Our Insights
What’s Special
Focus on personal attention and technology
The Downside
Not many graduates are ready for college-level work
Murray Hill Academy offers a blend of online learning and face-to-face instruction designed to give each student an individual academic program.
High-achievers may take Advanced Placement classes, finish high school early, take college courses and have internships. Students who are behind in credits when they arrive can catch up, thanks to the trimester system which allows them to take more classes than they could in a traditional two-semester year. The school welcomes transfer students who make up about one-third of the student body.
Founded in 2010, the school earned the highest marks on the city’s 2018 Quality Review in all areas. “We’re a very tight, close-knit family,” says assistant principal Daniel Chu.
Roughly 20 out of 60 seniors do internships each year, such as at the American Museum of Natural History, Mercy College or Beth Israel Hospital, to name a few. Teens also interview for in-school internships, and go through a formal performance evaluation process like in a real job.
Classroom lessons are varied and engaging, says assistant principal Adam Ward. Children debate according to formal rules of discussion in Socratic Circles. They tackle multi-step equations in math based on real-world problems, such as how to calculate teacher salaries. Teens read in school every day, both books they choose, and assigned books.
The school has lots of support for students. The staff includes two social workers, a guidance counselor and a college and career counselor. An attendance teacher makes home visits. Teachers do weekly check-ins with students in their advisory groups, and become the point-person for those families. Bellevue Clinic provides mental health and other services on-site. “We’re great with one-on-one involvement with parents in our school,” says Ward.
Teachers encourage teens to apply to a wide range of colleges. “We’re very purposeful about encouraging kids to dream big as far as college goes,” Ward says. Past acceptances include Swarthmore, Fordham, George Washington University, George Mason and New York University.
While top students are admitted to top colleges, many graduates must take remedial classes at CUNY, not too surprising given the challenges of so many latecomers catching up on credits. If students are repeating classes or studying for Regents, they may stay after school to get help. What makes this program effective, says Chu, is that teachers work with teens in the subject area they teach. There is also a three-week summer Regent’s prep course in August.
The academy is one of several schools that share the Norman Thomas Educational Campus, a modern brick tower located south of Grand Central Terminal. Murray Hill shares the building’s three gyms and cafeteria and weight room but has its own classes on the eighth floor. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interviews, May 2018)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Physics
Not offered in 2021-21Advanced Foreign Language
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
Not offered in 2021-21College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryMurray Hill Academy - Integrated Studies (A19A)
Program Description:
Multidisciplinary and personal approach to the design of a rigorous yet supportive educational program while maintaining a focus on college and professional goals. In the process of learning critical and analytical thinking skills in all disciplines, students develop their personal voice while working with others. Through the Integrated Studies curriculum, upon graduation students have a rich high school experience and the knowledge to form a map for an individual academic and career path.
Mathematics & Computer Science (A19B)
Program Description:
A multi-year Computer Science track offers courses in Computer Science that challenge students to solve real world problems using analytical skills. They cover the basic principles of Computer Science, Web Programming, and Advanced Placement Computer Science classes that go deeper into Software Engineering. Through Computer Science course offerings, students will learn computational thinking, problem solving, and critical thinking. Students' success in the real world will greatly depend on their ability to problem solve and utilize technology in their everyday lives. We offer Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, AP Statistics and AP Calculus. Students who take high-level math receive higher scores on the SAT (includes the "Passport to Advanced Math," that requires the manipulation of complex equations). Students who take high-level math courses are more likely to graduate from college and get higher salaries than their peers who did not take those classes.
College Humanities Specialization (A19C)
Program Description:
An accelerated course of study in the Humanities to ensure students are not only college ready, but college capable. Freshman year - students begin in a problem-based English Explorations class, reading culturally relevant texts to develop their critical thinking around national and global issues. Sophomore year - they engage with Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition, analyzing informational texts by diverse authors (incl. Sherman Alexie & Michelle Alexander). Junior year - students hone their analytical skills in AP U.S. History, studying the turbulent history of the Americas while taking part in exploratory learning in Washington, DC and around NYC. Senior year - students take AP Literature and Composition, reading a balance of canonical and contemporary college level texts. They will be enrolled in College Now courses to get a jump-start in taking college classes.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Econ/Gov (Advanced Placement), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Softball, Volleyball
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
111 East 33Rd Street
Manhattan
NY
10016
Trains: , , , GS to Grand Central-42nd St; to 33rd St; , , , , , , to 34th St
Buses: BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, BM5, BxM1, BxM10, BxM11, BxM18, BxM2, BxM3, BxM4, BxM6, BxM7, BxM8, BxM9, M1, M101, M102, M103, M15, M15-SBS, M2, M3, M34-SBS, M34A-SBS, M4, M42, M5, M55, M7, M9, Q32, QM1, QM10, QM12, QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, QM2, QM20, QM21, QM24, QM3, QM31, QM32, QM34, QM35, QM36, QM4, QM40, QM42, QM44, QM5, QM6, SIM10, SIM11, SIM1C, SIM22, SIM23, SIM24, SIM25, SIM26, SIM3, SIM30, SIM31, SIM33C, SIM3C, SIM4C, SIM6, SIM8, SIM8X, X27, X28, X37, X38, X63, X64, X68
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Other Details
This school shares the Norman Thomas Educational Campus with three other schools
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