Bronx High School for Medical Science

Bronx High School for Medical Science is a small school serving grades 6-12 where students do sophisticated science research and shadow healthcare professionals. The school has strong attendance and graduation rates. By the end of 8th grade roughly half of the students earn high school credit; by graduation most have tackled college-level work.

In keeping with the school's theme, students wear medical scrubs as uniforms. Grades 6 to 8 follow a modified middle school format: Students stay in the same classroom and teachers for each subject travel to them.

High school students do research projects under the supervision of medical professionals and take college courses at Bronx Community, Hostos Community and Lehman Colleges, according to the 2016-17 School Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP). Some complete high school in three years, according to the CEP.

State test scores in English exceed the citywide average. Math scores run closer to the city average but far exceed the district-wide average.

The schools college readiness rate, meaning students graduating with test scores high enough to enroll at a CUNY college without remedial help, far exceeds the citywide average.

Theres inconsistency in instruction according to the schools 2016-17 Quality Review, which highlighted that some teachers solicited mainly recall of facts from students rather than more challenging and analytical responses.

Teacher responses to the 2015-16 NYC School Survey indicate good order and discipline at the school but also reveal some friction with longtime principal William Quintana. Roughly a third of teachers responding to the survey say Quintana is not an effective manager.

Most students say their classes make them think and prepare them well for the next grade, according to the survey, but roughly half feel there are not enough opportunities to develop talents outside of academics.

The school is housed in the William H. Taft Educational Campus building, which it shares with several small high schools. Students must pass through metal detectors to enter.

There is an after-school program for middle school students as well as sports teams. High school students may participate in campus-wide PSAL sports teams.

ADMISSIONS: Middle school is open to students in Districts 9 and 10. High school is open to students citywide with priority to continuing 8th-graders and then to Bronx students and residents. Roughly half of middle school students stay for high shcool. Admissions decisitons for both middle and high school are based on a review of each student's state test scores, report card and record of attendance. (Laura Zingmond, web reports, August 2017)