Inwood Early College for Health and Information Technologies

Inwood Early College for Health and Information Technologies (IEC) aims to prepare children for jobs in a growing field that mixes computer knowledge and record-keeping skills. Students meet with mentors from the IT department at nearby New York Presbyterian and receive technology upgrades from Microsoft. 

The transition to electronic health records has created a demand for health information technicians, who do not work directly with patients but rather with patient records. Information technology includes hardware and software development, installation, networking and support. 

The lead partners of the school are New York Presbyterian Hospital, Microsoft and City University of New York (CUNY). Students may earn a Regent's diploma and an Applied Associate of Science (AAS) degree from CUNY's Guttman Community College if they stay six years. Some choose to leave Inwood Early College after 12th grade to find a job or attend a different college. 

Many students will be the first in their families to go to college and some face challenges. More than half enter 9th grade with weak writing, reading, vocabulary and number skills, according to school data, and some live in temporary housing.

To give kids extra support, the math and reading classes have two teachers each. Children learning English attend school on Saturday morning for extra help, according to the school's Comprehensive Education Plan.

Parents are encouraged to take part in their children’s education. They may visit classrooms without an appointment, and are invited to join staff and other parents at events to share strategies on how to help their kids at home.

Principal Samona Tait worked as an administrator at Democracy Prep Charter School. She is a graduate of Horace Mann, Penn State, and Harvard, where she earned a master's degree and doctorate in education.

Guttman Community College opened in 2011 as the New Community College and is one of the newest of City University of New York's seven community colleges. (It was renamed after receiving a $15 million endowment from the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation.) Its location across from Bryant Park on West 40th Street seems inconvenient for students who live in Inwood, but college mentors travel up to Inwood, in addition to organizing field trips for their students to Guttman.

Inwood Early College is located on the 4th floor of a building shared with High School for Excellence and Innovation and JHS 52. Microsoft supplies tablets for the computer lab. Inwood students may participate in PSAL sports with Innovation students. Inwood has its own theater teacher.

While most children say they feel safe in school, some teachers report that order and discipline could be stronger, according to the NYC School Survey. Instruction could be also be more rigorous, according to the school's most recent Quality Review. On the plus side, almost all teachers would recommend the school to other families.

Uniforms are required.

ADMISSIONS: Educational option. The school seeks a mix of low-, middle- and high-achieving students. (Lydie Raschka, DOE data, July 2018)