Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School

Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School, a small 6-12 school, sets high expectation for its students and most rise to the challenge, doing well on standardized tests, amassing credits and graduating on time and ready for college.

The school offers a range of Advanced Placement courses and the CUNY College Now program. Students participate in the Hospital Experience Program at Queens Hospital Center, a five-minute walk away. This includes visits to the hospital, case studies, research projects and internship opportunities. Gateway provides medical mentoring with separate programs for boys and girls, according to the High School Directory as well as some medically themed classes and double-period math and science classes. Eighth graders can take the algebra and earth science Regents exams and the Spanish proficiency exam, allowing more than 90 percent of them to earn some high school credits.

Although the school gears much of this work toward high achievement on tests, a very positive Department of Education reportfound instruction goes beyond test prep; In the vast majority of classrooms, all students are motivated and actively engaged in classroom activities and discussions, the reviewer wrote.

The school was ranked as a silver medalist by U.S. News & World Reports List of America's Best High Schools in 2017.

Despite the accolades, the 2016-17 NYC School Survey shows some teachers are critical of Judy Henry, principal since 2012; only 38 percent of respondents said she is an effective manager. Fewer than half said they would recommend Gateway as a good place to work. However, parents give Henry higher marks.

ADMISSIONS: The middle school is open to students from District 28 and 29. Admission is competitive with criteria including fourth grade standardized test results and grades, attendance and punctuality. About 60 percent of eighth graders remain at Gateway for High School. They get priority for admissions and account for about 40 percent of competitive seats. The remainder go first to children from District 28 and 29, then to Queens residents and finally to those from elsewhere in the city. They are selected on the basis of grades, tests scores and attendance and punctuality. (Gail Robinson, based on web reports and school data, August 2017)