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Our Insights

What’s Special

Programs in engineering, health science and law; instruction for hearing impaired

The Downside

Graduation rate needs to improve

At Martin Van Buren High School students can enroll in themed programs including engineering, health and law and take college-level courses offered both on-site and at CUNY colleges. There's a nice range of options to keep kids engaged, including arts and music classes, sports teams, clubs and activities such as the robotics team.

Once a giant neighborhood school with a population topping 3,000, Martin Van Buren had gone through some tough years with dwindling enrollment and below-average graduation rates. In recent years, the infusion of extra resources and expanded partnerships with organizations is helping Martin Van Buren rebound. New York State has deemed the school in good standing and graduation and college readiness rates have increased steadily, though they still have a ways to go.

Sam Sochet has been the school’s principal since 2012. A former science teacher at Cardozo High School and assistant principal at Thomas A. Edison High School, Sochet has bolstered learning opportunities such as internships at Rockefeller University and Cornell Medical School and business courses through the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.  

In the health science program, students get hands-on exposure to the medical field through internships with Long Island Jewish Medical Center as well as guidance for college and careers. Students are encouraged to take courses that will help them pursue degrees in their chosen field. For instance, students are encouraged to take Advanced Placement biology, because college-level biology is required for pre-med or nursing studies.

Students in the law program take classes such as criminal law, civil law and forensics. Some take more advanced classes at John Jay College.

Engineering students can either pursue a sequence of classes in computer programming and robotics or one that is more design-focused with courses such as computer animation and web design.

A patient care technology program run by Queens College trains students in the kinds of skills—such as drawing blood and conducting EKGs—that will help them secure jobs with better wages than a nursing aide. Students who complete the program, which requires a substantial commitment of time after school, are prepared to take state certification exams upon graduation.

Regardless of the program they’re admitted to, all freshmen take a research class to bolster their skills. They are also assigned to a small learning community that has a dedicated staff of teachers and counselors who get to know their group of 9th-graders well. A program run by My Brother’s Keeper pairs 9th and 10th grade boys with older students who serve as mentors. 

In addition to Advanced Placement courses, students may earn college credits by taking classes at Queensborough Community and York Colleges, as well as classes at Martin Van Buren that are certified by Syracuse University.

Spanish is the only foreign language taught.

Extracurricular activities include sports teams, and an array of clubs. There are also competitive academic teams such as math, mock trial, moot court, debate and robotics. Art and music offerings—either as classes or after-school activities—include piano, band, chorus, cartooning, fashion, graphic design and fine arts.

Van Buren shares its large building with Business Technology Early College High School. The two schools share use of common spaces including the gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium and library. Each school has its own entrance to the building.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are self-contained and ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes, SETSS, a program for hearing-impaired students and dedicated English classes for ELLs (English language learners). (Laura Zingmond, web reports, November 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?
 
91%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
90%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
80%
Average daily attendance
 
82%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
55%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
83%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
100%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

1053
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
72%
Students with disabilities
 
17%
Multilingual learners
 
13%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
0%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
77%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
49%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
37%
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
60%
0.9
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
164
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 157

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
93%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey, 2021-22 School Quality Guide, 2019-20 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2021 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

 
3%

Computer Science

 
8%

Physics

 
7%

Advanced Foreign Language

 
18%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
18%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
19%

Music

 
32%
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?
 
55%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
78%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
73%
From the 2020-21 and 2021-22 School Quality Guide
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
60%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought you by
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

Academy of Communication, Media, & the Arts (Q38C)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

The Academy for Communication, Media, and the Arts is a Humanities-based program offering scholars who are passionate about the Arts a 4-year track. Scholars in this program will develop 21st century skills needed to succeed. This program will develop the foundational skills for creative thinking in order to utilize the Arts to enhance their educational journey. Through various courses such as print, video, film, podcasting, and photography scholars will gain an appreciation of the Arts.

STEM Institute for Science Research (Q38K)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

Students interested in Science Research and Medicine can choose courses in Anatomy, AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Forensics, Physics, AP Psychology, and STEM Research. CUNY College Now offerings include Algebra, Biology, and Health. Partnerships include: NASA, Wrigley Marine Science Center at USC, Cohen Hospital LIJ, and Queensborough Community College.

STEM Institue for Engineering and Robotics (Q38L)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Students interested in Engineering, Robotics, or Computer fields take STEM classes in Engineering I and II and Robotics III and IV, along with options for Chemistry, Computer Application, Computer Languages, Computer Science, Physics, and AP Calculus. Students will prepare for high level regional and national competitions. Partnerships include: FIRST, NYU-Polytechnic Institute, and UC-Berkeley Computer Science.

Institute for Law and Humanities (Q38M)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

This program is dedicated to developing knowledge and experience in the legal fields through a partnership with the Justice Resource Center. Students spend three years studying civil, criminal, and constitutional law, AP Global, AP US History, Syracuse University Public Affairs & Personal Finance, and CUNY John Jay Criminology. Students take part in our award-winning experiential programs like Moot Court, Mock Trial, High School Law Institute, and Debate Team all in our new in-house courtroom. Partnerships include: Columbia University Law; NYU Law, CUNY John Jay, the Queens District Attorney's Office, and Winston & Strawn LLC.

Zoned (Q38Z)

Admissions Method: Zoned Priority

Program Description:

Zoned students will have opportunities to choose from our three-year institutes-Health Science Research; Engineering and Robotics; and Law and Humanities.

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 Seminar, AP Statistics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Biology (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Chemistry (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Global History (College Course [Uncredited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Cricket

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

230-17 Hillside Avenue
Queens NY 11427

Buses: Q1, Q27, Q43, Q46, Q88, QM36, QM6, X68


Contact

Principal: Deborah Nettleford

Parent Coordinator: Russell Chew

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with Business Technology Early College HS (B-Tech)

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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