Staten Island Technical High School

Staten Island Technical High School is one of the eight specialized High Schools in New York City. The school focuses on Engineering and Sciences, but maintains a strong college preparatory focus. Most alumni pursue a variety of fields, including finance, medicine, broadcast journalism, theater – although a high proportion end up working in architecture, engineering or the sciences. The school is relatively small, with about 700 students in the four grades.

Academics
Staten Island Tech (or Tech, as it is commonly referred) attracts both students and teachers of the highest quality. The result is classes taught by great instructors, taken by students who are actively engaged. The curriculum includes college preparatory courses such as English, History, Social Studies, Math and Science, but electives focus in on the science and engineering field, with courses such as Architectural Drawing, Computer Aided Drafting, Electronics, C++, etc. Russian is the only language offered. There are several Advanced Placement courses offered, and many students take advantage of these, entering college with several credits. It is a school full of leaders, and many go on to excel academically at the top public and private colleges, including Harvard, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern, Boston College, University of Michigan, the State University of New York system.

Athletics
It may seem surprising, but Tech students are smart and athletic; the same dedication shown in the classroom is mirrored on the field. The track team is consistently ranked one of the best in the city, as is the men’s volleyball, handball, and women’s soccer teams. For a small school, this is quite impressive – of the students participate in one sport, with a large group participating in two or even three different sports.

Extracurricular Activities
The school supports a wide variety of clubs and activities that meet the demand of overachievers with a wide variety of interests and hobbies. These include band, theater, photography, scientific research, engineering, computer programming, volunteerism, and debate, to name a few. There are also groups that discuss relevant issues such as politics, and seemingly less relevant topics, such as the Simpsons. If there is enough student interest in a particular area, it is not difficult to form a club and get student and faculty support (and this frequently happens).

Study Abroad
The school boasts two exchange programs with Russia – one to St. Petersburg for four months and one to Moscow for a month. Approximately ten students participate in these programs each year. In the summer, approximately 30 students participate in a two week tour of Europe with the American Council for International Studies.

Facilities
Staten Island Tech is located at the old New Dorp high school in the New Dorp section of the borough. It is accessible by many New York City bus lines that run to the north and south shores and to Brooklyn. Many students also take Staten Island Rapid Transit, which stops several blocks away. The school has top-notch academic facilities, including several computer and science labs. A grant from Intel provided new computers several years ago. There is a music room, an auditorium, two gyms, and a cafeteria. Outside, there is a track and multi-use field, softball field, and handball courts.

Admissions
Admission is highly competitive and is based on the score you receive on the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) that is administered in the year prior to High School. The percentage of applicants to accepted students is very low.

Contact Information
485 Clawson Street
Staten Island, NY 10306
(718) 667-5725
fax (718) 987-5872
Website: www.siths.org