Our Insights
What’s Special
History-oriented field trips and theater classes
The Downside
Cramped quarters in two buildings
At the Academy of American Studies (AAS), students study history by walking the Freedom Trail in Boston. They explore social change and the Vietnam War in the 1960s by acting out scenes from the musical Hair. "We bring history to life," says assistant principal Mark Solkoff, adding that families in Queens see the school as a good alternative to the city’s specialized high schools. “Parents feel very comfortable sending their kids here."
AAS was founded in 1996 with support from The Gilder Lehrman Institute, a foundation that seeks to bolster the study of American history in public schools by offering money for trips and other extras. Students take history classes all four years, reading and examining original source documents, art, letters, political cartoons and music lyrics from the period of study. They read memoirs and graphic novels, and watch films. “Textbooks give us the surface information, but our teachers dig deeper,” Solkoff says.
History-related field trips, spread over all four years, help facilitate this deeper digging. Students visit such places as Plymouth, Massachusetts, to study the Colonial period, and Washington D.C. and Gettysburg. Field trips go beyond history as well, with the journalism class, for instance, visiting the New York Times printing plant and sitting in on editorial meetings at People and Time magazines. The school hosts overseas trips to Germany, Amsterdam and Spain. In a partnership with the 92nd Street Y, small groups of students attend evening author talks at the Y for free, with door-to-door transportation and pizza dinner provided.
Upper-level students take theater as one of their required arts classes. “The theater program is really thriving,” says Solkoff. “[We have] playwriting, acting, a festival of one-act plays. Playwrights have written what their peers are performing.” One example: a play called Doin’ Time, set in jail.
AAS offers both French as a foreign language and American Sign Language. The school has a reputation for its work with visually impaired students, employing the services of a visiting vision teacher, Solkoff says.
William Bassel became principal in 2011 after many years as principal of Long Island City High School. He has expanded the number of Advanced Placement courses and is credited with bringing more structure to the school—no visible hats, cell phones or iPods.
On school surveys teens report that they feel safe and respected. Most teachers would recommend the school to other families. The school runs on three staggered schedules that begin as early as 7:05 a.m. Some classes are 79 minutes long. Classes end at noon on Wednesdays so students can participate in clubs and get extra help from teachers during office hours.
The school is in two buildings separated by a quiet residential street. A new building is planned for behind the larger north campus building currently shared with Newcomers High School. It is slated to be ready in September 2021.
Sports are campus-wide. As part of a national focus to keep kids safe, students do not go out for lunch, Solkoff says.
Students may earn college credits on-site in one of 10 college courses. Many clubs foster leadership and self-expression, including student government, debate, Eagles in the Afternoon (a radio team) and peer tutoring. Graduates attend CUNY and SUNY schools, as well as Syracuse University, Boston University and Penn State, among others.
(Lydie Raschka, interview and web reports, April 2018)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Not offered in 2019-20Physics
Advanced Foreign Language
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2021 High School DirectoryAcademic Humanities
Program Description:
Focus is on the humanities, literature, writing, and American history, and also offers a full range of math and science courses. All students take Senior Thesis, a college preparatory research and writing class as well.
Intensive Academic Humanities
Program Description:
Focus is on the humanities, literature, writing, and American history, and also offers a full range of math and science courses. All students take Senior Thesis, a college preparatory research and writing class as well.
Offerings
From the 2021 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
French, Spanish
Advanced Placement (AP) courses
AP English Language and Composition, AP European History, AP Calculus AB, AP Macroeconomics, AP United States History, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Calculus BC, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Human Geography
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Stunt
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
40-11 28th Street
Long Island City
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 is in its own building.
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