Bronx High School of Science

The Bronx High School of Science, commonly called Bronx Science, is a public high school in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx, New York City. Founded in 1938 with a traditional focus on mathematics and science, Bronx Science is one of a triumvirate of elite public schools in New York City, and is often hailed as one of the best high schools in the United States. The school is operated by the New York City Department of Education.

History

The Bronx High School of Science was founded in 1938 by resolution of the Board of Education of the City of New York with Dr. Morris Meister as the first principal of the school. The faculty and the student body were given the use of an antiquated Gothic-gargoyled edifice located at Creston Avenue and 184th Street. The building, built in 1918 for Evander Childs High School, was successively occupied by Walton High School (1930) and by an annex of DeWitt Clinton High School (1935).

Related Topics:
1938 - Morris Meister - 1918 - Walton High School - DeWitt Clinton High School

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Bronx Science started with about 150 ninth year students and 250 tenth year students, the remaining facilities of the building being used by DeWitt Clinton. As Bronx Science became larger, the Clinton contingent was gradually returned to its main building. During their joint occupation, which lasted for 2 years, until 1940, the two schools had separate teaching staff and classes, but the same supervision and administration.

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In the year 1946, as a result of the efforts of Dr. Meister, the faculty, and the Parents Association, the school became co-ed. From the very beginning a campaign for a new building was initiated by the Parents Association, and sparked by the tireless dedication of Dr. Meister. In February 1958, Dr. Morris Meister, after 20 years as the principal of the school, resigned to become the first president of the newly organized Bronx Community College. Dr. Alexander Taffel succeeded Dr. Meister as principal.

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Under Dr. Taffel's guidance, the plans for a new building and for its equipment were completed. Finally, on March 3, 1959, the students and faculty occupied the new building for the first time. They entered a school equipped with the most modern facilities and laboratories for carrying out its program. The problem of moving the library books from the old building to the new was solved in typical Bronx Science manner. On Friday afternoon each student took home five library books from the old library, and on Monday returned them to the new library.

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When the Bronx High School of Science celebrated its silver anniversary in June of 1963, the late President Kennedy hailed it as "a significant and pathfinding example of a special program devoted to the development of the student gifted in science and mathematics." The President had occasion to know the quality of the school's product since he had recently selected one of its graduates, thirty-five-year-old Dr. Harold Brown, of the class of 1943, for the position of director of Defense Research and Engineering.

Related Topics:
President Kennedy - Dr. Harold Brown

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When Dr. Taffel retired in 1979 former chairman of the Biological Science Department, Milton Kopelman, became Principal. Upon his retirement in 1990, Biology Assistant Principal Vincent Galasso became Principal, and upon his retirement in 1994 Physical Science Department Assistant Principal Stanley Blumenstein became Principal. Upon Mr. Blumenstein's retirement in 2000, Mr. William Stark, Assistant Principal of the Social Studies Department was appointed Acting Principal, upon his failure to be selected as Principal, he retired. When Mr. Stark left in 2001, Mr. Galasso took over the reins for one term until Ms. Valerie J. Reidy, Assistant Principal of the Biology department was appointed as the first woman principal of The Bronx High School of Science in September 2001.

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