Collegiate Institute for Math and Science (CIMS)

Collegiate Institute for Math and Science (CIMS) has a good track record getting kids into college. All students are required to take four years of math and science, and many take advantage of the school’s partnerships and internships in math and science. Most children graduate on time, ready for college-level work.

College preparation begins early at CIMS. Children visit colleges starting in 9th grade. In the upper grades, they meet with an advisor two to three times a week to review transcripts, college applications, financial aid forms, essays and more. The University of Vermont sponsors student trips to its campus and offers scholarships to admitted students. Most children attend CUNY or SUNY schools, but every year some attend  private schools such as Barnard, Mercy, Smith, Brandeis, Columbia, Cornell and New York University.

CIMS helps children tap into a wide array of opportunities in math and science. The Einstein Enrichment Program, for example, offers support to students from low-income families who may want to pursue medical and scientific professions. Some students participate in the Computer Science Opportunity Fair, pitching ideas to industry professionals.

For a small school, CIMS offers a good range of electives as well as challenging courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) classes in calculus, chemistry, physics, English, Spanish and US history. More than half of all students take AP courses, some as early as 10th grade.

The school is located on the third and fourth floor of the massive Christopher Columbus High School Campus building, which is home to several small high schools. CIMS hallways on the third and fourth floor are recognizable by their yellow and blue school colors. All sports and activities are open campus-wide, including robotics, photography, gaming, and pep, jazz and concert bands.

A downside: Students and visitors must pass through metal detectors to enter the building.

Admissions: Educational option, or “Ed Opt” schools seek a range of low- middle- and high-performing students. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, September 2018)