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Our Insights

What’s Special

Software engineering program

The Downside

No gymnasium

At Cambria Heights Academy, students study software engineering, may earn a professional certificate in cybersecurity and participate in internships. The school fosters a close-knit community and maintains connections with alumni. Most students, including those with disabilities, graduate on time.

Reading and writing take place in all subjects. During Orientation Week in September, 9th and 10th grade students create a multi-genre autobiography and participate in community service. Juniors and seniors work on their resumes to prepare for internships and begin their college admissions process. The curriculum includes reading complete novels, not just excerpts, for example, Animal Farm (1945), George Orwell's classic on the corruption of power, and Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), Zora Neale Huston’s story of a Black woman finding love and independence.

Teachers meet weekly to plan and improve instruction; they use consistent routines across all subjects. For example, students are encouraged to read a problem or concept three times to ensure full understanding before attempting to solve it or respond. The school has a 1:1 ratio of computers in each classroom.

Beyond academics, teens can practice music production skills, create electronic music, or play in a rock band after school. Some juniors and seniors take part in the Lazard New Visions Academy, a five-week summer program on career readiness, financial literacy, and professional skills. Internships take place during the school year and over the summer with local partners like the Police Athletic League.

Students participate in advisory groups, which meet twice weekly and center on community service and healthy ways to solve problems. Teens are encouraged (and in some cases required) to seek academic help during the school day. There is a guidance counselor, social worker, and two college interns on staff to support to all students.

The school keeps close tabs on student attendance, calling students when they’re absent and following up with those who are gone for longer periods. New Visions provides on-going data on absences and academic progress, as well as assistance with college selection and admissions.

College-bound students have earned spots at City and State Universities of New York, as well as Ivy league schools and  private schools like Long Island University, and historically Black universities such as Howard and Hampton. Some graduates enter the military after high school, find a tech job, participate in internships, or attend a two- or four-year computer science program.

Founded in 2010, Cambria Heights is housed in a former Catholic school building. There is no gymnasium, but the cafeteria, yard, and fitness room are used for physical education classes. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, September 2024)

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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?
 
95%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
86%
Average daily attendance
 
87%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
42%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
94%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
100%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

360
Number of students
Citywide Average is 615

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
77%
Students with disabilities
 
21%
Multilingual learners
 
11%
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?
 
84%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
42%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
33%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
81%
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
88%
13.2
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
362
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 191
How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
81%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey, 2022-23 School Quality Guide, 2021-22 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2023 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 2021-21

Computer Science

 
41%

Physics

Not offered in 2021-21

Advanced Foreign Language

Not offered in 2021-21

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
54%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
32%

Music

 
80%
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?
 
39%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
37%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
49%
From the 2020-21 and 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many graduates who are eligible received Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funding to attend a NYS college?
 
27%
This shows how well this school supports low-income students to get funding for college.
How many of those TAP recipients made it through college? Learn more
From unpublished, anonymized student-level data for the class of 2016-17 provided by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in coordination with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), brought to you by
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
57%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought to you by Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
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

Cambria Heights Academy (Q44A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

All students are admitted into our software engineering program and after completing the necessary coursework have the option of graduating with a CTE diploma in addition to a high school diploma.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Statistics, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited])

Boys PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Indoor Track

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Indoor Track

Coed PSAL teams

Double Dutch

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

188-04 91St Avenue
Queens NY 11423

Buses: Q1, Q110, Q17, Q2, Q3, Q36, Q43, Q76, Q77, Q83, X64, X68


Contact

Principal: Melissa Menake

Parent Coordinator: Remy Edwards

Phone: 718-736-7320

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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