Curtis High School

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Curtis High School
Curtis High School
Address
105 Hamilton Ave.,
Staten Island
New York City, New York, 10301
United States
Coordinates 40°38′43″N 74°4′54″W / 40.64528°N 74.08167°W / 40.64528; -74.08167Coordinates: 40°38′43″N 74°4′54″W / 40.64528°N 74.08167°W / 40.64528; -74.08167
Information
Type Public
Established 1904
Principal Aurelia Curtis
Faculty 190
Number of students Approximately 2,600
Mascot Warriors
Newspaper Curtis Log
Yearbook Crosswinds
Colors Maroon and White         
Website curtishs.org
North side

Curtis High School, operated by the New York City Department of Education, is one of seven public high schools located in Staten Island, New York City, New York. It was founded on February 9, 1904, the first high school on Staten Island.

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, with Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, Morris High School in the Bronx, and Flushing High School in Queens being 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. The first principal was Oliver Durfee Clark 1904 to 1906(Columbia Graduate). The 2nd principal was Harry Freeman Towle (1906-1912) a graduate of Dartmouth. Additions were made to the building in 1922, 1925 and 1937. John M Avent (Columbia Graduate, author)was principal from 1924 to the late 1940s. Curtis was designated a New York City Landmark on October 12, 1982. The gym and cafeteria wings were added at a later date as additions to the original building's neo-Gothic architecture.

Academics

International Baccalaureate Scholarship Honors program with accelerated curriculum and Advanced Placement courses; Nursing, NJROTC, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Business/Computer Institute, CoOp, Human and Legal Studies, Journalism Institute and School for International Services.

Extracurricular activities

CHS has 30+ 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.

Sports

Curtis fields 30+ varsity teams, including a swimming team, as well as golf, bowling, volleyball, soccer, basketball, wrestling, fencing, baseball/softball, tennis, track/cross country, gymnastics, lacrosse and football teams. In addition, Curtis club teams include boys' varsity and junior varsity, and girls' varsity Ultimate teams.

Enrollment

Curtis has a total enrollment of about 2,830 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.

The school's population is 38% African American, 31% Hispanic, 22.9% White and 7.5% Asian.[1]

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.

Notable alumni

Candice Roman, slim, sexy and spirited blonde actress. Starred in The Big Bird Cage (1972).

  • Vincent Robert Capodanno, US Navy Chaplain, received the Medal of Honor. Blvd is named for him. Also the USS Capodanno FF-1093 was named for him in Honor for his service dying under fire in Vietnam.
  • Joseph F. Merrell Jr. (1926–1945) Posthumously Awarded United States Medal of Honor for combat in WWII. A Ferry is named for him.
  • Jeb Stuart Magruder, Watergate conspirator in the Nixon Administration
  • Ralph J. Lamberti Staten Island Borough President
  • Alfred E. Santangelo United States Congressman
  • Loring McMillen Official Staten Historian, one of the founders of the Richmontown Museum.
  • Rear Admiral Wayne Justice- class of 1973

Arts and Music Alumni

Sports Alumni

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.

Community support

Partnerships:

  • Liberty Partnership Mentoring Program (CSI)
  • Gear-Up
  • Discovery Institute (CSI)
  • Brooklyn Polytechnic University Center for Youth in Engineering and Science
  • Curtis HS Career Connections
  • Global Ambassadors
  • Corporations:
    • Infinity Broadcasting
    • MIX 102.7 FM
    • O’Melveny & Myers Law Firm
  • Higher education institutions:
  • Cultural/arts organizations:
    • Snug Harbor
  • Community-based organizations:
    • NYCID
    • Liberty Partnership
    • Foward P.A.S.S
  • Hospital outreach:
  • Financial institutions:

Schoolwide awards and recognition

  • 7-time PSAL Girl’s Bowling Championship
  • 13-time PSAL Boy's Cross Country City Championship 1928 1929 1930 (also won nationals) 1931 1933 1935 1938
  • 5-time PSAL Boy's Football Championship (1998, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2009)
  • 3-time PSAL Boy’s Golf City Championship (1st one in 1932)
  • 2-time PSAL Girl's Cross Country City Championship
  • 3 time Boys PSAL Indoor Track City Championships, (1st one in 1909 with help of Olympic Silver medal winner Kiviat),1928
  • Boys PSAL Bowling Championship
  • Girls PSAL Basketball "A" City Championship 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Girls PSAL Golf City Championship
  • Girls PSAL Lacrosse City Championship
  • Boys PSAL Basketball "A" City Championship
  • Boys PSAL Wrestling "A" City Championship
  • Girls PSAL Wrestling Championship 2013
  • Boys PSAL Soccer Championship 1915, 1917
  • Boys PSAL Baseball Championship 1943 (1st time), 1961, 1962
  • Boys PSAL Tennis Singles Championship 1917

References

  1. ↑ "Curtis High School". SchoolDigger. 2011. 
  2. ↑ Margalit Fox (October 4, 2012). "Michael Henry Heim, literary translator, dies at 69". New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2012. 

External links

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