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University Heights Secondary School

Grades: 9-12
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Our Insights

What’s Special

Small school feel with lots of variety in classes and enrichment

The Downside

Popular, many applicants

University Heights Secondary School, in the South Bronx, offers a mix of small-school attention and the range of programs you’d expect at a larger school. Students can apply to programs in STEM and Humanities, and choose from a wide range of activities during and after school. There are also opportunities to earn college credits and participate in internships.

The school aims for a warm, noncompetitive, discussion-based learning culture. Students call teachers by their first names, but teachers expect academic maturity. For example, 10th-graders learn to use the Modern Language Association (MLA) writing style when keeping research logs for major science projects.

University Heights is part of a consortium of 30 schools that require students to complete in-depth research projects and present portfolios of their work, rather than taking exit exams to earn their diploma. Students must also complete at least one college course and community service to graduate.  

The school has a strong focus on science and math, with advanced courses for students at different levels, including AP Calculus, Statistics, AP Biology, AP Physics, and AP Science and Genetics. In a popular 9th-grade course, students tackle engineering design challenges, building projects such as battery-powered cars, trebuchets, and bridges.

Students may also take college courses for credit, taught by professors from Bronx Community College.

Staff members say the school is well run and recommend it to other families, according to the NYC School Survey. Every Friday, the staff enjoy breakfast together on site, a tradition as old as the school.

The school is housed in a former elementary school building shared with Mott Haven Village Preparatory School. The building is older with narrow hallways. 

University Heights offers electives including theater, creative writing, band, robotics, genetics, and neuroscience. Extracurriculars include Bronx Lacrosse, dance and theater, gaming, mock trial, cooking, web design, and yoga. Sports teams are shared with Mott Haven Village Prep


Students get free medical and mental health services at an onsite health clinic run by Montefiore Hospital. Each grade has its own social worker. (Lydie Raschka, official reports, September 2026)    

 

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School Stats

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
100%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
100%
Average daily attendance
 
92%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
27%
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 2024-25 School Quality Guide and 2024-25 NYC School Survey

Students

595
Number of students
Citywide Average is 608

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
88%
Students with disabilities
 
20%
Multilingual learners
 
2%
From the 2024-25 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
92%
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?
 
22%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
100%
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey and 2023-24 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
100%
16.0
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 8
62
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 119

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
72%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey, 2024-25 School Quality Guide, 2022-23 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2025 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

College and Career Readiness

School
Citywide
How well are students prepared for college and careers after four years at this school? What is a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Score?
 
75
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?
 
92%
From the 2024-25 School Quality Guide
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

Humanities (X96A)

Admissions Method: Screened With Assessment

Requirements:

  • Average Course Grades - 50%
  • Essay - 50%

Program Description:

Our Humanities program takes an interdisciplinary approach to the studies of literature, the arts and social sciences. Students are exposed to common threads found in different cultures and human history. They will develop critical thinking skills, communicate efficiency and make cross curricular connections. Their academic experience will foster curiosity and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their relation to the world. This program requires students to complete an assignment as part of admissions. Soon, you will be able to upload your completed assignment through MySchools. Learn more at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/AssessmentHS

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) (X96B)

Admissions Method: Screened With Assessment

Requirements:

  • Average Course Grades - 50%
  • Essay - 50%

Program Description:

Our STEM program is based on preparing students for college and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. We provide rigorous and hands-on courses in science, technology and math, including robotics, media, history of engineering and inquiry, technology, calculus, computer science, statistics, and more. Qualified students can do an executive apprenticeship in the STEM fields (including medicine and/or science research).

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, Arts (College Course [Credited]), Biology (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Uncredited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited])

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Rugby, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Flag Football, Indoor Track, 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

701 St. Anns Avenue
Bronx NY 10455

Trains: 2 Line, 5 Line to Jackson Av

Buses: Bx13, Bx15, Bx17, Bx19, Bx2, Bx21, Bx4, Bx41, Bx41-SBS, Bx46, Bx6, Bx6-SBS, M125


Contact

Principal: Hazel Joseph Roseboro

Parent Coordinator: Luis Gratereaux

Phone: 718-292-0578

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the South Bronx Educational Campus with one other school

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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