Stuyvesant HS: "Our Strong Band Can Ne'er Be Broken"

In a survey of the best public high schools in the country, my alma mater was ranked as the second best in the nation. When I went to Stuyvesant it was in the old massive neo-classical building sagging into the ground on Fifteenth Street and First Avenue. It's much more famous for science and engineering, but it's worth noting that alums include Jimmy Cagney Thelonious Monk, Henry Roth, Robert Alda, Ron Silver, and Robert Siegel, not to mention Nobel laureate Roald Hoffmann, honored for his work in chemistry, who writes wonderful poems in his spare time. Its current building, from 1993, is on Chambers Street in the near vicinity of the World Trade Center. If it had been located there when I was a lad, it would have saved me a subway change at 14th Street adding 20 minutes to the trip. -- DL

Stuyvesant High School

Stuyvesant High School, located in Manhattan, New York City, consistently ranks among the most prestigious public high schools in the United States. Founded in 1904, this specialized high school is renowned for its rigorous STEM-focused curriculum and competitive admissions process.

Students gain entry solely through the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), making it one of the most selective public schools nationwide. The school boasts exceptional academic outcomes with nearly all graduates continuing to four-year colleges, including significant numbers accepted to Ivy League institutions.

Stuyvesant offers numerous Advanced Placement courses, research opportunities, and specialized programs in mathematics, science, and engineering. The school’s modern facility in Battery Park City features specialized laboratories, a swimming pool, and theaters to support its comprehensive educational approach.  >>>