John Adams High School
Grades: 9-12Our Insights
What’s Special
Small learning communities and International Baccalaureate (IB) program
The Downside
High number of bullying incidents
For years, John Adams High School teetered on the brink of closure and struggled to attract students. Its administration and faculty now believe the worst is behind them and see the school gradually rebounding, thanks to stronger academics, new programs and efforts to create a more welcoming environment.
Signs of progress: The graduation rate jumped from less than 55 percent in 2014 to nearly 71 percent in 2018. The attendance rate also slightly increased within that time frame, and chronic absenteeism declined. Perhaps most important, in 2016 the state removed John Adams from the list of schools threatened with state takeover. And, according to the New York Times, John Adams has been identified as a “rise” school, meaning it will no longer be considered a renewal school come the 2018-2019 school year.
Principal Daniel Scanlon came to the school in 2013. After reviewing the building and evaluating student feedback that indicated that many students did not want to be at John Adams—which Scanlon himself described as having been punitive and drab—he set out to enact change.
To improve discipline, John Adams has implemented Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), which focuses on rewarding and reinforcing positive actions. As a result, the suspension rate has dropped to just 1 percent, which is below the citywide average.
The school has restructured its academics and is now divided into several small learning communities (SLCs), aiming to provide students with both the resources of a large school and the sense of community and individualized attention offered at a small school.
There are eight SLC programs: STEM; the Future Educators Academy; Media and Fine Arts Academy; Pre-Med Academy; Justice, Law and International Studies Academy; a Newcomers Institute; the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; and the Queens Business Institute. Within these SLCs, there is one new career and technical education (CTE) program in law. The school is developing a CTE program in business.
John Adams added its selective IB program in the fall of 2016. It offers a challenging curriculum that stresses student projects and the development of research skills. The school also offers a wide range of Advanced Placement courses and College Now classes.
After school, students can participate in a number of extracurricular activities, such as the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program, robotics, debate, school band and many PSAL sports, including cricket and girls lacrosse.
"We want to try to make opportunities available to kids," Scanlon said. "We're trying to find something for every student."
Despite these changes, the school still has room for improvement. Chalkbeat said John Adams, with 2,300 students, had 21 confirmed instances of bullying in the first half of the 2017-2018 school year. Half of the student body thinks that bullying happens frequently, according to school surveys.
The school is located in Ozone Park and has an on-site health clinic operated by North Shore LIJ health network.
SPECIAL EDUCATION: Adams offers a range of supports, including tutoring services as wells as self-contained and integrated co-teaching (ICT) classes.
(Gail Robinson, March 2015; updated June 2018)
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College and Career Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryBusiness and Finance Academy (Q10E)
Program Description:
The Business & Finance Academy is a vibrant learning community where our goal is to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world. Through our carefully designed business courses, tudents can sharpen professional skills, nurture their interests, and lay a solid foundation for their future. We aim to prepare students for a wide array of careers in fields like marketing, finance, business management, IT, and more. We believe in extending learning beyond the classroom, offering unique learning opportunities like job shadowing, travel experiences, mentoring by corporate partners, business competitions, trade shows, and internships. By completing our approved 3-year Career and Technical Education sequence, students will earn a special seal on their diploma, signifying their industry-ready skills and experience. In partnership with Farmingdale State College, our students can also earn 6 college credits in business as well as choose to take AP classes and other college-accredited courses. This gives them a competitive edge and head start in their future careers or college journey. At the Business & Finance Academy, where we're not just teaching business, we're building futures.
Future Educators and Leadership Academy (FELA) (Q10G)
Program Description:
FELA is one of three specialized programs at our school and is designed for students who are interested in careers in teaching, leadership, or public service. As a Future Ready program, FELA prepares students with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century, including communication, teamwork, and real-world experience. Throughout high school, FELA students take exciting elective courses, gain hands-on experience through teaching and leadership opportunities, and participate in citywide internships and the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). We also partner with York College to offer dual credit courses, giving students a chance to earn college credit while still in high school. If your child is passionate about helping others, enjoys working with people, or dreams of being a leader, FELA is the perfect place to start that journey!
Justice, Law, and International Studies Academy (Q10B)
Program Description:
The Justice, Law, and International Studies Academy offers a comprehensive look at the United States Legal System on a Federal and Local level through an 8-course CTE-style curriculum provided by the Justice Resource Center of NYC. The curriculum includes: Intro to Law, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Mock Trial, Constitutional Law, Legal Research, and Financial Literacy. The program also offers a variety of opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in the legal world including: Moot Court and Mock Trial competition teams, internships with various law firms around the city, visits to Federal Court proceedings, plus after school programs and classroom visits from the Queens District Attorney s Office. In addition to the curriculum and opportunities, the Justice, Law, and International Studies Academy now offers a 4 course, 12 credit College Now Program from the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies taught at John Adams High School by actual college professors, joining the school-wide effort to push the college preparatory initiative for all students.
Media and Fine Arts Academy (Q10D)
Program Description:
The Media and Fine Arts Academy is a learning community that prepares students for careers in communications, visual and performing arts with a blend of music production, video production studio art, media, graphic design and professional photography. Students will be exposed to rigorous curricula designed to expand their minds and challenge them to design the school yearbook, participate in specialty classes, and participate in dual enrollment programs for college credit through our partnership with SUNY Farmingdale and CUNY York College. The Media and Fine Arts academy specializes in providing an arts education while also challenging their students with a college level curriculum. All Media students can enroll in various prestigious programs such as IB, Advanced Placement and additional college credit bearing classes through. The Media Academy continuously exposes our students to extracurricular activities and projects like the John Adams Fashion show, the theater arts program, photo shoots, paint nights, and musicals. The students in the graphic arts program have an opportunity to obtain the Adobe certified associate certification. Our program has revamped all specialty classes to include state of the art art rooms, technology, cameras, and lighting, and musical instruments so that our students experience top of the line equipment fully funded by John Adams High School.
Pre-Med Academy and International Baccalaureate Academy (Q10C)
Program Description:
The PRE-MED Academy is a dynamic academic community in which students explore the various opportunities within the world of health and medicine. The 4 year course load provided to our PRE-MED students equips them with knowledge, skills, and competencies to be successful in a premedical program at a university. PRE-MED students have the ability to be tracked as an IB (international baccalaureate) student where they can earn up to 30 college credits OR they can be tracked as a Medical Assisting Student where they will prepare to take a medical assisting licensing exam. Alongside the PRE-MED electives; Healthcare CORE, First Aid/CPR, Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, Intro to Medical Assisting, and Medical Assisting 1 and 2, the PRE-MED students also have the ability to take AP, College Now, and other college accredited courses. Both Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology are college accredited via our partnership with both SUNY Farmingdale and St. John's University
STEM and International Baccalaureate Academy (Q10A)
Program Description:
The STEM Academy is a SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEER & MATHEMATICS based Small Learning Community, in which students engage in rigorous programs of study for preparedness in life, college and career. The mission of the STEM-IB Program is to develop well-informed and highly motivated students who are ready to engage their local and global communities. Our students learn from teachers who are passionate about their careers, their expertise and their students' future. The STEM Academy builds opportunities for immersive instruction in Computer Maintenance and Repair, Information Technology Fundamentals, Robotics, Virtual Reality and Computer Science. These courses culminate in the ability to earn industry credits and opportunities to exercise their skills in real world experiences/internships. Additionally, our students are also encouraged to get a running start for college by taking International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, SUNY Farmingdale and CUNY College Now courses. These courses will allow you to learn college readiness skills and earn upwards of 45 college credits (3 full-time college semesters). With these outstanding college level opportunities, students who specifically engage in the IB coursework will participate in a writing based college program that teaches students key life/college skills, exposure to conversations of the global community, and the internationally recognized IB Diploma
Zoned (Q10Z)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryAdvanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Spanish Literature and Culture, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, Arts (College Course [Credited]), Biology (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball
Girls PSAL teams
Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Flag Football, Golf, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Cricket
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
101-01 Rockaway Boulevard
Queens
NY
11417
Trains:
to 104th St-Oxford Av
Buses: Q11, Q112, Q21, Q37, Q41, Q51, Q52-SBS, Q53-SBS, Q7, QM15
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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