Our Insights
What’s Special
Art and technology focus
The Downside
Not as many clubs as a larger school can offer
Robert H. Goddard High School of Communication Arts and Technology is a nicely integrated, mid-sized school that offers a good array of arts and technology classes but also a strong foundation in math, science, reading, writing and research. The school, founded in 2008, offers other perks, too, such as fish farming and hydroponics, theater and museum visits, and trips to science laboratories. Classrooms are equipped with enough computers for every student, thanks to a partnership with Apple Computers. Children get to know Apple MacBook Pros, 3-D printers, digital Elmo computers and Photoshop. In the digital art studio and science lab teens build and operate robots and develop projects for the science fair.
The day starts early, at 7 a.m. and yet despite the early start the attendance rate is good. Teachers mix up class lectures with videos, audio clips and web-based activities to keep kids interested and engaged, according to the comprehensive educational plan (CEP).
Principal Joseph Birgeles, who taught social studies in the middle school, is respected by staff and no-nonsense when it comes to academics. In his letter to parents on the school website he said children must pass their classes in order to attend a school dance or senior event, and do lunchtime detention if they are late to school.
Every child must take four years of math and science. A selection of courses listed on the website includes Greek mythology, health in film, the history of Latin America, coding and journalism. Studio art and digital art are among the offerings. The art department has its own website with samples of student work.
Teachers, most of whom have more than three years of teaching experience, keep close tabs on children’s academic progress. They frequently assess students’ reading levels to make sure they are reading books they can understand. Extra help is offered during lunch and after school in a credit recovery program. Ninth grade teachers meet weekly to make sure incoming students are on-track.
The high school shares a building with a middle school of the same name, the Robert H. Goddard School. There are sports teams, and clubs, including chess, cheerleading and drama, but it is not the exhaustive list of clubs a larger school would be able to offer.
Three guidance counselors help with college admissions. Most children attend City University of New York two-year and four-year colleges.
SPECIAL EDUCATION: Goddard is proud of how it serves children with special needs and teens learning to speak English, most of whom graduate on time. Teachers tailor class assignment and homework to individual abilities. They offer summer tutoring for exam prep, vocabulary instruction, reading fluency, comprehension and writing instruction. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and DOE data, August 2018)
[Photo: Tdorante10, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Not offered in 2021-21Computer Science
Physics
Advanced Foreign Language
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
Not offered in 2021-21College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryRobert H. Goddard High School of Communication (Q02A)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Psychology, AP Studio Art - Drawing, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Soccer
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Soccer, Softball
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
138-30 Lafayette Street
Queens
NY
11417
Buses: B15, BM5, Q11, Q21, Q41, Q52-SBS, Q53-SBS, Q7, QM15
Contact
Other Details
This school shares a building with JHS 202
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