020-21 School Quality Guide, 2019-20 NY State Report Card, 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

 
19%

Computer Science

 
36%

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

 
57%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
46%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
13%

Music

 
63%
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2019-20 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?
 
80%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
96%
From the 2020-21 School Quality Guide
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
73%
From the 2020-21 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought you by
How many graduates of this school received Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funding to attend a NYS college?
 
42%
How many of those TAP recipients made it through college? Learn more
From unpublished, anonymized student-level data for the class of 2014 provided by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in coordination with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), brought to you by
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2021 High School Directory

CTE Computer Science or Business & Entrepreneurship

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Students are offered their choice of a 4 year sequence in either Computer Science, culminating in AP Computer Science, or CTE Business, culminating in College Now Business and Marketing courses. Students choose their track after freshmen year and are able to individualize their program. All eligible students, even those selected through CTE will have access to Early College courses through College Now. See website for full 4 year sequence. Contact our guidance staff with questions.

University Neighborhood Early College

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

UNHS offers the most robust Early College Campus Program in NYC. Beginning in 10th grade, eligible students are able to begin earning dual high school and college bearing credits here on UNHS campus. Students must earn a 75% on the ELA Regents in 10th grade in order to be eligible for the course work. Courses include Critical Thinking, Statistics, Trigonometry, Astronomy, Chemistry, Public Speaking, Literacy and Propaganda, English 101, English 103, Sociology, Intro to Business and Marketing.

Offerings

From the 2021 High School Directory

Language Courses

Mandarin, Spanish

Advanced Placement (AP) courses

AP Calculus AB, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP World History: Modern, AP 2-D Art and Design, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP United States History

Boys PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Handball

Girls PSAL teams

Bowling, Softball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

200 Monroe Street
Manhattan NY 10002

Trains: F Line to East Broadway; J Line, M Line, Z Line to Delancey St-Essex St

Buses: M14A, M14D, M15, M21, M22, M9, X14, X37, X38


Contact

Principal: Matthew Willie

Parent Coordinator: Haydee Rodriguez

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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