Hunter College and New York City Department of Education Officially Open Brand New Small, Collaborative Science Public High School

NYC Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein and Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab Join Other NYC Officials and High School Students at Celebration

Date: September 24, 2003
Contact: Deborah Sack deborah.sack@hunter.cuny.edu
Phone: (212) 772-4070

Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein and Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab celebrated the opening of the new Manhattan/Hunter Science High School today, a collaborative effort of Hunter College and the New York City Department of Education. The new, science-focused "early college" high school is funded in part by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, City Council Education Committee Chair Eva Moskowitz and local representative councilwoman Gale Brewer also joined high school students at the ceremony that took place in one of the school’s science laboratories.

"We are excited to celebrate the opening of this innovative new high school, a school that is academically demanding and that focuses heavily on the study of science," said Chancellor Klein. "We need these kinds of specialized schools to make sure our students are prepared for the opportunities and demands of the economy of the 21st Century. Our partnership with Hunter College shows what we can accomplish when we work together to do what’s right and necessary for our City."

"We are proud to offer New York City students a college preparatory high school that brings Hunter’s expertise to secondary education," President Raab said. "It is the responsibility of public colleges to make sure we help prepare high school students to do college work. This collaborative effort provides a great avenue for bringing well-prepared students into Hunter’s science and mathematics programs."

The Manhattan/Hunter Science High School, located at the Martin Luther King Jr. Campus, 122 Amsterdam Avenue, between West 65th and 66th Streets, opened its doors for the very first time on September 8th to 93 ninth grade students. The school is focused on preparing students for college who are especially interested in science. They will benefit from Hunter College’s expertise in the sciences, education, social work and other fields, which are being integrated into all aspects of the high school. From helping to train the faculty how to teach science, to developing after-school programs with workshops in German and dance, Hunter is an integral part of the school. Additionally, the college has an office in the high school that helps give students a head start on preparing for college.

The school uses an integrated curriculum where subjects are taught jointly instead of in individual classes. For example, each day the new ninth grade students have a double period of science where they study biology and chemistry together. They have an integrated English and humanities curriculum as well, which allows them to view several different aspects of literature and history simultaneously. Students also participate in a research skills class where they learn how to conduct research and apply logical methods in order to get answers to their questions. The curriculum also boasts an advisory program, which will cover topics such as health, study skills and nutrition throughout the year.

The high school received a $400,000 grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This is part of the Gates Foundation’s effort announced last year to sponsor early college high schools nationwide. The grant is administered through the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.

Diane Pillersdorf, Principal of Manhattan/Hunter Science High School, recently served New York City as the director of math and science in the Queens High Schools Office and developed curriculum in chemistry, math and other science classes. She has a bachelor’s degree in science education from Queens College and a master’s degree in science education from Wagner College.

Admission to the school is based on attendance records, interest in science, and a recommendation letter from a junior high school teacher or guidance counselor. For the next three years, the high school’s administration will admit an entering class of about 100 students until there are four classes, grade levels 9 through 12.

About Hunter
With a highly diverse student population of more than 20,000, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system and the first choice among all CUNY applicants. Founded in 1870, the College offers more than 170 undergraduate and graduate programs. Hunter is noted for its professional schools in education, health sciences, nursing and social work, as well as its excellence in the liberal arts. Heralded as the "Crown Jewel of CUNY" by The Princeton Review, Hunter College has a distinguished reputation for nurturing talented minority scientists and meeting the challenge of providing high-quality science education in the 21st century. The College also oversees the Hunter College Campus Schools serving gifted and talented students, preschool through grade 12. For more information about Hunter College, please visit our Web site at http://www.hunter.cuny.edu.

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