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Our Insights

What’s Special

Business classes

The Downside

Below average attendance, discipline and order

Located near Times Square, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is one of a handful of high schools that offer business courses in addition to the typical array of high school classes. The school has struggled with a mediocre attendance rate and student performance over the years.

The school has two business themes: International Virtual Enterprises International (VEI), and Hospitality and Tourism. Students sample each before they continue on one track. VEI students set up and run a mock business, trying all employee roles, from human resources and accounting, to product development and marketing. Teens also learn about business etiquette.

Some students are selected to work with Roundabout Theater Company. They study aspects of theater production, such as lighting and sound design, according to the school’s website. Professionals from Roundabout also work with humanities teachers to help bring lessons to life.

In dance classes, children study a mix of styles such as flamenco and merengue. Dance students have performed at Manhattan Borough Arts Festival, and in El Museo Del Barrio’s Three King’s Day Parade.

Principal Edward Demeo took the helm in 2003. The numbers of inexperienced teachers on his staff is higher than average; in 2017 about one-third were new to the teaching profession, according to the yearly plan.

Students face challenges; many are performing below grade level in reading and math when they arrive freshman year. More than half miss 18 or more days of school, and more than a third do not graduate on time.

Teachers struggle to maintain discipline and order. Enrollment has declined by more than 100 students since 2012. While most children feel safe, more than 40 percent complain of bullying. The school’s suspension rate hovers just above the citywide average.

The school has a new website and is working to improve teaching and engage parents more, according to school’s annual Comprehensive Educational Plan. Whole school events such as career night, movie nights and performances, bring everyone together.

The college office has a full-time counselor and three guidance counselors. Teens also get help in AVID, or Advancement Via Independent Determination, a program designed to prepare kids in the “academic middle” for four-year colleges. The teacher helps teens build vocabulary for the SAT, writes their college recommendations and assists them with their college essays. Most graduates attend CUNY and SUNY schools. (Lydie Raschka, school website and DOE data, July 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?
 
77%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
69%
Average daily attendance
 
83%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
54%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
100%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
100%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

247
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
76%
Students with disabilities
 
21%
Multilingual learners
 
6%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
3%
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?
 
28%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
13%
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?
 
91%
3.1
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
108
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?
 
81%
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

Not offered in 2019-20

Computer Science

Not offered in 2019-20

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

Not offered in 2019-20

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
100%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
17%

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?
 
53%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
66%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
75%
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?
 
54%
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

Virtual Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (M45A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

NYS Approved CTE Programs in: Entrepreneurship; Hospitality and Tourism. Work-Based Learning opportunities fostering career exploration and development through guest speakers, job shadowing, mentoring, participation in industry challenges, competitions, paid internship. Partnerships with NBC Universal, Gallagher, Junior Achievement, Roundabout Theatre. CUNY College Now, Upward Bound, Post-Secondary Articulation Agreements

Hospitality and Tourism (M45B)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Our Hospitality and Tourism students explore hotel and event management, as well as study geography, economics, and world cultures. Through our industry and post-secondary partnerships, students are able to work with professionals in the fields of hospitality and tourism through our award winning internship program.

Economics and Finance (M45E)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Explore the world of business through the lens of economics as you prepare for the future. Understand how markets work in order to develop successful business strategies. JKO offers an array of business and math courses that provide an opportunity for work experience and post-secondary studies. Students explore a range of career paths, and gain meaningful experiences they can add to their resumes. Our students engage in a work based learning internship program during their senior year as a way to develop the skillsets necessary to thrive in the business world.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Handball, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Table Tennis, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Flag Football, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

120 West 46 Street
Manhattan NY 10036

Trains: 1 Line, 2 Line, 3 Line, A Line, C Line, E Line, GS to Times Square; 4 Line, 5 Line, 6 Line to Grand Central; 7 Line, B Line, D Line, F Line, M Line to 47-50th Sts Rockefeller Center; N Line, Q Line, R Line to 49th St; S Line to Times Square-42nd St

Buses: BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, BM5, BxM10, BxM11, BxM18, BxM2, BxM3, BxM4, BxM6, BxM7, BxM8, BxM9, M1, M104, M11, M2, M20, M3, M34A-SBS, M4, M42, M5, M50, M55, M7, Q32, QM1, QM10, QM12, QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, QM2, QM20, QM21, QM24, QM3, QM4, 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


Contact

Principal: Manuel Urena

Parent Coordinator: Ana Bernabel

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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