It is a dream of many young people to study in the USA in order to get a prestigious education and improve their English. That’s why many of them enroll in New York schools, which are recognized as the best in the US. In addition, it is a great opportunity to continue your study at local higher education institutions. We offer to learn more about secondary education in New York and the best schools in the city at newyork1.one.
Main features of studying in New York high school
New York is famous as the city with the largest secondary education system in the United States. It involves 1 million students and includes 1,700 schools, which are governed by the U.S. Department of Education.
All New York schools are divided into 2 types: public and private. Foreigners should pay tuition. As a rule, education in private schools is more expensive but more effective. Graduates of private schools are more likely to enter New York universities and other higher education institutions.
Although each state has its own school curriculum, the structure of secondary education remains the same throughout the USA and consists of
- Elementary School, where children at the age of 5-10 study basic subjects, namely: reading, writing, mathematics, music and drawing.
- Secondary school, where children at the age of 11-14 study compulsory subjects, such as mathematics, history, natural sciences and 2-3 optional subjects.
- High school, where children at the age of 15-18 independently choose the subjects they need to enter higher education institutions.
What are the advantages of the NY secondary schools?
- New York is one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world. It is home to many prestigious secondary schools. Each of them tries to distinguish itself by developing more comfortable learning conditions, modern educational programs and other advantages.
- The city hosts prominent professors, teachers and scientists from all over the country, so the local teaching staff is more professional.
- The atmosphere of an active and busy NY life, as well as a multinational environment, helps students to expand their horizons, decide on a future profession and make friends with children from different countries of the world.
- Secondary education in this city is recognized as one of the best in the USA.
Criteria worth paying attention to when choosing a school
- Location. Some schools are located in the city center, while others are located on the outskirts. Therefore, it is important to figure out the most convenient way of commuting (on foot, by car or by school bus).
- Cost. Tuition at various NY secondary schools is different. It’s cheaper to study at a small school and live with a host family while living in a large campus with a convenient location is more expensive.
- Admission requirements. All New York schools have different admission requirements. For example, some of them enroll children after the analysis of their documents, while others prefer only straight-A students and continue to support their study motivation at the same level.
- Opportunities for foreigners. Some secondary schools enroll exclusively American students, as not all New York educational institutions can admit a large number of foreigners.
- Specialization. NY secondary educational institutions have different specializations, providing an advanced study of certain subjects, such as foreign languages, exact sciences, art, sports, etc.
- Religion. All NY schools are divided into 2 types: Catholic and Baptist.
- Subjects. NY secondary educational institutions are independent in terms of curriculum approval, which gives them the right to choose compulsory subjects.
How to enroll in a New York School?
In order to get secondary education in New York, you need to apply a year before admission and then send a package of the following documents:
- Grades for the last 3 years of schooling
- Recommendations from the teacher of English, mathematics, physical education and the class teacher
- Student’s motivational letter
- Parents’ questionnaire about the child
- SSAT or TOEFL/IELTS English proficiency test results.
The best schools in New York
Lower East Side Preparatory High School
This school has created an ideal environment for the education of emigrant students. It offers a bilingual program to help foreign students adapt faster to study abroad. In addition, it has organized the most comfortable study conditions and motivates all students to strive for the best achievements. Students attend university-level courses, so most of them enter higher education institutions successfully. This school was recognized as one of the best in New York for 3 years in a row.
The Bronx High School of Science
Since 1938, this school has remained the most popular among secondary educational institutions in New York. It offers students a diverse curriculum and a large knowledge base in biology, physics, English, mathematics, computer science, art, health care and other subjects. Here, students have an opportunity for advanced learning of both the exact sciences and the humanities. An interesting fact is that it is one of the two schools in the world that has graduated 8 Nobel Prize winners and about 200 scientific workers. The presidents of Columbia University and the New York Public Library as well as the former US Secretary of Defense and other prominent people are graduates of this school too.
High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering
This school is much younger than others, but it quickly gained authority among the NY youth. Since 2002, its students can choose a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, social sciences, engineering, English and German languages, music, healthcare, etc. In the summer, students are offered the opportunity to attend courses in Germany.
The school also has an extended workday schedule with certain days dedicated to classes and 85-minute breaks. Owing to these peculiarities, the students of this educational institution can study subjects in a more concentrated and in-depth way than in ordinary schools. Only those students who received the highest grades in the entrance exam can be admitted to study here.
The Baccalaureate School for Global Education
It is one of the few schools in New York that provides educational services at an international level. Here, high school students are taking an international baccalaureate program, a special preparatory course for college entering. After its completion, graduates receive diplomas in the following fields of study: English language and literature, sociology, mathematics, art, etc. There is no need to pass exams and interviews to enter the senior classes of this school. You should only provide information about your academic achievements in the 7th grade.
Stuyvesant High School
Since 1904, only boys could study there, and since 1969 the school has been open to all students. Nowadays, about 43% of students are girls here. In addition to studying the main school subjects, children participate in extracurricular activities, for example, take part in theater competitions and create school publications. This school is recognized for being the sixth best in the world and has graduated 4 Nobel Prize winners as well as many other outstanding personalities in the fields of science, politics, music and art.
Townsend Harris High School
This school is ranked among the 100 best US schools. It is named after an American merchant and politician who was a supporter of free education and promoted its development in New York. Any 8th-grade student who has the minimum GPA of 93 can enroll in his school. At Townsend Harris High School, children study writing, reading, and foreign languages in-depth. In addition to the compulsory subjects, they can choose the art of photography, journalism, graphic design, computer science and other courses.