New Dorp High School, commonly referred to as New Dorp or NDHS, is a public school on the East Shore of the New York City borough of Staten Island in the New Dorp neighborhood. The school is administered by the New York City Department of Education. The school is located at 465 New Dorp Lane next to Miller Field, an army airport turned park, which extends to the Lower New York Bay. New Dorp High School is located in Region 7, which encompasses all of Staten Island and portions of southwest Brooklyn.

New Dorp High School
Address
Map
465 New Dorp Lane

,
10306

United States
Coordinates40°34′12″N 74°6′26″W / 40.57000°N 74.10722°W / 40.57000; -74.10722
Information
TypePublic
Established1937; 87 years ago (1937)
School districtNew York City Department of Education
NCES School ID360010302035[1]
PrincipalSeth Schoenfeld
Teaching staff221.11 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment3,164 (2022-2023)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.31[1]
CampusCity: Large
Color(s)Green and Gold
   
MascotCougars
YearbookArgonaut
Websitewww.newdorphs.org
New Dorp High School undergoing renovations in October 2022

History

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New Dorp High School was originally located in a smaller campus on Clawson Street. Established in 1937, local officials had planned for a high school in the area as early as 1922, per the Staten Island Advance's archives. This building, built on land deeded from Miller Field, follows the NYC public school architecture trends of the time, with long bricks covering the entire building, and an institutional appearance that has led to misinformation that the school building was once a hospital or a prison. On the inside, the design is very similar to schools on Staten Island from the 1950s onward, with the same tiling and doors as most public elementary, middle, and high schools in that date range. Its division into four wings helps organize the smaller learning communities, and its layout promotes speedy arrival to classes.

Due to the growing population in the area, the school was moved to its current, larger building in 1982. The Clawson Street campus was taken over by the engineering program of Ralph R. McKee Vocational and Technical High School, which eventually spun off to become Staten Island Technical High School in 1988.

New Dorp has had many programs over the years, from the defunct classical guitar ensemble, marching band, and Spectrum magazine to the current SING Musical Theater competition, Black Box Theatre, International Festival, the ever-popular Comic-Con, and the annual Spring Musical. For over 80 years, students have taken part in Chorus class, and participated in the school's yearbook, Argonaut.

In 2015, filming for the movie Nerve, starring Emma Roberts, took place in parts of the school and football field.[2]

Education

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All students are enrolled in a certain House, or program within the high school. Students chose which "House" they would prefer while applying to high schools. Each "House" or "SLC" (Smaller Learning Community) focuses on a certain subject area. These programs include:

  • The Law Institute & AFJROTC Program
  • The Math and Science Institute
  • Academy of Education & Leadership
  • Institute of Health Sciences
  • Institute of Forensic Science & Criminology
  • Corporate Center for Business & Technology
  • Academy of Fine & Dramatic Arts
  • Academy of Communications & Media Arts

Students are required to achieve a passing grade on 5 New York State Regents exams. Advanced Placement courses are offered in Biology, Calculus AB, English Literature, Global History, and US History. There are also plans to introduce AP courses in Computer Science and Statistics. College extension programs are available; these are classes that college credit is offered, but it is given from a specific college rather than through an AP test. College extension classes include Anatomy & Physiology, Pre-Calc, Spanish, and Italian. New Dorp High School has partnerships with local colleges including CUNY College of Staten Island, CUNY Kingsborough Community College, St. John's University, and Polytechnic Institute of New York University.

In 2012, The Atlantic magazine highlighted the effectiveness of the school's emphasis on essay-writing skills: "an overwhelming focus on teaching the basics of analytic writing, every day, in virtually every class. What followed was an extraordinary blossoming of student potential, across nearly every subject—one that has made New Dorp a model for educational reform."[3]

Sculpture at the entrance

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At the main entrance of New Dorp High School stands a large aluminum sculpture by Bill Barrett. Titled "Hari IV", it was constructed in 1982 and measures 32 feet in height, 28 feet in width, and 16 feet in diameter. The sculpture represents a student with a book, but it is often misunderstood as looking like an elephant. It is a common congregating area for students, as well as a prominent feature of the school campus. Michael Brenson of The New York Times in 1988 described it as "one of the most successful public sculptures in the city".[4]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Search for Public Schools - NEW DORP HIGH SCHOOL (360010302035)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Emma Roberts Films Scenes for Upcoming Film 'Nerve' in Staten Island, New York". Flash Mafia. May 19, 2015. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  3. ^ Tyre, Peg (October 2012). "The Writing Revolution". The Atlantic.
  4. ^ "Bill Barrett: Hari IV", International Sculpture Center.
  5. ^ "Mickey Burns". www.sisportshalloffame.org. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Gordon, Cormac (June 27, 2016). "Forty years later, a little party for under-the-radar Olympian Bill Jankunis". silive.
  7. ^ "Rhymes and Remembrance". February 21, 2002.
  8. ^ "Staten Island native cast on 'Big Bang Theory'". Staten Island Advance. March 11, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
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