A Message from InsideSchools: The data below is the most up-to-date data available from City and State systems. We are working hard to update the narratives for all schools. We welcome your insights in the Comments section. Questions? Ask us!

Our Insights

What’s Special

Programs in engineering, health science and law; instruction for hearing impaired

The Downside

Graduation rate needs to improve

At Martin Van Buren High School students can enroll in themed programs including engineering, health and law and take college-level courses offered both on-site and at CUNY colleges. There's a nice range of options to keep kids engaged, including arts and music classes, sports teams, clubs and activities such as the robotics team.

Once a giant neighborhood school with a population topping 3,000, Martin Van Buren had gone through some tough years with dwindling enrollment and below-average graduation rates. In recent years, the infusion of extra resources and expanded partnerships with organizations is helping Martin Van Buren rebound. New York State has deemed the school in good standing and graduation and college readiness rates have increased steadily, though they still have a ways to go.

Sam Sochet has been the school’s principal since 2012. A former science teacher at Cardozo High School and assistant principal at Thomas A. Edison High School, Sochet has bolstered learning opportunities such as internships at Rockefeller University and Cornell Medical School and business courses through the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.  

In the health science program, students get hands-on exposure to the medical field through internships with Long Island Jewish Medical Center as well as guidance for college and careers. Students are encouraged to take courses that will help them pursue degrees in their chosen field. For instance, students are encouraged to take Advanced Placement biology, because college-level biology is required for pre-med or nursing studies.

Students in the law program take classes such as criminal law, civil law and forensics. Some take more advanced classes at John Jay College.

Engineering students can either pursue a sequence of classes in computer programming and robotics or one that is more design-focused with courses such as computer animation and web design.

A patient care technology program run by Queens College trains students in the kinds of skills—such as drawing blood and conducting EKGs—that will help them secure jobs with better wages than a nursing aide. Students who complete the program, which requires a substantial commitment of time after school, are prepared to take state certification exams upon graduation.

Regardless of the program they’re admitted to, all freshmen take a research class to bolster their skills. They are also assigned to a small learning community that has a dedicated staff of teachers and counselors who get to know their group of 9th-graders well. A program run by My Brother’s Keeper pairs 9th and 10th grade boys with older students who serve as mentors. 

In addition to Advanced Placement courses, students may earn college credits by taking classes at Queensborough Community and York Colleges, as well as classes at Martin Van Buren that are certified by Syracuse University.

Spanish is the only foreign language taught.

Extracurricular activities include sports teams, and an array of clubs. There are also competitive academic teams such as math, mock trial, moot court, debate and robotics. Art and music offerings—either as classes or after-school activities—include piano, band, chorus, cartooning, fashion, graphic design and fine arts.

Van Buren shares its large building with Business Technology Early College High School. The two schools share use of common spaces including the gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium and library. Each school has its own entrance to the building.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are self-contained and ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes, SETSS, a program for hearing-impaired students and dedicated English classes for ELLs (English language learners). (Laura Zingmond, web reports, November 2018)

 

Get more from InsideSchools

School Stats

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
85%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
83%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
63%
Average daily attendance
 
90%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
29%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
94%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
94%
From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide and 2024-25 NYC School Survey

Students

1140
Number of students
Citywide Average is 608

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
75%
Students with disabilities
 
15%
Multilingual learners
 
16%
From the 2024-25 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
1%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
74%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
53%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
42%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
64%
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey and 2023-24 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
64%
2.9
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 8
188
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 119

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
90%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey, 2023-24 School Quality Guide, 2022-23 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2025 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

College and Career Readiness

School
Citywide
How well are students prepared for college and careers after four years at this school? What is a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Score?
 
45
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
62%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
56%
From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Academy of Communication, Media, & the Arts (Q38C)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

Program for scholars interested in pursuing a career through media literacy and the arts. Students develop 21st century media skills through Print, Video, Podcasting, and Photography. Students participate on our schools award-winning Newspaper and Debate teams. Art students have had art exhibited in major museums; students perform through partnership with Lincoln Center. Media Arts students can receive AP Capstone Diploma.

STEM Institute for Bio Medical Research (Q38K)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

Sciences prepare for a career in Sciences via real-world experiences out of the classroom. Students can travel to locations like the Catalina Islands and Acadia National Park to work alongside scientists to conduct hands-on research. In our state-of-the-art DNA/Biotechnology Lab, students use technology and equipment to further research skills. Classes include AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, and STEM Research.

STEM Institue for Engineering and Robotics (Q38L)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

With a focus on innovation and creativity, students prepare for a career in engineering and robotics by designing and building robots to compete in the First Robotics Competition. Students work in a state-of-the-art Robotics room, complete with 3D printers and CAD software to design solutions to problems. Students have the opportunity to design, build, and fly drones through our partnership with Vaughn College.

Institute for Law and Humanities (Q38M)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

This program is dedicated to developing knowledge and experience in the legal fields through a partnership with the Justice Resource Center. Students spend three years studying civil, criminal, and constitutional law, AP Global, AP US History, Syracuse University Public Affairs & Personal Finance, and CUNY John Jay Criminology. Students take part in our award-winning experiential programs like Moot Court, Mock Trial, High School Law Institute, and Debate Team all in our new in-house courtroom. Partnerships include: Columbia University Law; NYU Law, CUNY John Jay, the Queens District Attorney's Office, and Winston & Strawn LLC.

Zoned (Q38Z)

Admissions Method: Zoned Priority

Program Description:

Zoned students will have opportunities to choose from our three-year institutes-Health Science Research; Engineering and Robotics; and Law and Humanities.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), Algebra II (College Course [Uncredited]), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Statistics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Biology (College Course [Credited]), Biology (College Course [Uncredited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Chemistry (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (College Course [Uncredited]), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Uncredited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Uncredited]), Global History (College Course [Uncredited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Uncredited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Cricket

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

230-17 Hillside Avenue
Queens NY 11427

Buses: Q1, Q27, Q43, Q46, Q88, QM36, QM6, X68


Contact

Principal: Deborah Nettleford

Parent Coordinator: Russell Chew

Phone: 718-776-4728

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with Business Technology Early College HS (B-Tech)

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

Was this information helpful?

Get more from InsideSchools

You may also like …

Business Technology Early College High School (BTECH)

230-17 Hillside Avenue
Queens, NY 11427

Comments

  • Is this your school? Please post any news, updates, events, changes, or other information!
  • We welcome questions, open discussions, and disagreements but comments with personal attacks, rude language, or those with seemingly malicious intent will be deleted.
  • Very long comments, those that contain links, or repeat comments may be blocked by our spam filter.
  • Problems? email us at contact@insideschools.org.
  • Users must comply with our Terms of Use.

Questions? Ask us
×