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Bronx High School of Science

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Bronx High School of Science
File:Bxsciencelogo.jpg
Established 1938
School type Public
Principal Valerie J. Reidy
Location 75 West 205th Street
Bronx, NY 10468
Phone (718) 817-7700
Enrollment approx. 2,800
Colors Green and Gold
Homepage www.bxscience.edu

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 trio 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.

Together with Stuyvesant High School (in Manhattan) and Brooklyn Technical High School, Bronx Science is one of three original Specialized Science High Schools of New York City. Admission to these schools is by competitive examination, and only residents of the five boroughs of the City of New York are eligible to attend.

It is a member of the NCSSSMST. Almost 100% of Bronx Science graduates go on to 4 year colleges. Many go on to attend Ivy League schools and other highly selective schools in the nation.

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). 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.

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.

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.

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.

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, the target for the famous "Quack" scandal in 2005, and Assistant Principal of the Biology department, was appointed as the first woman principal of The Bronx High School of Science in September 2001.

Enrollment

File:Photo12.jpg
Current Bronx Science Building (1959-Present)

The Bronx High School of Science has a student body of about 2,800 students. Admission to Bronx Science is based exclusively on an entrance examination, known as the Specialized Science High School Admissions Test (SSHSAT), open to all eighth and ninth grade New York City students. Each year, thousands of students from the five boroughs of New York City take a comprehensive examination containing both math and verbal questions. Out of the 26,000 students taking the entrance examination only about 800 are admitted. The exam is constantly being updated for greater testing accuracy, and the cut-off score required for admission to each of the six specialized high schools varies from year to year depending upon seat availability.

The size of the student body ranges from about 2600 to 2800 and comprise one of the most diversified student bodies in the world. Almost every ethnic group represented in New York City can be found at Bronx Science. In a testament to its ethnic diversity, the school has well over 40% of the school being Asian. The ratio of boys to girls at Science ranges from 51:49 to 49:51 averaging 50:50.

There are no feeder patterns. 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.

Transportation

Many Bronx Science students travel from other boroughs by public and private bus or subway. There are a number of private bus companies that specialize in serving students that live in Queens and other areas.

Notable alumni

Bronx Science counts seven Nobel Prize winning physicists among its graduates, all of whom have been recognized for outstanding contributions to their field. The Nobel Prize winning physicists from Bronx Science are:

Bronx Science also has five Pulitzer Prize-winning graduates:

Other noted Scienceites include:

See also

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