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Our Insights

What’s Special

Wide array of programs, classes, sports and activities

The Downside

Too much chalk and talk

Curtis High School on Staten Island’s North Shore is a relative rarity in New York City today – a large, diverse high school offering a mix of academic and career programs. Its size enables it to offer three foreign languages, many Advanced Placement classes, a variety of arts classes with seven full-time arts teachers, and more than thirty varsity sports teams.

Curtis is broken into nine small learning communities called houses – “many houses, one home” as a student says in a school video. These include houses focused on the academically demanding International Baccalaureate curriculum, Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and various college preparatory programs, including legal studies and journalism. Some of the houses, such as visual and performing arts and the Computer Business Institute, also offer a career training component. Students in the nursing house graduate high school ready to take the New York State Boards for Licensed Practical Nurse and Nurses Assistant certification exams.

Most teachers look forward to work and recommend the school to parents, according to school surveys. An educator who visited the school for its Quality Review praised Curtis for its embrace of technology, for setting high expectations for students and for communication with parents. 

However, some teachers rely too heavily on question-and-answer sessions and don't do enough to adjust classwork to individual student needs, the reviewer said. Too many classes have desks in rows, impeding class discussions. 

Curtis — the borough's first high school — opened in 1904 and the building was landmarked in 1982. Overcrowding was a persistent concern but a new wing including eleven classrooms, a gymnasium, and a multimedia room opened in 2017, easing the problem. 

Special education: Curtis offers a range of special education services. With about two-thirds of its student with disabilities spending the bulk of their day in team-teaching classes with two teachers and a mix of special and general education students. There are also self-contained classes. Less than half of students with disabilities graduate in four years.

Admissions: Any resident residing within Curtis’ zone on Staten Island’s North Shore is admitted. Once admitted students can then select from houses with available slots. Students who want admission to a specific program must apply to that program. Students from outside the zone must apply program by program. While all are open to any New York City student, some give priority to Staten Islanders, with few, if any, openings available to children from other boroughs, Admissions criteria and availability vary. There are some openings for incoming 10th graders. (Gail Robinson, school website and DOE material, October 2018)

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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?
 
83%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
70%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
47%
Average daily attendance
 
86%
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?
 
82%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
81%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

2276
Number of students
Citywide Average is 615

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
79%
Students with disabilities
 
20%
Multilingual learners
 
9%
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?
 
77%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
61%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
41%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
89%
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?
 
89%
8.1
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
205
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?
 
87%
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

 
3%

Computer Science

 
6%

Physics

 
8%

Advanced Foreign Language

 
21%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
56%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
26%

Music

 
24%
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?
 
57%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
65%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
54%
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?
 
37%
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?
 
74%
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

Software Engineering Institute (R19A)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

The SEI's rigorous, four-year sequence equips students with computer technology skills that lead to success in the 21st century workplace. The program introduces students to computer science, programming, web design and engineering. The sequence includes HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Python, JavaScript and SNAP. This program is excellent preparation for students interested in a computer science college major and the opportunity to get advanced college placement by taking an AP Computer Science class.

Human and Legal Studies/Law Enforcement Academy (R19B)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

This program offers students the opportunity to gain a basic understanding of law as the foundation of human society and our role as citizens in the justice system. In addition to standard academic curricula, students interact with representatives from the legal community, including district attorneys, judges, and special law enforcement agencies such as the FBI.

International Baccalaureate/Scholarship Honors Program (R19C)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

The IB Diploma Program offers students a unique, rigorous curriculum in Humanities and STEM-related fields authorized by the IB Organization. All students are expected to achieve an Advanced Regents Diploma and will also take numerous AP courses in addition to their seven required IB courses.

Media Studies at the Journalism Institute (R19D)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

This program offers students opportunities to explore the following: writing, layout design, photography and documentary film. Students become multi-platform producers and explore how to use social media to tell their stories and represent their generation. Students become citizen journalists and learn how their voices can impact the ever-changing media environment.

Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R19E)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

The Naval JROTC program is a leadership and citizenship training program co-sponsored by the Department of Education and the United States Navy. The curriculum is divided into three areas: academic, military skills, and physical fitness, with a strong emphasis on civics and character development.

Practical Nursing/ Nursing Assistant (R19F)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

This program offers two State-approved CTE health career programs. The Practical Nursing program includes 798 clinical hours in addition to the curriculum. These students are then eligible to take the NCLEX State Board examination for Licensed Practical Nurse. The Nursing Assistant program includes 108 clinical hours along with a curriculum that allows students to take the NYS certification exam to be certified as a Nursing Assistant.

Performing Arts (R19G)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

The Performing Arts program offers students the opportunity to study dance, theater, or music through a variety of classes that are enriched by after-school performances and partnerships with Roundabout Theater, Battery Dance Company, Theatre for New Audiences, and The College of Staten Island. Course offerings include: IB Dance, Modern Dance, Ballet, Composition, Theater I, IB Theater, Chorus, Piano, Guitar, Orchestra, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band.

IB Career-related / Scholarship Honors Program (R19H)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

The IBCP program offers students challenging college-prep classes such as IB, AP and CTE classes. Curtis High School International Baccalaureate Career-related Program is certified by the IB World Organization. We currently offer career pathways in Journalism, The Arts, Law and STEM. This program is also part of the CHS World Student Exchange with the Netherlands, Italy, France, and/or Spain.

Visual Arts (R19J)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

This program offers students the opportunity to study fine arts or graphic design through a variety of classes that are enriched by after-school programs and a design partnership with Roundabout Theater. Course offerings include: Drawing, Painting, AP Art History, IB Art, and/or CTE Graphic Design using Adobe Creative Suite.

Curtis High School D75 Inclusion Program (R19U)

Admissions Method: D75 Special Education Inclusive Services

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

French, Italian, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), IB Biology HL, IB Biology SL, IB Dance HL, IB Economics SL, IB English HL, IB History SL, IB Italian SL, IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL, IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretation SL, IB Physics SL, IB Psychology HL, IB Spanish SL, IB Theater HL, IB Theater SL, IB Theory of Knowledge, IB Visual Arts HL, Other (College Course [Credited]), Other (International Baccalaureate), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages), World Languages (International Baccalaureate)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Rugby, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling

Coed PSAL teams

Double Dutch, Golf

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

105 Hamilton Avenue
Staten Island NY 10301

Buses: S40, S42, S44, S46, S48, S51, S52, S61, S62, S66, S74, S76, S78, S81, S84, S86, S90, S91, S92, S94, S96, S98


Contact

Principal: Gregory Jaenicke

Parent Coordinator: Samantha Soto

Phone: 718-390-1800

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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