Curtis High School
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| Curtis High School | |
| Curtis Cares | |
| Established | 1904 |
|---|---|
| School type | Public |
| Principal | Aurelia Curtis |
| Location | New York City, New York, United States of America |
| Students | approximately 2,617 |
| Faculty | 190 |
| Mascot | None/pending |
| Colors | Maroon and Grey |
| Website | http://curtishs.org |
Curtis High School is a high school located in Staten Island in New York City, New York, United States.
Curtis High School is a part of the New York City Department of Education. Curtis is one of seven of Staten Island's public high schools. The school was founded on February 9th, 1904. Admission to Curtis is prioritized by geography; Staten Island residents have priority over other boroughs.
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[edit] Enrollment
Curtis has a total enrollment of about 2,800 and is open to residents of New York City entering either ninth or tenth grade. Enrollment requirements vary depending on which of the 10 ‘’houses’’ the student is going to be enrolled. There are zoned programs where enrollment is based mostly on geography with Staten Island residents having priority over all other boroughs. Within Staten Island, geographical areas closer to the school have priority over all other areas of Staten Island. Most other programs rely either on the prospective student’s grades and city standardized tests or specialized enrollment tests. Regrettably, almost half of these students will not graduate at all, much less on time.
[edit] History
Curtis High School is named after nationally prominent writer and orator George W. Curtis, who lived nearby. The school was the first public building built following the consolidation of Greater New York. It was part of a plan to erect a major high school in each of the outlying boroughs – Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, Morris High School in the Bronx, and Flushing High School in Queens were the other three. It was designed by the architect C.B.J Snyder and built between 1902 and 1904. The original building of brick and limestone is dominated by a large square turreted tower inspired by English medieval models. Additions were made to the building in 1922, 1925 and 1937. Curtis was designated a New York City Landmark on October 12, 1982. The gym and cafeteria wings were added at a later date to the original building's neo-Gothic architecture.
[edit] Academics
IB Scholarship Honors program with accelerated curriculum and advanced placement (AP) courses; magnet programs in Nursing, Medical Technology, ROTC, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Sports Administration, Business/Computer Institute, CoOp, Human and Legal Studies, Journalism Institute and School for International Services.
Curtis High School is a comprehensive academic school, which consists of 10 small learning communities that we call houses. The strength and success of our school can be attributed in large part to these learning communities. Each house has unique electives that students take each term beginning in the Freshman year. All students pursue rigorous academic curricula that prepare them to be competitive in the college application process. Extracurricular activities and community service are significant assets in the total development of our students. Our success lies in a daily commitment by all of our members to fulfill our mission statement.
- Zoned
Academic comprehensive program
- Legal Studies & Law Enforcement
(Law & Government) Provides a basic understanding of law, and our role as citizens in the justice system. Students interact with speakers from the legal world, including district attorneys, judges and special legal services like the FBI.
- IB/Scholarship Honors Program
(Honors) This program offers an innovative and culturally enriched curriculum in the Arts and Sciences. All students are required to take a minimum of 4 advanced placement courses during high school.
- Journalism Institute
(Communications) Curricula includes: writing, layout, photography, print media, broadcast & internet journalism, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, In-Design.
- Naval Junior ROTC (Naval Science)NJROTC(Naval Junior Reserve Officers’
Training Corps Program). The curriculum includes seamanship, oceanography, meteorology, astronomy, navigation, radar, sonar and electronics and leadership.
- Computer Business Institute
(Information Technology) E-Commerce & Web Design or Co-Op Education. Courses lead to MOS certification in Word, EXCEL, PowerPoint & Access. Web design students take courses that lead to CISCO Web certification, Java & Dreamweaver. Selection Criteria for Applicants: English, Math, Science, Social Studies Student Grades: 90-100 Standardized Test Scores: Math Level(s) 3, 4 Reading Level(s) 3, 4 Performance on the IB/Scholarship entrance exam
- Practical Nursing/Nursing Assistant/Medical Technology
(Health Professions) The PN program, 1,514 hours of clinical and classroom studies, prepares students for NYS Certification as LPN. NA program prepares students to take the national performance and written exam for NYS Public Health Dept. as Nursing Assistants. MT prepares students for college level courses through laboratory experiences. Selection Criteria for Applicants: English Student Grades: 80-100 Standardized Test Scores: Math Level(s) 3, 4 Reading Level(s) 3, 4 Review of absences & punctuality
- Performing Arts
(Performing Arts) The program provides an opportunity for students to choose coursework in music, theater arts, or dance areas of concentration.
- School for International Services
(SIS) (Honors) The program will broaden the student’s awareness of global issues through various courses, lectures, field trips, foreign exchange opportunities, independent science research, foreign language studies and programs at various area colleges. Selection Criteria for Applicants: English, Math, Science, Social Studies Student Grades: 80-100 Standardized Test Scores: Math Level(s) 3, 4 Reading Level(s) 3, 4 Review of absences & punctuality
- Visual Arts
(Visual Art & Design) Students will have the opportunity to develop their creative and intellectual potential through sequence offerings that provide instruction ranging from the foundation level to portfolio development.
Curtis students undergo a college-preparation curriculum including four years of English, history, and a lab-based science, three years of math (though most student opt to take four years) and foreign language, and a semester each of introductory art, music, health, computer science, and a lab-based technology course.
Curtis offers students a broad selection of electives; some of the more unusual offerings include robotics, astronomy, and the mathematics of financial markets. Most students take calculus.
A variety of Advanced Placement courses offer students the chance to earn college credits; a few students earn enough to start college as a sophomore.
Curtis's foreign language offerings include the basics like French and Spanish as well as Japanese, and Italian.
[edit] Extracurricular activities
CHS has 26 varsity and junior varsity teams, a Robotics Team, National Honor Society, Chess Club, Black and Hispanic Awareness Clubs, Moot Court, The Curtis Players, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Dance, Symphonic Band, The Curtis Log (newspaper), the Crosswinds (yearbook), Math Team, Criminal Law and Justice Mentoring Program, Peer Mediation and Conflict Resolution Programs.
[edit] Sports
Curtis fields 26 varsity teams, including a swimming team, as well as golf, bowling, volleyball, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, fencing, baseball/softball, handball, tennis, track/cross country, lacrosse and football teams. In addition, Curtis club teams include boys' varsity and junior varsity, and girls' varsity Ultimate teams.
[edit] Student body
Curtis’ student body is as diverse as they come. 35.6% of the student body is Caucasian, 35.5% of the student body is African American, 26.6% of the student body is Hispanic, and about 2.3% of the student body consists of other ethnicities.
[edit] Feeder patterns and admissions
All New York City students entering high school must apply to schools, as there are no zoning boundaries for high schools in New York City. Only special zoned programs have geographical restrictions whereby certain areas of Staten Island have priority over all of the rest of New York City.
[edit] Parental support
Parents collaborate with the school's administration and its staff through: monthly PTA meetings, PTA newsletters, School Leadership Team meetings, Gear-Up, Principal's Consultative Council, Health Fair, HIV Aids Team, the Football, Track, Robotics & Performing Arts Parents Clubs.
[edit] Community support
Partnership with O'Melveny & Myers Law Firm, Liberty Partnership Mentoring Program (CSI), Gear-Up, Discovery Institute (CSI), Federal Reserve Bank Mentoring Program, Brooklyn Polytechnic University Center for Youth in Engineering and Science, Curtis HS Career Connections, St. Vincent's, Seaview and S.I. University Hospitals and Global Ambassadors. Corporate: Infinity Broadcasting, MIX 102.7 FM, O’Melveny & Myers Law Firm Higher Education Institution: College of Staten Island, St. John’s University Cultural/Arts Organization: Snug Harbor Community Based Organization: NYCID, Liberty Partnership Hospital Outreach: Staten Island University Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Egger Nursing Home Financial Institution: Federal Reserve Bank Mentoring Program
[edit] Schoolwide awards and recognition
- 3-time PSAL Football Championship (1998 and 1999 were led by George Hassell, Mike Goodman, Reynard Smith, Wesley Sanchez, Chris Brogna, Brandon Clarke, Nick Frayler, Bashkim Ardolic, Stephen Gregory, Warren Bright, John Lucchini, Troy Sogluizzo, Dennis Barrett, Jim Gunning, Jose Delgado, Juan Santos, Harold Boyd and Rasheed Parkinson).
- 7-time PSAL Girl’s Bowling
- Boys’ Bowling Championship
- Girl’s and Boy’s Golf City Championship
- Boy's Cross Country City Championships
[edit] External links
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Region 7 |
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|---|---|
| High schools | Curtis • Dewey • Lafayette • Murrow • Staten Island Technical • Susan E. Wagner |
| Middle schools | IS 49 |
