Our Insights
What’s Special
A supportive environment and high academic standards
The Downside
Small gym and no outside space
One of a network of small, all-girls public schools, the Young Women’s Leadership School, Queens is a welcoming place that emphasizes academics and college-readiness and also works to help girls develop emotionally and socially.
School corridors are lined with encouraging quotes and messages cheering the girls on and recognizing their achievements. Students are friendly and polite.
Virtually 100 percent of students graduate on time and are accepted to college, with an average financial aid package of $20,000, according to Principal Mala Panday. Many will be the first in their families to attend college.
“We talk to girls as if [college] is not a choice. It’s what you do here,” the college counselor, Jessica Kane, said. She begins working closely with girls in March of their junior year but students start visiting colleges in 6th grade.
TYWLS Queens admits students based on test scores and report cards but there is a big range of academic abilities. Teachers try to address this in various ways, asking girls to help one another, or offering three versions of a similar assignment. Still, some students think they’re not getting enough help, according to a Department of Education school survey.
For their part, many teachers indicated on the survey they would like to see better training programs and more collaboration.
Classes are fairly traditional, usually starting with a lesson delivered by a teacher at the front of the room. Students then work individually or in pairs on an assignment coming out of the lesson. The Quality Review said students would benefit from more class discussion.
Science and technology are a strength, with well-equipped science labs and a high school technology elective where girls design, write and code their own video games. In a 9th grade science, girls designed and built balloon popping contraptions incorporating simple machines,
As of the 2017-2018 school year, all high school students are required to major in one of four areas—arts, business and government, education and STEM—or create a major of their own. Students take specific courses and do community service work related to their fields.
Panday said the majors should make it easier for students to decide what to concentrate on in college. “It’s giving them an earlier experience at thinking what strengths they bring to the world,” she said.
She hopes the majors will also boost the college readiness rate among the Queens school graduates. Although that rate is about average for the city, it lags behind the school’s other statistics. To address that, students at the school who pass the Regents exams but do not score well enough to be considered college ready will get additional help and take the test a second, or even third time. A business algebra class is targeted at preparing the girls for college work.
Beginning in 2018, all 8th graders will take the algebra Regents exam. Some also take the Earth Science Regents.
The small school has three full-time counselors. They are there, Panday says, so that all students—many of whom come from single-parent homes and may be juggling work and school—know there is an adult at school to whom they can talk.
One senior described the school as “beautiful, a sisterhood.” Another said, “Since it’s a female school, we’re getting to have more of a voice.” But, even without boys there is still emotional drama, two 10th graders said–in fact, they agreed, there may be even more than at a co-ed school.
Being part of the Young Women’s Leadership Network allows TYWLS Queens to offer more opportunities than usual for a school of its size, including grants for teachers, internships for students, trips and an array of clubs.
About half of the middle school students stay for high school. Those who leave often want a co-ed school or one with more sports. TWYLS Queens has a small gym and no outside space, forcing its champion track team to practice by running through the halls and up and down the stairs.
(Gail Robinson, November 2017)
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School Stats
Is this school safe and well-run?
From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey
From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card
From this school's most recent Quality Review Report
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
How do students perform academically?
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
Who does this school serve?
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
How does this school serve special populations?
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryThe Young Women's Leadership School, Queens (Q89A)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
French, Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Studio Art - 2D, AP United States History, Biology (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
150-91 87 Road
Queens
NY
11432
Trains: , , to Parsons Blvd-Archer Av - Jamaica Center; to Parsons Blvd
Buses: Q1, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, Q114, Q17, Q2, Q20A, Q20B, Q24, Q25, Q3, Q30, Q31, Q34, Q36, Q4, Q40, Q41, Q42, Q43, Q44-SBS, Q5, Q54, Q56, Q6, Q65, Q76, Q77, Q8, Q83, Q84, Q85, Q9, X68
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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