Hunter College High School

Hunter College High School (Hunter High School) is one of the top high schools in New York City, rivaled by Stuyvesant High School, and the Bronx High School of Science. Hunter is administered by Hunter College, a division of CUNY, rather than the NYC Department of Education; there is no tuition fee and it is publically funded. Hunter sends a disproportionate percentage of students to top-flight colleges and universities. According to the Wall Street Journal, Hunter is currently the public high school that sends the most students to the top 3 Ivy League Schools of Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

Academics

All Hunter students pursue an academically enriched six-year program of study. The curriculum is a rigorous college preparatory program that provides a broad liberal arts education. The majority of subjects are accelerated such that high school study begins in the 8th grade and graduation requirements are completed in the 11th. Virtually all students, however, (likely unaware of their options or simply wishing to be more desirable to colleges) stay on for the 12th grade, during which they take electives, attend courses at Hunter College and Columbia University (for transferable credit), and participate in internships.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Students in grades 7 and 8 take a special course called Communication and Theater and students in grades 7-9 must take art and music, each for half a year, and then choose one to take in tenth grade. One of the three available foreign language courses (French, Latin, or Spanish) must be taken each year in grades 7-10. A year each of biology, chemistry, and physics must be completed in addition to the introductory science classes in 7th and 8th grades. A series of social studies (history), english, and math courses are taught from 7th through 11th grades (with the math curriculum split into a track of "honors" and a track of "extended honors" classes for students of different propensities). Usually two semesters of physical education are taught each year, including the highly notable semester of swimming in the 8th grade (held in Hunter College's somewhat removed facilities). Starting in their junior year, students are allowed to take electives and Advanced Placement courses, although only one of these may be taken in the 11th grade. Also starting in the 11th grade, gym may be chosen from a wide selection of selectives, many of which again take advantage of Hunter College's facilities (examples being racquetball, weight training, and lifeguard training). The senior year, however, is free of mandated courses except for a couple semesters of gym.

Related Topics:
French - Latin - Spanish - Advanced Placement

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Electives and Advanced Placement courses are offered by all six academic departments. Electives include (but are not limited to) Computer Science (Mathematics), International Relations (Social Studies department), introductory Italian (Foreign Language), Journalism (English), Photography (Art & Music) and Physiology (Science).

Related Topics:
Computer Science - International Relations - Italian - Journalism - Photography - Physiology

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Every junior and senior is assigned a college guidance counselor. The student-to-counselor ratio at Hunter is much lower than the national average and comparable to that of many private high schools (although admittedly the grooming is not as intense as at some of those schools). Today (classes of 2002 through 2004), nearly 99% of Hunter's students go on to college, and 25% accept admission to an Ivy League school http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/news/newsreleases/2004/nixon.shtml.

Related Topics:
2002 - 2004 - Ivy League

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hunter students win many honors and awards during their high school careers http://www.hchs.hunter.cuny.edu/honors_and_awards/2002-2003.html, including numerous Scholastic Writing Awards. For example, the 2005 Intel Science Talent Search first-place winner was Hunter senior David Bauer ('05), the 1997 winner was Adam Cohen ('97), and two of New York State's four 2005 Presidential scholars were Hunter College High School seniors.

Related Topics:
2005 - Intel Science Talent Search - 1997 - Presidential scholar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Wall Street Journal recently identified Hunter College High School as the top public school feeder to leading colleges. http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/news/newsreleases/2004/nixon.shtml.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Extracurricular Activities

The dozens of clubs and organizations at Hunter cater to a variety of interests, from politics to film and music to knitting. All clubs and organizations at Hunter are wholly student-run and advised by faculty members.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hunter has many student publications, including What's What, the official school newspaper since 1922, and its rival independent paper, The Observer. Student-produced magazines include thedeepend (humor), Tapestry (science fiction and fantasy), Radicals (math), The Desk (literary) and Argus (literary). Hunter also has a strong dramatic arts and musical tradition, with annual productions such as Musical Repertory, Brick Prison Playhouse, Hunter Theater Ensemble, Winter and Spring Concert, and numerous cultural shows.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Students can choose to further pursue their academic interests (read: points for college aps.) through school activities such as the Hunter United Nations Society (HUNS), Washington Seminar, Fed Challenge (economics), Debate Team, and Math Team. Hunter's Chess Team is famous nationwide for winning numerous tournaments and championships.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many students are also on atheltic teams such as the basketball, swimming, soccer, track & field, and volleyball teams (the Hunter Hitmen). Hunter sports teams compete with other New York City high schools in the NYC Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~