High School for Health Careers and Sciences

The High School for Health Careers and Sciences is a 9-12 Community School located on the George Washington Educational Campus in Manhattan, serving a student body with a very high percentage of English Language Learners and students in economic need. The school prides itself on fostering a safe learning environment and offers a range of innovative programs, including AP courses, a CTE Nursing Assistant Program, NJROTC, Lego Robotics, Computer Science, Hydro/Aquaponics, and Dual Language instruction. It benefits from strong partnerships with institutions like Catholic Charities, Cornell University, Columbia University, and NY-Presbyterian Hospital, providing students with on-site support through a health clinic and full-time college counseling staff. The school demonstrates strengths in its high four-year graduation rate of 94%, which is above the citywide median, and its college enrollment rate of 71%, also above the citywide median. The suspension rate is exceptionally low at 0%. Parents express overwhelmingly positive sentiment across school surveys. However, academic outcomes show significant concerns, with Regents pass rates in most subjects, including English, Geometry, Algebra I, Chemistry, US History, Global History, and Living Environment, falling well below the typical passing threshold, though Languages Other Than English is a notable strength at 92%. While students generally report feeling safe in common areas, some reviews indicate concerns about bullying, fights, and vaping. The school was previously threatened with closure due to performance concerns. The campus itself employs metal detectors and intensive security protocols.