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Our Insights

What’s Special

Film and video

The Downside

Working on culture and tone

Motion Picture Technical High School is focused on film and television production and related media jobs. The school teaches the usual subjects like English and math, and also offers hands-on classes in filming, lighting, editing, and other technical skills used in movie and TV work. 

It sits in a part of Queens surrounded by real production hubs like Silvercup Studios and Kaufman Astoria Studios, and students have already taken a tour of Silvercup where they learned how lighting and grip gear works and handled equipment donated by the studio. 

In a recent NYC School Survey, many teachers say they would recommend the school to families. Students generally report feeling safe in the building. At the same time, student surveys show that some notice bullying more often than is typical citywide, making school culture an area the school is still working on as it grows.

Motion Picture is housed in the six-story Queens Innovation Center, a newly built facility, opened in fall 2025. It his shared with Gotham Tech High School (STEM and robotics); Northwell School of Health Science (health and medical pathways); and P993Q, a District 75 program serving students with significant learning needs. Each is designed to connect education with career pathways.

The Center includes science labs, art and music rooms, computer labs, a library, gym, dance studios, an auditorium, and outdoor play and instructional areas. It also has therapy and speech rooms, occupational and physical therapy spaces, and medical and guidance suites. Sports are campus-wide. (Lydie Raschka, official reports, February 2026)

 

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School Stats

Students

182
Number of students
Citywide Average is 608

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
75%
Students with disabilities
 
21%
Multilingual learners
 
5%
From the 2024-25 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
83%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
60%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
41%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
93%
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?
 
80%
0
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 119
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
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

Motion Picture Technical High School (N30A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Comprehensive CTE program in film and TV production aimed to build a more inclusive pipeline of historically underrepresented, college and career ready students interested in the below-the-line production jobs in the film and television industries.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Contact & Location

Location

53-16 Northern Blvd
Queens NY 11377

Buses: Q101, Q104, Q32, Q60, Q66


Contact

Principal: Kevin Lopez

Parent Coordinator: Mercedes Spanoudakis

Phone: 347-563-4353

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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