Hunter College High School is a public academic magnet secondary school located in the Carnegie…read moreHill Upper East Side of Manhattan. That's my neighborhood. It is administered and funded by Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and no tuition is charged. According to Hunter, its 1,200 "students represent the top one-quarter of 1% of students in New York City, based on test scores. I know that's true because I've got a lot of friends that have children that applied for entrance and were overlooked. The school history is interesting. Originally Hunter was established in 1869 as "The Female Normal and High School", a private school to prepare young women to become teachers. The original school was composed of an elementary and a high school. There's a long list of notable graduates if you want to look them up. I love the building because it is a historic Armory. I recommend you visit the photogenic structure. If you are fortunate enough to have your family member attend I recommend you take advantage of every activity and opportunity you have to visit this school. I particularly recommend participating in their extracurricular activities in any form offered. I've enjoyed a few activities throughout the years.

A long time ago, on a subway far, far away*, I attended HCHS. Most of the great teachers I had…read morehave either retired or passed away. Last time I looked, my 9th grade math teacher was still soldiering on slinging the equations and one of my classmates is now continuing the tradition as a social studies teacher, following in the footsteps of Mr. Marienhoff (a great teacher and influence on many of us). Here are some facts about the school not often known outside the Hunter community. Every year, if you take the top 10% of 6th Grade kids in NYC (~2200-2500) that scored well on the 5th grade NYS ELA & math exams (what used to be called the city-wides), gave them the entrance exam and took the top 10% of those, you'd end up with the top 1%, which is roughly, a typical Hunter 7th grade class. Remember that this happens a full 2 years before they would take the Specialized High Schools exam (SHSAT). This gives Hunter the advantage of reaping the cream of the crop long before Stuyvesant, Bronx Science or Brooklyn Tech can get a crack at them. Over the first couple of years, some students will have personal, disciplinary or academic problems and will leave or be asked to leave, but their places are not filled by new students because they can only enter at the beginning of 7th grade. Those asked to leave go back and excel at their neighborhood schools. Like the other NYC specialized high schools, the education is tuition free and the best that the city can offer. Unlike those schools, you'll be staying for 6 years from grades 7-12. The Hunter College Campus Schools (including the Elementary School) is administered by Hunter College (CUNY) and not the NYC Dept of Education. This raises a whole load of other issues because Hunter is not subject to the Chancellor of the DOE nor receives funding like other NYC schools. Starting in 7th grade also gives students at Hunter the opportunity to finish their NYS Regents requirements by 10th or 11th grade and allows them to take more AP courses and to do an internship in their senior year. Completing both programs, the graduate receives both the Hunter and Regents diplomas. There has been a lot of press and allegations lately about the lack of diversity at Hunter and other Specialized schools that are groundless. If you can pass the test, you get in, end of story. Whether you received outside test prep or not, the bottom line is you were either prepared or not, no matter what your ethnic background. You better believe that if you attend Hunter, you will be going to college. With the Hunter name on your diploma, you stand a better than average chance to get into a top tier college or university. Hunter is known as the top feeder to the Ivy League and that is not a hollow statistic, but is proven every year. Among my class of 200, 10 students went to Cornell alone, with 4 to Harvard and others to Columbia, Princeton, UPenn, Yale, Brown and Dartmouth. We even had 3 going to MIT. Those are big percentages that is repeated year after year and that you will not find in any other school. I have very fond memories of my alma mater and appreciation for the place grows as you get older. So what I say to all the recent students and graduates that gripe about their experience at Hunter is that you'll be thankful for it in 10-20 years when all the bad experiences are in the past and you remember all the good things such as your life-long friends and the stellar education that you carry with you for the rest of your life. Here's an example of the work of some current students and a tour of the school. http://vimeo.com/62474345 And to make this a true Yelp review, what little cafeteria food we had was absolutely horrendous. You were better off going to any of the local delis (except the one we used to call the smelly deli). *Star Wars did come out about that time in ancient history and the records of us cutting class to go see it are lost in the mists of time. Han shot first!

First off none of the teachers do anything about bullies and fail kids at random super strict does…read morenot help falling behind students

I WILL DEFINITELY RECOMMEND EVA MOSKOWITS IDEAS, HER PROGRAM, AND HER VISION DEFINITELY WORKS, I…read moreRECOMMEND THIS EUROPEAN METHOD OF EDUCATION. THE PROCESS WORKS VERY WELL. ALLOWING A CHILD TO ATTEND SCHOOL 7:45am-3:45pm Monday & Tuesday, mid-week, Wednesday half day then back to school full time Thursday & Friday, Definitely allow a child to process and receive all the materials better without burning out, homework daily helps their brain to continue processing what they learn in school, allowing them a better opportunity to pass a large percentage of all their exams. MY DAUGHTER STARTED WITH THIS SCHOOL AT 4, she is soon turning 14, she is in all honors classes and now learning Pre med in success academy Highschool... I've been recruiting and scouting for SA for the past 10 years and relocating from Hell's Kitchen success academy I've experienced a lot of great staff members, dedicated teachers and a awesome principal there. Coming to Hudson yards has shown me that if you have the wrong person representing your brand, it could really send the wrong message. The new principal they picked up through COVID and located in the building has done a poor job on multiple occasions, I can confidently say there is over 100 parents who have felt that this Ms. Maine principal has poor management skills, she literally has her "do it all girl" Ms. devito. From graduating class of 2022 not having a year book or pictures and memories of their achievements, to Aug 2022 accepting under age children in the school, having them attend Kindergarten for two weeks before realizing her and her staff screwed up. The main office received medical physical form dated and with proof of child's age that even though, if the birth certificate wasn't provided due to delayed on reordering from the records state department, they were able to track this information, I find the way she approaches issues a major problem, she is not sympathetic, she is cold, rude and has double intentions on all her and her staff do. They are not transparent with parent and withhold a lot of information from parents in order to control or navigate a situation to their benefit. Lucky to say my daughter graduated from there and is now in success Academy HS, but unfortunately to know I have an elementary child in there and one who was kicked out of kindergarten after going to success Academy Hudson yards for two weeks. The employees were in school July and were able to avoid the trauma of a 4 year old enjoying waking up and going to school, to then be told he is too young to attend. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER STAFF! (Who ever is responding of clearing students and verification of documents)....

New Design High School is located in the Lower East Side (LES) section of Manhattan. This New…read moreDesign High School Review is based solely on visiting to see movies as part of the Rooftop Film Series. New Design High School was visited twice to attend the following Rooftop Film Events: The"Polite Society" Advanced Screening was held in 2023. Because it was raining that day, we were directed to New Design High School's Auditorium in the lobby instead of the school's rooftop area. New Design High School's Auditorium is spacious, clean and the seats were comfortable enough as we watched Polite Society. "Rooftop Film Presents: 20th Anniversary of Napoleon Dynamte" Screening was at New Design High School this year. This event celebrated the movie Napoleon Dynamte, created in 2004 & which is considered a cult-classic. We enjoyed viewing Napoleon Dynamte, as it was displayed on New Design High School's rooftop floor via a big screen surrounded by beautiful art murals after the sun set. New Design High School has colorful & vibrant murals / artwork. Rooftop Film Events we have seen showcased at New Design High School have been well organized & well-coordinated. Looking forward to any other Rooftop Films screenings that will be at this school.

I went to the New Design School to watch the Rooftop Films present the 20th anniversary of Napoleon…read moreDynamite ! It was awesome , the weather was perfect the roof walls were sprayed painted with graffiti. It was huge, and when the sunset it was a perfect view of city. Ore Ida was giving Tarter Tots, I grabbed a couple of Tee Shirts and buttons. We were allowed to bring snacks and drinks to enjoy while watching the movie. My family and I really enjoyed our time. FYI: The amount of steps you have to climb to get to the rooftop is not for the weak. I took my time walking up and it was worth it.

The students of Brooklyn Tech all had this initial thought, "I hate Tech". Whether it was because…read moreof the teachers, elevators, schedules, or staff, while you attended Brooklyn Tech, you found some reason to dislike like the school. You have teachers constantly pushing you to do your best. There is no excuse for late homework or late assignments. Administrators will not take your if, ands, or buts. Sometimes you will have class in the basement then, the next period, gym on the 8th floor. The elevators will be packed, you will have to climb 9 flights of stairs. With the mind set of a high school student, you sometimes might feel unfairly retreated or wronged by deans or Brooklyn Tech staff. Trust me, as time goes on, you will realize, it's nothing personal. The school will seem like a human oven in the summer and winter. All of these elements may make you think that Brooklyn Tech isn't the school for you, or that you wouldn't want your child attending this institution. However, from the viewpoint of a Brooklyn Tech alumni, this school has sculpted me to the person I am today. You have educators who want to do more than make a semi decent salary. Teachers who want to help you succeed. I have gained more than just education within the sciences and engineering, I have gained pure knowledge. Knowledge that will carry with me where ever I go. Knowledge that is engraved in me, which makes me a better person, which gives me that advantage in the real world. As for the student body, it is an experience that you will never be able to encounter for the rest of your life. Attending Brooklyn Tech, you learn more about culture by your peers, than any course you can take in a higher education class. Not everyone who attends Brooklyn Tech has the same Ivy League ambition. You will meet some of the most brilliant pranksters, some of the most innovative individuals, and some of the most creative students. You will meet real people. You will find your own group of friends who will better define who you are as a person. I have met so many great and amazing people through my time at Brooklyn Tech. With that note, I have also met some who I would wish never to see again. There will always be something negative to say about any high school you attend. Your life is what you make it. The decisions you make will either make that path easier or harder. Brooklyn Tech is definitely one of those decisions in your life where you might think you've taken on a challenge that is more than you can chew. Trust me, this experience is worth it. It may not be easy, it may not be pretty, but you will leave carrying the pride of being a Brooklyn Tech Alumni.

Terrible experience, rude staff, deteriorating facilities, I hated every single day I spent here…read more People here are extremely close minded and ego driven, the hallways reek of industrial rot during the winter, the teachers push a woke agenda forcing students to read literature involving queer characters under the guise of being "anti-censorship". Would give a 0/5 if I could

This is one of the best highschools you could ever attend! I attended here from 1994-1997 and I can…read morehonestly say it was four of the BEST years of my life! The faculty and staff are absolutely amazing and still to this day are! Best teachers I've ever had. Even better than the college professors I had in the years that followed highschool! The school is huge- made up of three floors (technically four floors but the top floor isn't used for classes- back when I attended it was used for religious events the school would have.) The school has a huge library, cafeteria, gymnasium, and even has a nicely sized chapel inside! Also- the building is immaculate. Always freshly painted looking, bathrooms are always kept clean, hallways and property out front are always clear of debris and garbage. The school also has a parking lot for students- which when you live in Astoria is just always rare to find a parking spot - so a parking lot is a blessing lol SJP always has events going on- from school concerts, plays, faculty and student games/events, religious getaways, ski trips, and trips to other countries even! The students are constantly interacting with each other. I made some of the best friends while at this school- some of which to this day- 20 years later- are still the best of my friends! As far as the classes go- you never get bored with choices- from band class, home economics, forensic science, creative writing, and many more! Also- the after school activities are endless! Sports, music, academic, culture clubs, you name it. Now- the tuition is pricey- but you get what you pay for, and you cannot top the education you'll get here! Don't be discouraged- it's worth the money. Every dime. I just recently had my 20 year reunion here - and it was a blast! Just as the 10 year one was! I'll keep coming back every time we are due for one! Well- I have endless stories and so many more awesome things I can talk about when it comes to this school, but I have to end my review already lol Next time there is an open house for this school- please go check it out for yourself or your kids. You won't be sorry! To this day- I still go back and visit some of my old teachers- who are now people I call- my friends.

In 1984, when I started SJP, I was so excited. I had a great 4 years and I met some wonderful…read morepeople. When my son started SJP in 2017, I was so thrilled for him. He was a legacy after all. My mother-in-law was in the first graduating class. My husband, my sister-in-law, my son's godmother, my cousins, and some of my best friends went there. Alumni wasn't just a word to me. My son is a 16 year old boy. No excuses, but they make mistakes. In early October, I reached out to the school to ask for help with my son, my growing teen. The advice I was given was get outside help. That was it. So I followed the advice. SJP didn't follow up us. SJP didn't help my son in his time of need. SJP didn't touch base with him regularly. SJP didn't reach out to me to be a team, as a school and a family should be. Now they've turned their back on him. I'm so disgusted. I'm so upset. My family would do anything for anyone. We are members of the community that try to always do what's best. Instead of working with us, alumni of the school, instead of trying to work with my son, a child that had two and a half years in their school, their answer was we won't help you. Their answer was we don't have the resources to help. If you chose to lead teenagers in today's society, then you need the resources to do just that. My son isn't a bad kid. My son needed help and instead of helping they made things worse. I can't tell you the loss I feel in my heart for SJP.

Staff do not care to be respectful towards students. Many times, my daughters come home to complain…read moreabout how blatantly rude some of the teachers were, and how careless they were about students and their mental health. I was honestly shocked; they were so heavy and preached the importance of the students, but couldn't even treat them like human beings. Especially Ms.Barahona, personal vendetta against a woman who wouldn't take students' mental health seriously.

Please bring your kids here this is one of the greatest HighSchool's I ever attendant the staff are…read morealways patient they will cater for your needs the guidance counselors are one of the best I ever had if it wasn't for them I would have never been successful. Heck if it wasn't for the staff here I wouldn't be successful. It might be overcrowded but it's worth it trust me.

Haha. Well, it turns out I am hardly the first customer relationship Globe Language Services, Inc…read more has utterly blundered. I'm grateful they revealed their competency before I paid them anything. I emailed them asking for more specific information on if their post secondary course-by-course evaluation included certain criteria my college was asking for. Their website, which I did check first, did not include it. Rather than a professional response, I received a curt response from some anon who never managed to figure out how to add a signature to their business email that I "We need you to submit the Inquiry on our website for us to answer your questions." Avoid these losers. Actually, it's probably loser, singular. Just one lone asshole in their dumpy little apartment jerking over foreign students. *EDIT* Updating to add the grammatically questionable email response I received for posting this review. That is some pretty sloppy English... I would seek translation services elsewhere. In regards to Alex's demand that I duplicate my questions using the online form on the company website: Imagine being so inept at managing a business that you cannot forward an email you received from a customer to the correct person on your staff to answer. It's hard to fathom such incompetence.

One of the worst service providers I have ever dealt with. They made a spelling error and failed to…read moreproperly verify my documents, which caused a significant delay in my education. They also promised to mail the documents, but I have not received anything. I am tired of calling them with no clear response or resolution. This has been extremely unprofessional and frustrating. I strongly believe the U.S. government should handle this kind of verification directly instead of relying on third-party agencies.

Fall 2014 was my first semester at Touro College. I came here to take a few missing prerequisites…read morelike Organic Chemistry and Physics II. Firstly, I've never been to a school like this, it is very small (not a campus) which I am used to since I'm from Phoenix, Arizona and all of our schools from Colleges to Universities have huge and beautiful campuses. Furthermore, their chairs/desks are really tiny, I feel like I'm back in highschool. I don't know about anyone else but I'm a big girl and I need my space. Something always falls off my desk, whether its a pencil or a notebook, but it's always something. And there is no where to put my bag (I stopped wearing my nice bag and went back to my Jansport because I have to keep it on the floor). But enough whining because this school does have a few winning points. For instance, ROBERT FARDON, PHYSICS II. He's an amazing professor. Very willing to help, if you take his class and you work with him you won't even need a tutor. He will actually help you understand the very difficult concepts such as electricity and magnetism. Love his style of teaching. Moreover, I love the people that go to Touro, many people are so helpful and sweet. It's a great place to be because of that. I met a lot of friends there this past semester. Organic Chemistry is a bit of a different ball. Still trying to get my A in that class. Working hard...lets wait and see.

I study at a different location. But I once needed to use their lab for SPSS data analysis. And…read moretheir lab staff was very helpful. Great experience.

I've been a student of Andrea's at NYC Espanol for ~6 months now, and I couldn't be happier. Andrea…read moreis a phenomenal and flexible Spanish instructor. She truly tailors the class to your individual ability. Ultimately my Spanish proficiency has increased tremendously since I've been a student of hers. I'm much comfortable with speaking and tackling tenses I never learned in over 4+ years of studying in highschool and speaking in college. What I find outstanding about her and her teaching: 1. Individual attention - Andrea is great at assessing your strengths and weaknesses, and coming up with personalized instruction that pushes you to improve where your language weaknesses are, and she encourages you to speak every class. 2. Availability and flexibility - Andrea is also very flexible depending on your schedule. She's able to come to your workplace, or teach you at her home. She's able to work around your schedule and provide a regular cadence to meet. 3. Knowledge - Andrea is extremely knowledgable about various dialects and various Latino cultures around the world, she's able to customize based on what you'd like to learn, or provide you with an international Spanish language experience. I couldn't recommend Andrea more for private Spanish language lessons!

Andrea is a great teacher of Spanish and I am so lucky to have found her (on Yelp!) I came to her…read moreas a total beginner only two months ago and she has really helped me make great progress with her native language in two meetings per week. I already feel that I can communicate much better with my husband's family and friends when they come here or when we are on trips abroad. Not to mention that my husband himself is very impressed with all my progress after each lesson with Andrea. She is one of those rare teachers who is able to assess the student's level and pace quickly and adjust that pace to accommodate areas that are a personal struggle or where the material might be a bit easier. She is always very prepared with each day's lesson but also more than happy to sidetrack to drill some points of confusion from homework or a topic that I would like to cover. She has a great personal style of being able to explain the grammar in good order and clearly, without being too overwhelming. She also shows a lot of empathy for the student and is super encouraging with many kind words of positive reinforcement even when I feel like I am being dense or struggling to find the words. In sum, she has a really good personal touch that differentiates the great teachers from the good. I signed up for 20 lessons and plan to stick with her until I am fluent ....and beyond!

Alex Mallory offered wise advice throughout the testing process, and paired our son with several…read moreexcellent tutors. Eli Amzallag was particularly effective. He followed up every session with a detailed evaluation, which he sent the next day. Our son received an 800 on the math section, and 690 on the verbal. And, most important, he was admitted, early decision, to the college he most wanted to attend. The standardized testing regime is awful, biased, and a rip off. But, until it withers and dies off, places like Competitive Edge Tutoring are very helpful in getting through it.

We used Competitive Edge tutoring for both our daughters' ACTs and SAT 2s.  We had previously…read moreworked with a different agency but found their tutors abilities inconsistent.  With Competitive Edge, we found Alex was very responsive and supportive in all of our dealings and his tutors were consistently strong, had good materials to share, and always added value. The tutors sent us detailed summaries of the sessions, the areas needing work, and the next steps immediately after every session to help keep us in the loop. Megan helped my younger daughter for both the ACT and Spanish SAT 2 and we found her help invaluable.  We even recommended her to other family members. Her final ACT score was 35. My older daughter used Liz and Dimitri for the ACT and Willis for Spanish. Working with Competitive Edge my daughter's score rose from a 28 on the pre ACT (scale is 1 - 35) to a 35 on the actual ACT (scale is 1 - 36).