![Best STEM High Schools in New York [Review 2024]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2F7i1ps9pf%2Fproduction%2F67bd042794a0ff221e82a66e4fa4929e6126c302-6000x4000.jpg&w=3840&q=75 "Best STEM High Schools in New York [Review 2024]")
Best STEM High Schools in New York [Review 2024]
For those thinking about a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, a STEM-focused school can set them on the path to success in higher education and a career.
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash
Choosing the right high school can be a stressful decision for middle school students (and their parents!). As the most diverse school system in the country, however, New York City also offers the most choices to students. For those thinking about a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, a STEM-focused school can set them on the path to success in higher education and a career.
What is a STEM high school?
A STEM high school in New York is a public school that has chosen to offer a more robust set of math and science courses compared to its interdisciplinary counterparts. STEM high schools do not offer just math and science courses, however; they offer well-rounded curriculums that are in line with the regents requirements for graduation. There are several private schools that have strong STEM programs but the STEM designation is tied to public high schools in New York. This means that all of the schools listed below have no tuition fees for accepted students.
Best STEM High Schools in Manhattan
High School Math Science and Engineering at The City College of New York (CCNY)
By Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA
Location: 240 Convent Avenue, New York, NY
Website: https://www.hsmse.org/
Admissions: Requires the SHSAT. Students must typically score 89% or higher on the exam to earn a spot at the school.
The High School for Math, Science and Engineering (HSMSE) is one of eight highly selective specialized high schools established and run by the New York City Department of Education to serve the needs of academically gifted students. It was established in 2002 and has received recognition from The New York Times as one of the most diverse schools in New York. The school has partnerships with Mount Sinai Medical School and CCNYâs Grove School of Engineering, and is located in Baskerville Hall on the campus of City College of New York (CCNY).
Stuyvesant High School
By PointsofNoReturn - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
Location: 345 Chambers Street, New York, NY
Website: https://stuy.enschool.org/
Admissions: Requires the SSHAT. Students must typically score 91% or higher on the exam to earn a spot at the school.
Stuyvesant High School is one of eight highly selective specialized high schools run by the New York City Department of Education to serve the needs of academically gifted students, though the school has a long history of academic excellence. It was founded in 1904 as an all-boys training school and became co-ed in 1969. It has a long history of serving the immigrant population of New York and remains one of the most diverse schools in NYC. The school offers a wide range of electives in addition to an impressive STEM curriculum.
New Explorations in Science, Technology & Math School (NEST+M)
Location: 111 Columbia St, New York, NY 10002
Website: https://nestmk12.net/
Admissions: The school uses a screened admissions process and requires an essay which accounts for 50% of the admission decision. It also prioritizes diversity, offering 66% of its seats to students on free or reduced lunch.
NEST+M is a New York City Department of Education citywide school for Gifted & Talented students in grades 5K - 12. The school prioritizes college preparatory education and a community focus, requiring students to complete 60 hours of community service in the upper school (grades 9 - 12). They provide a wide array of AP and college-level courses including a partnership with Hunter College called College Now. The school boasts an impressive 100% graduation rate with all of its graduating seniors going on to higher education.
Manhattan Hunter Science School
Location: 122 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023
Website: https://www.mhshs.org/
Admissions: The school uses a screened admissions process and requires an essay, which accounts for 30% of the admission decision. It is open to students in all five boroughs.
MHSS is an early college high school that partners with Hunter College. The school has a 98% graduation rate with 92% of students going on to four year colleges. In addition to its strong Math and Science curriculum, the school offers extensive AP and college-level courses across disciplines. MHSS has an excellent student to teacher ratio of 18:1 and places an emphasis on support for its studentsâ success.
By Cravt122 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Columbia Secondary School
Location: 425 W 123rd St, New York, NY 10027
Website: https://www.columbiasecondary.org/
Admissions: The school uses a screened admissions process for middle and high school. Priority is given to students who attended the school for 8th grade, but is otherwise open to students from all five boroughs. Middle school admissions prioritizes students who attend school and/or live in districts 6, 5, 4 and 3 above 96th street in Manhattan.
Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, and Engineering serves students in grades 6-12 seeking a demanding STEM curriculum. The school seeks to educate students on both practical and theoretical levels, exploring how other disciplines such as philosophy and art intersect with application. CSS wants students to understand not just the value of technology, but also the dangers of overreliance on science and technology, and encourages critical thinking.
By Jim.henderson at en.wikipedia
Manhattan Center of Science and Mathematics
Location: 260 Pleasant Ave, New York, NY 10029
Website: https://www.mcsm.net/
Admissions: The school uses a screened admissions process and is open to all NYC students.
MCSM is a four year high school providing rigorous coursework in math and science. The school has dedicated inclusion and ELL programs that students can apply to, in addition to its general program. More than 50% of students in the school take AP courses, and there is a focus on college readiness.
Best STEM High Schools in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Technical High School
By Jim.henderson - Own work, CC0
Location: 29 Fort Greene Place, Brooklyn, NY
Website: https://www.bths.edu/
Admissions: Requires the SSHAT. Students must typically score 86% or higher on the exam to earn a spot at the school.
Brooklyn Technical High School is one of eight highly selective specialized high schools established and run by the New York City Department of Education to serve the needs of academically gifted students. Like many of its specialized peers, Brooklyn Technical has a long history of education in technical fields, first opening its doors in 1922. The school offers an impressive âMajorsâ program which allows students to select a specialization and take a set of selective courses during their junior and senior years.
Midwood High School at Brooklyn College
By Alex Chung - Own work
Location: 839 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Website: https://www.midwoodhighschool.org/
Admissions: There are no special requirements for admission to Midwood. General enrollment information on NYC Public Schools can be found here.
Midwood High School is a comprehensive high school located in the center of Brooklyn. They provide rigorous college preparatory instruction and offer a Medical Science Program requiring 5 years of math and science as well as opportunities in science research.The school is located on the Brooklyn College campus and has three main programs, Medical Science, Humanities, and Liberal Arts, all of which are academically challenging. They enroll roughly 4000 students and have extensive extracurricular and afterschool programming.
Benjamin Banneker Academy
By Jim.henderson - Own work
Location: 77 Clinton Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Website: https://benjaminbanneker.nyc/
Admissions: There are no special requirements for admission.
Benjamin Banneker Academy is a college-preparatory high school focused on rigorous critical thinking-based education. They offer 22 Advanced Placement courses and over 26 Dual Credit College Level Courses (students receive both college and high school credit). They have seen rapid gains in college readiness among their student body in recent years and have established partnerships with many local universities.
By JessChu30 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences
Location: 1830 Shore Blvd. Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY 11235
Website: https://www.lmghs.org/
Admissions: LMGHS is a screened-admissions public high school, meaning students must have a strong 7th grade academic record in their final core-course grades (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) to earn acceptance into the school.
The Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences (formerly Kingsborough High School for the Sciences at Kingsborough Community College, CUNY), is a college-preparatory high school that places a strong emphasis on technology. It enrolls approximately 250 students and offers both AP and college level courses through CUNY. LMGHS is also known for its strong arts program, with specially dedicated classrooms/studios designed for the Chorus, Drama, Painting, Ceramics, Photography, Piano, and Jazz Band/Orchestra students.
By King of Hearts - Own work
The New York Harbor School
Location: 550 Short Ave, New York, NY 10004
Website: https://www.newyorkharborschool.org/
Admissions: The school uses a random selection process with 69% of seats reserved for applicants eligible for free or reduced price lunch, and the remaining 31% open to any student.
The New York Harbor School is a unique STEM school due to its location on Governors Island. Because of its proximity to the water, all of the schoolâs curriculum is aquatic related. Students choose from Aquaculture, Marine Biology Research, Ocean Engineering, Marine Systems Technology, Marine Policy & Environmental Advocacy, Professional Diving, or Vessel Operations as their area of focus.
Best STEM High Schools in Bronx
The Bronx High School of Science (Bronx Science)
By Bxsstudent - Own work, Public Domain
Location: 75 Bronx Science Blvd, Bronx, NY
Website: https://bxscience.edu/
Admissions: Requires the SSHAT. Students must typically score 88% or higher on the exam to earn a spot at the school.
Bronx Science is one of eight highly selective specialized high schools established and run by the New York City Department of Education to serve the needs of academically gifted students. Founded in 1938, the school boasts nine Nobel prize winners among its alumni. The school is one of the most well known NYC high schools and prioritizes an impressive STEM curriculum while also providing an expertly staffed humanities program.
Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics
Location: 1363 Fulton Ave, Bronx, NY 10456
Website: https://www.bronxcenter.nyc/
Admissions: There are no special requirements for admission.
The Bronx Center for Science & Mathematics is committed to providing a superior educational experience to public school children. BCSMâs academic success is built on a foundation of core virtues which prepare students for global citizenship and guide the schoolâs culture. Their curriculum is based around four career-focused ideals: activism, arts, business, and STEM. They offer a wide range of STEM based afterschool programs.
Bard High School Early College Bronx
Location: 1619 Boston Rd, Bronx, NY 10460
Website: https://bhsec.bard.edu/bronx/
Admissions: Bard High School Early College is a public, non-specialized, and screened high school/early college. Bard posts its typical applicant profile here.
Bard Early College Bronx was a brand new school for the 2023-24 school year. It partners with Montefiore Einstein to provide students with specialized, career-connected opportunities in the biomedical sciences through Albert Einstein College of Medicine, as well as educational opportunities building on Montefiore Einsteinâs career development initiatives. Like other Bard campuses, students receive rigorous college-level course work, graduating with 60 transferable credits and a Bard College Associatesâ of Arts degree.
Best STEM High Schools in Queens
Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
Location: 94-50 159th Street, Jamaica, NY
Website: https://qhss.org/
Admissions: Requires the SSHAT. Students must typically score 88% or higher on the exam to earn a spot at the school.
Queens High School for the Sciences at York College (QHSSYC) is one of eight highly selective specialized high schools established and run by the New York City Department of Education to serve the needs of academically gifted students. They have a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with focus on math and science. It has a smaller student population (about 400 students), and collaborates with York College/City University of New York (CUNY). They have a very diverse student body.
By Seven Train - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Francis Lewis High School
Location: 58-20 Utopia Pkwy, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
Website: https://www.francislewishs.org/
Admissions: FLHS is a selective public high school and one of the most applied to in New York City.
Francis Lewis High School is a highly sought after school with a strong offering of AP and Honors-level courses. Its students frequently go on to Ivy League colleges and it is best known for its specialized academic programs. These include several STEM offerings: computer science, engineering, forensic science, robotics and engineering, and the math and science research program.
Townsend Harris High School
By Jellybean100 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27370755
Location: 149-11 Melbourne Ave., Flushing, Ny
Website: https://www.thhs.qc.edu/
Admissions: The school uses a screened admissions process. The current yearâs requirements can be found here.
Townsend Harris provides a rigorous curriculum with an emphasis on the humanities and classics, bolstered by mathematics, science, and the integration of current technology. It encourages students to strive for excellence, to make sensible decisions, and to develop an enduring commitment to serving the community. They boast one of the best Science departments in the city and have a strong record in preparing students to succeed on their Advanced Placement tests.
Public Domain
Forest Hills High School
Location: 67-01 110th St, Queens, NY 11375
Website: https://www.foresthillshs.org/
Admissions: This school uses both zoned and screened admissions for many of its programs, meaning only students living in Queens can apply and only the highest achieving applicants are accepted. Further information can be found here.
Forest Hills is in the top 5% of New York high schools and offers highly competitive programs for students in Queens, including the Carl Sagan STEM Honors Academy. The school offers extensive AP coursework and boasts a 93% graduation rate. The majority of its students go on to earn a four-year degree or higher.
By New York City Department of Education - Public Domain
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School
Location: 57-00 223rd St, Queens, NY 11364
Website: https://www.cardozohigh.com/
Admissions: This school uses both zoned and screened admissions for many of its programs, meaning only students living in Queens can apply and only the highest achieving applicants are accepted. Further information can be found here.
Benjamin N. Cardozo high school offers competitive academic programming, including over 19 AP classes. Its DaVinci Sciences programs, offered for Engineering and Math Biomedical, are among the best STEM programs available. The school also boasts 32 athletic teams and 45+ clubs.
By Aviationctehs - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Aviation High School
Location: 45-30 36 Street, Queens, NY, 11101
Website: https://www.aviationhs.net/
Admissions: The school uses a screened admissions process but it is open to all NYC students.
Aviation High School is a specialty STEM high school focusing on aviation (as its name suggests). The school is highly competitive and offers rigorous engineering coursework. Students choose between two programs, Aerospace Engineering Technology and Aviation Maintenance Engineering Technology. The unique curriculum allows students to earn Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification as Aircraft Maintenance Technicians.
How to choose the best STEM high school?
- Look at the number and quality of STEM AP classes. The variety of the coursework is important but so is how well students are prepared/typically perform on the AP exams. Check how easily students are able to access them: are certain classes offered infrequently or only offered to a small number of students? You want to ensure your student has access to not only a wide range of classes but that they strongly prepare them for success.
- Look at the quality of their lab space. The small footprint of most NYC high schools means many schools have small or inadequate labs. Take a look at what is offered in the lab space and do your best to attend open houses or school tours to allow you and your student to see what's available.
- Look at the number and type of clubs offered. The extracurricular activities are one of the most advantageous parts of attending a STEM school. Ensure that what is offered is both of interest and high quality. Most schools should list out their afterschool programs on their website, but you can also call the office for detailed information.
- Look at the tenure of the teachers. How long teachers stay at a school can tell you a lot about the environment. Do teachers tend to remain at the school, or is there a lot of turnover? Are all their positions filled, or do they have a glaring hole in a particular subject area? Make sure their STEM program is robust and staffed. An excellent Physics program is great, but it wonât make up for a weak Chemistry department.
- Look at their connections. Does the school have connections with hospitals or labs that offer educational experiences to students? Are they connected to a college or university that will provide additional elective opportunities? These connections are of particular importance for students interested in pursuing a career in medicine as the partnerships can give them a strong leg up when itâs time to apply for Medical School.
How to get into STEM high school?
To ensure you get into your top choice for a STEM high school, students should:
- Achieve and maintain strong academic performance in middle school math and science classes. Since admission takes place before eighth grade is completed, grades in 6th and 7th grade matter most. If a student is struggling in a specific STEM class, consider a tutoring program or getting extra help from the school.
- Participate in STEM-related activities and clubs that are offered at your middle school. This will not only prepare you to participate in similar activities in high school, t will expose you to ideas and concepts that the middle school curriculum might not.
- Do your research and apply to the schools that most meet your needs and interests. The list above is just a small fraction of the strong STEM schools available in NYC. Take the time to find which ones work best for you. Which ones offer the classes and activities youâre most interested in? If youâre interested in STEM and the humanities, does the school provide a strong curriculum in both?
- If youâre hoping to attend one of the specialized schools make sure to register and take the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). Like most standardized testing, preparation is key. Begin early to ensure you feel comfortable with both the format and information on the SHSAT: Ivy Tutoring can help you prepare for it!
- Consider working with an educational consultant, such as Katherine Miller Consulting (Katie is a frequent collaborator with Ivy Tutoring!) to ensure youâre putting your best foot forward on applications and applying to the best fit schools. A consultant is an expert in NYC schools and can make it easier to narrow down your best fit schools, and then help you prepare to gain admittance.
STEM High Schools FAQ
How many STEM high schools are in NYC?
While there isnât an exact count of STEM schools published by the New York Public Schools, our research found over 40 schools with strong academic programming in STEM.
How much does a STEM school cost in NYC?
STEM high schools in NYC are public schools and thus free to all admitted students. Admissions requirements vary by school.
What are the advantages of the STEM program in high schools?
Strong academic coursework in STEM can prepare students for college education and careers in STEM fields. Students who want access to the broadest array of STEM courses and STEM-related after school programs are best served by attending a STEM high school.
Many of the STEM schools listed above - and many that didnât make our list - require either the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) or additional application screening materials to be admitted. If youâre wondering how best to position yourself, or how to best prepare for the SHSAT, Ivy Tutoring can help!
Special thanks to Katie, founder of Katherine Miller Consulting, for your insights into STEM schools in New York City.
