Our Insights
What’s Special
Strong academics with a novel approach to college prep
The Downside
Windowless classrooms
Manhattan/Hunter Science High School has become one of the most sought-after schools in the city, with strong teaching, demanding academics and an innovative approach to preparing students for college. Students are prepared not only for college-level academics, but also for the freedom and responsibility of college life. Students come from all five boroughs and represent the city’s racial and ethnic diversity. The majority qualify for free or reduced lunch.
“You have kids whose parents are doctors and lawyers and you have kids whose parents are new immigrants driving taxicabs,” said Hazel Branche, the school social worker.
Students spend their first three years in classes on the top floor the Martin Luther King (MLK) Educational Complex. Seniors spend their entire year of high school on the Hunter College campus on the Upper East Side, taking a mix of high school and college-level courses. This mix of high school and college courses serves as a transition year and increases the chances that students are successful once they begin college full-time. Each student will graduate with four college classes, most of which will transfer to any college. When the students graduate from high school, they may attend Hunter College full-time—for free.
While lots of New York City high schools offer students the chance to take college courses, what makes Manhattan/Hunter different is the level of support the students receive. Staff check in on them during the first period and at the end of the day. Mindfulness breathing sessions are also part of the daily schedule. Students practice time management, and learn how to ask for help.
Manhattan/Hunter shares the MLK Educational Complex with five other schools. The building is oddly constructed: corridors on the exterior of the building have windows with stunning views of the skyline, but the classrooms on the building interior have no windows. Still a sunny library on the ground floor, shared by all the schools in the building, is noteworthy for its large windows, and the corridors have a spiffy paint job.
The building has metal detectors, and teens must leave their cellphones in plastic pouches, which are collected by school staff and returned at the end of the day.
Class size is about 27, considerably smaller than typical New York City high schools. Students wear Manhattan/Hunter t-shirts and black trousers or skirts. The schools in the building share facilities such as the gym and campus-wide sports teams. (Boys and girls soccer teams are particularly strong.)
Many graduates (up to 40 percent) take advantage of free tuition at Hunter College, but the college counselor also encourages students to consider other colleges and universities. Graduates have been admitted to extremely selective schools such as the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
SPECIAL EDUCATION: Teachers accommodate students with special needs in a flexible way. For example, a student with autism may be allowed to listen to music with headphones to help with concentration. Other students receive one-on-one help writing their essays. The school offers ICT (integrated collaborative teaching) classes, with two teachers in a class, one of whom is certified in special education as well as the subject area, such as math or English. (Clara Hemphill, May 2018; updated via interview, 2024)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Not offered in 2021-21Physics
Advanced Foreign Language
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryManhattan/Hunter Science High School (M55A)
Requirements:
- Average Course Grades - 70%
- Essay - 30%
Program Description:
Early College program in which students complete college coursework at Hunter College prior to graduation. Students spend 12th grade on the Hunter campus. Strong accelerated academic programs, four years of rigorous math and science credit. Ability to earn additional college credits while at the high school. Visit https://www.mhshs.org for information about how to complete the essay.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP English Language and Composition, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Arts (College Course [Credited]), Biology (College Course [Credited]), Calculus (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Chemistry (College Course [Credited]), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages), World Languages (College Course [Credited])
Boys PSAL teams
Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL teams
Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Wrestling
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
122 Amsterdam Avenue
Manhattan
NY
10023
Trains: to 66th St-Lincoln Center; , to 72nd St; , , , to 59th St-Columbus Circle
Buses: BxM2, M10, M104, M11, M12, M20, M31, M5, M57, M66, M7, M72
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Campus with four other schools
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