Stuyvesant High School

This is my high school, so perhaps I'm a bit biased. On the flip side, who can tell you more about a school than someone who attended it? You definitely get a fantastic education at Stuy and tons of opportunities to challenge yourself with college-level classes. There are many, many student-run organizations that allow kids to develop leadership skills necessary in THE REAL WORLD!! The teachers are quite possibly the best in the entire city -- the relationship between the students and teachers is one of the utmost respect on both sides. It's amazing. It' s almost a utopia, but utopoas never exist. The biggest issue with Stuy is the level of competition faced by the students... but I still love it. more

I attended Stuyvesant High School, which I have mixed views about. To a large degree, I think it's overrated. Now, as then, one had to take a test to gain admittance. Many students had tutors for this and went to cram school, but the test truly isn't that hard, and I got in easily. Similarly, I was surprised to find that while it's supposedly the "best high school in the country" that I had received a better education in most subjects previously at my private school. Certainly, for a science focused student, there are many special opportunities, but those exist outside of the classroom environment, which I found to be merely average. Stuyvesant also has a number of somewhat odd required classes (architectural drafting being the bane of many students' existence and machine shop being an archaic waste of time). I found that I received special attention in English classes because so few students excelled or were interested in excelling in this area, and I remain grateful to those teachers. Certainly, if you are looking for a good public school for your child, Stuyvesant must be considered, but the sun doesn't rise and set by it. more

This is considered the best High School in New York City. Students have to take a test just to get accepted. Many Junior High School hopefuls are disappointed and cry each year when they find out their score did not meet the minimum requirements. The school is really nice. It is probably one of the few High Schools in New York City that has escalators in the school. They have their own indoor pool and a seemingly spotless school. The neighborhood is Battery Park City, which is an upper class residential area. I am sure the neighborhood residents help fund the school as well. This is a great school and should not be overlooked. more