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Our Insights

What’s Special

Landmarked building

The Downside

Declining enrollment; academics have a ways to go

The first public high school in New York City, Flushing was founded in 1875 with a class of seven. It moved into its current, castle-like building, which it shares with two small schools, more than 100 years ago.

While the two small schools, Veritas and Queens High School for Language Studies, are quite successful, Flushing High School has long struggled with low graduation rates, poor attendance and declining enrollment. It has had six principals in eight years. The city threatened to close it for poor performance in 2012, and only agreed to keep it open after a lawsuit.

Its Gothic-style building features gargoyles perched atop a turreted facade, stained glass windows and an auditorium that could easily pass for a cathedral sanctuary, complete with vaulted ceilings and an enormous pipe organ that no longer works. Two more wings added in recent decades have transformed Flushing’s original structure into a massive facility with hallways that seem to stretch two city blocks.

The school has no sports field but teams have exclusive use of two fields within walking distance. There are two gyms and weight, cardio, and spinning rooms with professional grade equipment in the building.

(Clara Hemphill, web reports, December 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?
 
86%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
89%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
72%
Average daily attendance
 
84%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
51%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
97%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
97%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

1585
Number of students
Citywide Average is 615

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
82%
Students with disabilities
 
17%
Multilingual learners
 
29%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
1%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
81%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
43%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
27%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
71%
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
89%
0.1
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
244
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 191
How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
85%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey, 2022-23 School Quality Guide, 2021-22 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2023 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

 
8%

Computer Science

 
17%

Physics

Not offered in 2021-21

Advanced Foreign Language

 
4%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
44%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
36%

Music

 
12%
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?
 
54%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
75%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
41%
From the 2020-21 and 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many graduates who are eligible received Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funding to attend a NYS college?
 
45%
This shows how well this school supports low-income students to get funding for college.
How many of those TAP recipients made it through college? Learn more
From unpublished, anonymized student-level data for the class of 2016-17 provided by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in coordination with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), brought to you by
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
55%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought to you by Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
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

Thurgood Marshall Law Pathway (Q18A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Introduction to Law, Criminology and Juvenile Justice, Practical Law, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights Law, Trial Techniques, and Advanced Topics in Law and Public Service. Students can choose one area of study: Legal Studies or Public Service.

Science Research Pathway (Q18B)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

This is an opportunity for students to experience the rigor and rewards of scientific research. Courses are designed to provide students with an understanding of research methods in the sciences. Open to students who have an interest in science and wish to conduct research. As students accumulate credits in the pathway, they are supported by teachers to form and progress into areas of original research. Students will get access to scientific databases.

Business Entrepreneurship Pathway (Q18C)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

As a registered testing center for Microsoft programs, students taking business courses with participation in the Virtual Enterprise Program are eligible for Microsoft MOUS certification. Students may also pursue CTE Business certification.

Zoned (Q18Z)

Admissions Method: Zoned Priority

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Statistics, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Soccer, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Handball, Indoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

35-01 Union Street
Queens NY 11354

Trains: 7 Line to Flushing-Main St

Buses: Q12, Q13, Q15, Q15A, Q16, Q17, Q19, Q20A, Q20B, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q34, Q44-SBS, Q48, Q50, Q65, Q66, QM20, QM3


Contact

Principal: Jassica Lee

Parent Coordinator: Mary Vacarr

Phone: 718-888-7500

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with the Queens HS for Language Studies and Veritas Academy

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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