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Our Insights

What’s Special

Students learn to build boats; free childcare for student-parents

The Downside

School disrupted because of Hurricane Sandy

The Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability is designed to offer projects and activities to students who may be turned off by traditional academics. Students may paddle a kayak or learn carpentry to build boats. Community partners offer students paid summer jobs, according to the high school directory.

The school, housed in the Beach Channel Educational Complex, was founded in 2010 by Principal Jennifer Connolly, who previously taught in an alternative high school. Connolly was born on the Rockaway Peninsula; her mother graduated from Far Rockaway High School and her grandmother was a crossing guard in the neighborhood.

Like the rest of the Rockaways, the school suffered a blow during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, and the building was closed for four months.

“The aftereffects are still felt today, through student displacement and economic hardship,” according to the school’s 2018-19 Comprehensive Educational Plan. There are “no bookstores, one small public library, no movie theaters or arts venues, one YMCA, and limited grocery and restaurant options.” Most student live in surrounding housing projects and small bungalows or former summer cottages.

Beach Channel Educational Complex offers free childcare for students’ children in the LYFE center.

Graduates have been admitted to St John's University, Wells College, Buffalo State College, Delaware State, SUNY Farmingdale and Hunter College, according to the CEP.

(Clara Hemphill, DOE statistics, 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?
 
81%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
69%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
64%
Average daily attendance
 
70%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
81%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

232
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
88%
Students with disabilities
 
41%
Multilingual learners
 
16%
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?
 
46%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
35%
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?
 
79%
3.0
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
123
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?
 
89%
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

Not offered in 2019-20

Computer Science

 
17%

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

 
28%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
16%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
44%

Music

 
76%
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?
 
23%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
56%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
40%
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?
 
33%
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

Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability (Q36A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

The Green Carpentry Program (Q36G)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

The carpentry course of study is designed to create an appreciation of the industry and to develop entry-level skills within the carpentry trade, currently on the way to being CTE certified. Students will develop skills that ensure a successful transition from high school to postsecondary institutions.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, Chemistry (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

100-00 Beach Channel Drive
Queens NY 11694

Trains: H Line to Beach 105th St

Buses: Q21, Q22, Q53-SBS, QM16


Contact

Principal: Katwona Warren

Parent Coordinator: Johnny Recio

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Beach Channel Educational Campus with two other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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