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Public high schools in New York City provide a large number of professional courses for students who wish to explore career paths or cultivate talents. Some of them live in institutions devoted entirely to music, art, and other pursuits. Others can be found in vocational and technical education or CTE programs in large high schools.
Either way, dedicated students can obtain industry-recognized diplomas, impress university admissions officers, or directly enter the paid workforce.
Here are the 10 best cities.
Agriculture and Veterinary Science JOHN BOWNE HIGH SCHOOL 63-25 Main St., Queens Enrollment: 3,294 Four-year graduation rate: 77% Flushing John Bowne High School campus is one of the last farms in Queens. The 4-acre "Land Lab" is the domain of the school's 600 Aggies, who are students of the Centennial Agricultural CTE Project. Children pick up eggs in poultry houses all year round, take care of cattle and sheep in large livestock houses, take care of rabbits and rare birds in small animal laboratories, pick apples in orchards, plant flowers and vegetables for sale on-site farmers’ markets. In summer, second- and third-year students live and work on family-run dairy farms, horse farms, and vegetable farms, or take urban internships in veterinary hospitals, nurseries, and zoos. The school’s American Future Farmers Chapter-the only branch in the city-prepares children for employment in the thriving green economy and entry into leading agricultural schools such as Cornell University.
Architecture Art and Design High School 245 E. 56th St., Manhattan Enrollment: 1,507 Four-year graduation rate: 94% Strict vocational and technical education program teaches fledgling architects industry tools, including AutoCAD. The freshman year starts with a course that lays a solid foundation for hand drawing and basic design skills. Unusual projects stimulate students’ creativity: last year, second-year students studying interior design built complex dollhouses to experiment with room layouts, and then donated them to the local children’s hospital. In the senior year, students will work with the New York City Economic Development Corporation to develop community planning projects such as Willets Point in Queens and Hudson Yards in Manhattan. The school’s long-term internship program has placed more than 200 students in more than 100 workplaces this year.
Car Maintenance ALFRED E. SMITH Vocational and Technical Education High School 333 E. 151st St., The Bronx Enrollment: 444 Four-year graduation rate: 99% This South Bronx school is nationally accredited CTE courses for students' careers A good start to the automotive industry. The historic automotive technology circuit offers a comprehensive four-year course covering braking, steering, suspension, electrical systems and computer control. A new collision repair program handles car body assembly, dent and glass repair, welding and detail design. After three years of practice in classrooms equipped with equipment used in commercial service shops, the elderly are ready to work in the school’s on-site garage, which is open to the public for inspections, bodywork, oil changes, alarm devices, etc. Many students have obtained prestigious internship opportunities at dealers such as BMW in Manhattan and Lexus in Queens. They build resumes to help them find stable jobs as soon as possible after graduation.
Aviation Aviation Vocational and Technical Education High School 45-30 36th St., Queens Enrollment: 2,011 Four-year graduation rate: 99% Students aim at the sky at the Aviation High School in Long Island City, which has been training top aircraft mechanics since 1936 Engaged in the work of an aerospace engineer. From the beginning of the freshman year, everyone will participate in an intensive practical course in aircraft maintenance, covering all the subject areas required to obtain the Federal Aviation Administration's airframe or powerplant subject area certification. At the same time, they take into account the requirements of core university preparatory courses, including 11 AP courses. Top students can obtain their second FAA license through an additional fifth-grade honors course taught at the John F. Kennedy International Airport's Aviation Academy's own annex. Many of them receive paid internships at Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and other industry partners, adding to the popular careers of universities, military academies and airlines and air cargo companies.
Historic preservation STEPHEN T. MATHER BUILDING ARTS & CRAFTSMANSHIOL 439 W. 49th St., Manhattan Enrollment: 406 Four-year graduation rate: 84% In cooperation with the National Park Service, this school is training professionals who can maintain and protect the United States The historical heritage continues into the future. At Mather High School, children are exposed to paint, plaster, plants, wood, brick, and stone when they are studying for a CTE-approved diploma in carpentry, masonry, decorative finishes, and landscape management. They also acquired the foundation of preservation methods skills such as research, recording, and interpretation, giving them a new understanding of the history around us. Before graduation, students visit each of Manhattan's 11 national historical sites, participate in multiple work-based study trips and complete internships. Many have obtained the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and scaffolding certifications required to work in the professional construction industry.
URBAN ASSEMBLY NEW YORK HARBOR SCHOOL 550 Short Ave., Governors Island Enrollment: 513 Four-year graduation rate: 86% Children who are passionate about the ocean study on the picturesque Governor’s Island to prepare for their future careers—— water. Sophomores choose from seven three-year CTE projects, such as ship operations, aquaculture, and marine biology research, to gain practical experience in the classroom and on-site. The only professional diving circuit in the country allows students to obtain university-level scientific diving certificates for juniors; some senior citizens obtain diving master certifications, opening the door to careers in the recreational diving industry. According to their major, everyone is involved in school-wide work, such as the "Billion Oyster Project", which aims to restore the ecosystem of New York Harbor by cultivating and caring for bivalves in local waters.
Nursing CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL 105 Hamilton Ave., Staten Island Enrollment: 2,455 Four-year graduation rate: 74% The jagged castle wall of Curtis High School sits on the top of St. George’s hill and is one of the most demanding schools in the city. CTE program-also One of its most successful programs has an average pass rate of 100% in state certification exams. The nursing program can accommodate up to 340 students and state-of-the-art facilities, and has trained hundreds of medical professionals since its inception. After two years of preparatory courses, students start a two-year study of practical nursing courses. In addition to classroom courses, they also need 798 clinical hours, or nursing assistant courses, which require a lighter load of 108 clinical hours. Both routes end with the New York State certification exam, allowing students to enter the job market immediately after graduation.
Performing Arts FIORELLO H. LAGUARDIA HIGH SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART AND PERFORMING ARTS 100 Amsterdam Ave., Manhattan Enrollment: 2,717 Four-year graduation rate: 99% Internationally renowned "Celebrity School", LaGuardia ranks first in the country The public high school dedicated to performance and visual arts was established in 1936 and is the only professional high school in the city that relies on auditions instead of SHSAT exams for admission. The demanding courses combine intensive conservatory teaching in six artistic pursuits (dance, drama, instrumental music, vocal music, fine arts, and technical drama) with pre-university students, including 21 AP courses. Every day there are two to four time slots dedicated to each student’s major in studio courses. For example, dance majors take 80 minutes of ballet class and another 80 minutes of modern dance class every day. The school’s huge modernist building in the Upper West Side contains two theaters, a concert hall, multiple professional studio classrooms, and an art gallery, all of which hosted countless performances and performances, including an important music production. This year, it is "All Shook Up" based on Elvis Presley Music.
Sports Medicine BAYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL 32-24 Corporal Kennedy St., Queens Enrollment: 2,949 Four-year graduation rate: 99% The sports medicine and management CTE course at Bayside High School in northern Queens gives students a good start in popular career fields. This well-designed four-year course sequence provides the foundations of anatomy, nutrition, and injury prevention-the necessary foundations for physical therapy, rehabilitation, and coaching. The partnership with the State University of New York Farmingdale State College enables students to earn up to 19 credits in the university-approved courses; they can also obtain NCSF personal trainer certification and CPR/AED certification through the American Heart Association. A series of internships, workplace visits and job shadow opportunities allow children to experience real-world experiences. Bayside’s impressive sports facilities—three gyms, multiple weightlifting and fitness rooms, tennis and handball courts, and a swimming pool—support 34 PSAL teams.
Video/Film Production Television and Film Vocational College 1-50 51st Ave., Queens Enrollment: 571 Four-year graduation rate: 98% This popular school is located in the trendy modern building on the Hunters Point waterfront to prepare students for college and Profession. Everyone takes a four-year video production course, taught by industry professionals with extensive film, television and advertising experience. This work places children in key "offline" or technical roles that are the lifeblood of the film industry. Students can get professional equipment that can be used for classroom assignments and independent projects; the campus is equipped with three sound fields, an editing laboratory, props and wardrobe rooms, a set construction workshop and a mixing studio. Many people interned at local giants such as WNET and Silvercup Studios. At the same time, children can keep up with the complete pre-university academic program, offering six AP courses.