Curtis High School Article Index for
Curtis
Website Links For
Curtis
 

Information About

Curtis High School




  Established 1904
  Type Public
  Head Name Principal
  Head Aurelia Curtis
  Faculty 190
  Students approx 2,617
  Mascot Indian Warrior
  Free Label Colors
  Free Maroon and Grey
  City Staten Island
  State New York
  Country United States of America
  Website http://curtishsorg


Curtis High School is one of 7 of Staten Island 's Public High School s. The school was founded on February 9th, 1904 . Admission to Curtis is prioritized by geography, Staten Island residents have priority over other boroughs.


ENROLLMENT

Curtis has a total enrollment of about 2,600 and is open to residents of New York City entering either ninth or tenth grade. Enrollment requirements vary depending on which of the 10 ‘’houses’’ the student is going to be enrolled. There are zoned programs where enrollment is based mostly on geography with Staten Island residents having priority over all other boroughs. Within Staten Island, geographical areas closer to the school have priority over all other areas of Staten Island. Most other programs rely either on the prospective student’s grades and city standardized tests or specialized enrollment tests.


HISTORY

Curtis High School is named after nationally prominent writer and orator George W. Curtis , who lived nearby. The school was the first public building built following the consolidation of Greater New York. It was part of a plan to erect a major high school in each of the outlying boroughs – Erasmus Hall , Morris , and Staten Island High School high schools were the other three. It was designed by the architect C.B.J Snyder and built between 1902 and 1904 . The original building of brick and limestone is dominated by a large square turreted tower inspired by English medieval models. Additions were made to the building in 1922 , 1925 and 1937 . Curtis was designated a New York City Landmark on October 12, 1982 . With only 56 students at its inception, Curtis has changed beyond just walking space. Only the main building existed the gym and cafeteria wings were added at a later date. Outside, students are sprawled across a huge lawn, studying for an exam or lazily lounging with friends. There are no unfamiliar faces, and everyone knows the class song. It may seem hard to believe, but at the start, this was Curtis.


ACADEMICS

IB Scholarship Honors program with
accelerated curriculum and advanced
placement (AP) courses; magnet programs in
Nursing, Medical Technology, ROTC,
Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Sports
Administration, Business/Computer Institute,
CoOp, Human and Legal Studies, Journalism
Institute and School for International
Services.

Curtis High School is a comprehensive academic school, which consists of 10 small learning
communities that we call houses. The strength and success of our school can be attributed
in large part to these learning communities. Each house has unique electives that students
take each term beginning in the Freshman year. All students pursue rigorous academic
curricula that prepare them to be competitive in the college application process.
Extracurricular activities and community service are significant assets in the total
development of our students. Our success lies in a daily commitment by all of our members
to fulfill our mission statement.

  • Zoned

  • Academic comprehensive program


  • Legal Studies & Law Enforcement

  • (Law & Government)

Provides a basic understanding of law,
and our role as citizens in the justice system.
Students interact with speakers
from the legal world, including district
attorneys, judges and special legal services
like the FBI.

  • IB/Scholarship Honors Program

  • (Honors)

This program offers an innovative and
culturally enriched curriculum in the Arts
and Sciences. All students are required to
take a minimum of 4 advanced placement
courses during high school.

  • Journalism Institute

  • (Communications)

Curricula includes: writing, layout,
photography, print media, broadcast &
internet journalism, Adobe Photoshop,
Illustrator, In-Design.

  • Naval Junior ROTC (Naval Science)NJROTC(Naval Junior Reserve Officers’

  • Training Corps Program). The curriculum

includes seamanship, oceanography,
meteorology, astronomy, navigation,
radar, sonar and electronics and leadership.

  • Computer Business Institute

  • (Information Technology)

E-Commerce & Web Design or Co-Op
Education. Courses lead to MOS certification
in Word, EXCEL, PowerPoint &
Access. Web design students take courses
that lead to CISCO Web certification,
Java & Dreamweaver.
Selection Criteria for Applicants: English, Math, Science, Social Studies Student Grades: 90-100
Standardized Test Scores: Math Level(s) 3, 4 Reading Level(s) 3, 4
Performance on the IB/Scholarship entrance exam

  • Practical Nursing/Nursing Assistant/Medical Technology

  • (Health Professions)

The PN program, 1,514 hours of clinical
and classroom studies, prepares students
for NYS Certification as LPN. NA
program prepares students to take the
national performance and written exam
for NYS Public Health Dept. as Nursing
Assistants. MT prepares students for college
level courses through laboratory experiences.
Selection Criteria for Applicants: English Student Grades: 80-100
Standardized Test Scores: Math Level(s) 3, 4 Reading Level(s) 3, 4
Review of absences & punctuality

  • Performing Arts

  • (Performing Arts)

The program provides an opportunity for
students to choose coursework in music,
theater arts, or dance areas of concentration.

  • School for International Services

  • (SIS) (Honors)

The program will broaden the student’s
awareness of global issues through various
courses, lectures, field trips, foreign
exchange opportunities, independent science
research, foreign language studies
and programs at various area colleges.
Selection Criteria for Applicants: English, Math, Science, Social Studies Student Grades: 80-100
Standardized Test Scores: Math Level(s) 3, 4 Reading Level(s) 3, 4
Review of absences & punctuality

  • Visual Arts

  • (Visual Art & Design)

Students will have the opportunity to
develop their creative and intellectual
potential through sequence offerings that
provide instruction ranging from the
foundation level to portfolio development.

Curtis students undergo a college-preparation curriculum including four years of English , History , and a lab-based science, three years of Math (though most student opt to take four years) and foreign language, and a semester each of introductory Art , Music , Health , Computer Science , and a lab-based technology course.

Curtis offers students a broad selection of electives; some of the more unusual offerings include Robotics , Astronomy , and the mathematics of Financial Markets . Most students take Calculus .

A variety of Advanced Placement courses offer students the chance to earn college credits; a few students earn enough to start college as a sophomore.

Curtis's foreign language offerings include the basics like French and Spanish as well as Japanese , and Italian . In 1999 , Mandarin Chinese and Korean were introduced.


EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

CHS has 26 varsity and junior varsity teams,
a Robotics Team, National Honor Society,
Chess Club, Black and Hispanic Awareness
Clubs, Moot Court, Drama, Jazz Band,
Orchestra, Dance, Symphonic Band, The
Log (newspaper), the Crosswinds
(yearbook), Math Team, Criminal Law and
Justice Mentoring Program, Peer Mediation
and Conflict Resolution Programs.


Sports

Curtis fields 26 varsity teams, including a Swimming team, as well as Golf , Bowling , Volleyball , Soccer , Basketball , Gymnastics , Wrestling , Fencing , Baseball / Softball , Handball , Tennis , Track / Cross Country , and Football teams. In addition, Curtis club teams include boys' varsity and junior varsity, and girls' varsity Ultimate teams.


STUDENT BODY


Curtis’ student body is as diverse as they come. 35.6% of the student body is Caucasian, 35.5% of the student body is African American, 26.6% of the student body is Hispanic, and about 2.3% of the student body consists of other ethnicities.


Feeder patterns and admissions

All New York City students entering high school must apply to schools, as there are no zoning boundaries for high schools in New York City. Only special zoned programs have geographical restrictions whereby certain areas of Staten Island have priority over all of the rest of New York City.


PARENTAL SUPPORT

Parents collaborate with the school's
administration and its staff through: monthly
PTA meetings, PTA newsletters, School
Leadership Team meetings, Gear-Up,
Principal's Consultative Council, Health Fair,
HIV Aids Team, the Football, Track,
Robotics & Performing Arts Parents Clubs.


COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Partnership with O'Melveny & Myers Law
Firm, Liberty Partnership Mentoring
Program (CSI), Gear-Up, Discovery Institute
(CSI), Federal Reserve Bank Mentoring
Program, Brooklyn Polytechnic University
Center for Youth in Engineering and Science,
Curtis HS Career Connections, St. Vincent's,
Seaview and S.I. University Hospitals and
Global Ambassadors.
Corporate: Infinity Broadcasting, MIX 102.7 FM, O’Melveny & Myers Law
Firm
Higher Education Institution: College of Staten Island, St. John’s
University
Cultural/Arts Organization: Snug Harbor
Community Based Organization: NYCID, Liberty Partnership
Hospital Outreach: Staten Island University Hospital, St. Vincent’s
Hospital, Egger Nursing Home
Financial Institution: Federal Reserve Bank Mentoring Program


SCHOOLWIDE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • 3-time PSAL Football Championship (1998 and 1999 were led by George Hassell, Mike Goodman, Reynard Smith, Wesley Sanchez, Chris Brogna, Brandon Clarke, Nick Frayler, Bashkim Ardolic, Stephen Gregory, Warren Bright, John Lucchini, Troy Sogluizzo, Dennis Barrett, Jim Gunning, Jose Delgado, Juan Santos, Harold Boyd and Rasheed Parkinson).

  • 4-time PSAL Girl’s Bowling

  • Boys’ Bowling Championship

  • Girl’s and Boy’s Golf City Championship



EXTERNAL LINKS