Humanities Preparatory Academy

Infobox School
name = Humanities Preparatory Academy

established = 1997
type = Public (magnet) secondary Transfer school
principal = Mr. Barnaby Spring
faculty = 40
students = 180
city = New York City
state = New York
country = United States
website = [http://www.humanitiesprep.org/ www.humanitiesprep.org]
grades = 9–12
address = 351 West 18th Street New York, New York 10011
SAT = 1408

Humanities Preparatory Academy (also known as "Humanities Prep") is a public high school located in New York City,with an enrollment of 180. It has a rigorous curriculum and is considered to be one of the top high schools in New York City.The school is noted for its strong academic programs and diversity. Humanities Preparatory Academy is arguably one of the most competitive public high schools in the United States, sending over 90% of its students to 4 year prestigious universities and private schools. Founded as a program in Bayard Rustin, it became a school in its own right in 1997.

Humanities Prep is part of a consortium of 28 schools that have been exempted from taking all but the English Regents Examinations. Housed in the Bayard Rustin Educational Complex, Humanities Prep offers very limited space, and admissions to the school is very competitive.The school currently occupies the third floor. Humanities Prep is a small, community-minded New York City public school. It's heterogeneous classes and college preparatory curriculum feature performance based assessment and Expeditionary Learning. The schools student body is diverse in the ways New York City is diverse.

chool History

Founded as a program in Bayard Rustin, it became a school in its own right in 1997 and has grown so successful that virtually all of its graduates go on to four-year colleges. It has frequent visitors from around the country eager to see an alternative model that works.Humanities Prep is a school where students--many of whom sport multiple piercings and Mohawk hair-dos--are on a first name basis with teachers. You don't find the traditional survey courses here; with titles like "Neighborhood Environment," and "The American Dream," most classes have the sound of college electives. At prep, teachers don't normally lecture in the classes, and students have much more freedom than most high schools. There is a wide range of aptitudes among students, who range from kids who have transferred from specialized high schools like Bronx High School of Science to kids who don't read on grade level. However through its demanding curriculum and amazing faculty, Humanities Prep has grown to become a model school for which many other schools in the city have vied to become like prep.

Academics

Humanities students undertake a college preparatory curriculum which allows all of its students to choose the classes they want.Prep's educational mission is broad: The whole student is the subject. In contrast to the scope of this mission, however, Prep's courses are thematic and focused to facilitate deep investigations of self and world and the meaningful generation/acquisition of knowledge. Teachers and departments have autonomy in curriculum design. The small classes are heterogeneously grouped by ability and age and include special needs students, allowing for a student-centered pedagogy and the discovery of multiple intelligences. Prep teaching embodies the conviction that work is the basic medium of self-actualization and discovery. Self-reflection and revision are essential work habits, and primacy is placed on multiple drafts and critique. Students are required to pass the English,math,science,and history Performance Based Assessment Test with at least an 85. Unlike traditional public high schools from the state of New York, Prep does not take the Regents examination (save for the English Regents). The Performance Based Assessment tests (also referred to as PBATS) are much more difficult than the regents exam. Students are to create a paper in the subject area showing their mastery of the material. To present a PBAT, students at prep must have completed the course for the given subject. All students must acquire 44 credits in order to graduate. Students are encouraged to take college classes during their junior and senior years at college now. [http://www.collegenow.cuny.edu/]

Admissions

Priority is given to Manhattan residents and students who have shown serious interest in the school. All transfer students must be referred by a guidance counselor and then interviewed by the school when space is available. Since is space is very limited at Prep, admissions is on a first come first serve basis.

ee also

Education in New York City

External links

* [http://www.humanitiesprep.org/ Official Website]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/ny/2811 Humanities Preparatory Academy at Greatschools.net]
* [http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=970 Humanities Preparatory Academy at insideschools.org]
* [http://www.openplanner.org/node/355 Humanities Preparatory Academy at openplanner.org]
* [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/02/M605/default.htm Humanities Preparatory Academy at schools.nyc.gov/]
* [http://www.essentialschools.org/cs/schools/view/ces_sp/512 Humanities Preparatory Academy at essentialschools.org]
* [http://collegenow.cuny.edu/ourschools/highschools/school.php?code=HUMANITIES_PREP_10011 Humanities Preparatory Academy at college now]