Our Insights
What’s Special
Extra support for students learning English
The Downside
Safety and trust can be better
ATLAS High School in Long Island City welcomes all students, including those new to English and those who already speak it. Spanish is the home language for most families; others include Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Nepali, Portuguese, Tibetan, Urdu, Tagalog, and Albanian. Teachers help students with English reading and writing skills while also teaching science, history, and math. Atlas offers theater, dance, visual arts, and computer science.
The school is proud to have among the highest number of New York City high school graduates earning the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, recognizing skill in speaking, reading, and writing in two languages. This Seal can be helpful for college and career opportunities.
ATLAS also helps newcomers adjust by teaching practical skills, like navigating the subway and using key phrases for daily life. During the year, students attend events that are relevant to their lives, such as an undocumented professionals’ career day, and cultural celebrations.
Most classes have two teachers. In math, teachers use hands-on activities to guide lessons. In English, they help students explain ideas in more detail, like showing how a character's actions show bravery, or giving another side of an argument to make it stronger. Tutoring is available before, during, and after school, as well as on Saturdays. The school also offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Family members may take English classes at the school, prepare for their GED, and attend monthly workshops on topics like housing and legal issues. They may also go on trips with students.
The school has grown quickly in recent years, and with this growth, suspensions have increased. The NYC School Survey shows some students feel unsafe in hallways and bathrooms. To address this, the school has focused on building stronger teacher-student relationships. Each teacher is assigned 15–20 students to track progress, communicate with families, and monitor attendance throughout the year.
Atlas opened in 1995 as Newcomers High School at a time with the surrounding area was largely industrial. Since then the area has experienced a housing boom with many families with children of all ages moving in. The school was renamed ATLAS (Arts, Technology, Language, Advocacy, and Social Justice) in 2024 in response to the students’ preference to move away from the "Newcomers" label and to expand its mission to be an option for all Queens students.
Student enrollment nearly doubled from 2019 to 2024. To support its growing student body, ATLAS has introduced a dual language program in Spanish and English, along with transitional bilingual and English as a New Language (ENL) programs. The percentage of students who speak English as their first language is very small, according to school staff.
ATLAS is open only to students from Queens. It is within walking distance of the Queens Plaza and Queens Boro Plaza subway stations. Facilities include a boxing gym and weight room. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, December 2024)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Physics
Advanced Foreign Language
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
Not offered in 2021-21College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryNewcomers High School (Q98A)
Program Description:
Intensive integrated English Language Arts and English as a New Language. Core subjects: science, social studies, and mathematics integrate English language development and English common core standards.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Mandarin, Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Spanish Literature and Culture, AP United States History, Biology (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Basketball, Handball, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Cricket
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
28-01 41 Avenue
Queens
NY
11101
Trains: , , to Queensboro Plaza; , , to Queens Plaza; to 21st St
Buses: B62, Q100, Q101, Q102, Q103, Q32, Q39, Q60, Q66, Q67, Q69, X63, X64, X68
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the building with Gotham Tech High School
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