Curtis High School

For the school of the same name in Washington, see Curtis Senior High School.

Curtis High School
Curtis High School
Location
New York City, New York, United States
Coordinates	40°38′43″N 74°4′54″W
Information
Type	Public
Established	1904
Principal	Aurelia Curtis
Faculty	190
Number of students	Approximately 2,800
Mascot	Warriors
Newspaper	Curtis Log
Yearbook	Crosswinds
Colors	Maroon and White
Website	curtishs.org

North side

Curtis High School operated by the New York City Department of Education is one of seven public high schools located in Staten Island, New York City, New York. It was founded on February 9, 1904 and was the first high school on Staten Island.

History

Curtis High School is named after nationally prominent writer and orator George W. Curtis, who lived nearby. The school was the first public building built following the consolidation of Greater New York. It was part of a plan to erect a major high school in each of the outlying boroughs – Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, Morris High School in the Bronx, and Flushing High School in Queens were the other three. It was designed by the architect C.B.J Snyder and built between 1902 and 1904. The original building of brick and limestone is dominated by a large square turreted tower inspired by English medieval models. Additions were made to the building in 1922, 1925 and 1937. Curtis was designated a New York City Landmark on October 12, 1982. The gym and cafeteria wings were added at a later date as additions to the original building's neo-Gothic architecture.

Academics

IB Scholarship Honors program with accelerated curriculum and advanced placement (AP) courses; magnet programs in Nursing, Medical Technology, ROTC, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Sports Administration, Business/Computer Institute, CoOp, Human and Legal Studies, Journalism Institute and School for International Services.

Extracurricular activities

CHS has 26 varsity and junior varsity teams, a Robotics Team, National Honor Society, Chess Club, Black and Hispanic Awareness Clubs, Moot Court, The Curtis Players, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Dance, Symphonic Band, The Curtis Log (newspaper), the Crosswinds (yearbook), Math Team, Criminal Law and Justice Mentoring Program, Peer Mediation and Conflict Resolution Programs.

Sports

Curtis fields 26 varsity teams, including a swimming team, as well as golf, bowling, volleyball, soccer, basketball, wrestling, fencing, baseball/softball, handball, tennis, track/cross country, lacrosse and football teams. In addition, Curtis club teams include boys' varsity and junior varsity, and girls' varsity Ultimate teams.

Enrollment

Curtis has a total enrollment of about 2,830 and is open to residents of New York City entering either ninth or tenth grade. Enrollment requirements vary depending on which of the 10 ‘’houses’’ the student is going to be enrolled. There are zoned programs where enrollment is based mostly on geography with Staten Island residents having priority over all other boroughs. Within Staten Island, geographical areas closer to the school have priority over all other areas of Staten Island. Most other programs rely either on the prospective student’s grades and city standardized tests or specialized enrollment tests.

Feeder patterns and admissions

All New York City students entering high school must apply to schools, as there are no zoning boundaries for high schools in New York City. Only special zoned programs have geographical restrictions whereby certain areas of Staten Island have priority over all of the rest of New York City.

Notable alumni

• Lois Lowry, children's author, Newbery Medal winner twice.
• Vincent Robert Capodanno, US Navy Chaplain, received the Medal of Honor. Blvd is named for him.Also the USS Capodanno FF-1093 was named for him in Honor for his service under fire in Vietnam.
• Joseph F. Merrell Jr. (1926–1945) Posthumously Awarded United States Medal of Honor for combat in WWII. A Ferry is named for him.
• Jeb Stuart Magruder, Watergate conspirator in the Nixon Administration
• Amy Vanderbilt (1908–1974) Author of the best selling Complete Book of Etiquette (1952). A native of Staten Island
• Selita Ebanks, Victoria's Secret Model
• Bobby Thomson, retired baseball player for the New York Giants, famous for "The Shot Heard Round the World"
• James Jenkins, former football player with the Washington Redskins
• Abel Kiviat, Olympic Silver medalist
• Steve Gregory, football Player for the San Diego Chargers
• Vernon Turner, former player for the Buffalo Bills
• Shemiah LeGrande, current player for the Detroit Lions
• The RZA, hip-hop recording artist and producer, a member of the legendary Wu Tang Clan

Parental support

Parents collaborate with the school's administration and its staff through: monthly PTA meetings, PTA newsletters, School Leadership Team meetings, Gear-Up, Principal's Consultative Council, Health Fair, HIV Aids Team, the Football, Track, Robotics & Performing Arts Parents Clubs.

Community support

Partnership with O’Melveny & Myers Law Firm, Liberty Partnership Mentoring Program (CSI), Gear-Up, Discovery Institute (CSI), Federal Reserve Bank Mentoring Program, Brooklyn Polytechnic University Center for Youth in Engineering and Science, Curtis HS Career Connections, St. Vincent's, Seaview and S.I. University Hospitals and Global Ambassadors. Corporate: Infinity Broadcasting, MIX 102.7 FM, O’Melveny & Myers Law Firm Higher Education Institution: College of Staten Island, St. John’s University Cultural/Arts Organization: Snug Harbor Community Based Organization: NYCID, Liberty Partnership Hospital Outreach: Staten Island University Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Egger Nursing Home Financial Institution: Federal Reserve Bank Mentoring Program

Schoolwide awards and recognition

• 7-time PSAL Girl’s Bowling Championship
• 6-time PSAL Boy's Cross Country City Championship
• 5-time PSAL Boy's Football Championship (1998, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2009)
• 2-time PSAL Boy’s Golf City Championship
• 2-time PSAL Girl's Cross Country City Championship
• Boy's PSAL Indoor Track City Championship
• Boy's PSAL Bowling Championship
• Girl's PSAL Basketball "A" City Championship
• Girl's PSAL Golf City Championship
• Girl's PSAL Lacrosse City Championship
• Boy's PSAL Basketball "A" City Championship
• Boy's PSAL Wrestling "A" City Championship

External links

• Curtis HS official website
• St. George Civic Association: Curtis High School