Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability

Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability is a small Queens high school emphasizing environmental stewardship through projects like boat building and carpentry. As a Verizon Innovative Learning school, it provides students with free 24/7 tutoring, laptops, and hotspots. The curriculum focuses on college and career readiness, offering Advanced Placement (AP) courses, College Now, dual enrollment, and career certifications in EMT, CPR, and Culinary arts. A Transitional Bilingual Spanish program supports English Language Learners. Parents report high satisfaction, praising the caring and approachable teachers who offer academic and personal support. However, academic outcomes are a concern, with graduation rates and college enrollment percentages well below citywide medians. Regents pass rates are also generally low across most subjects. Student surveys indicate some challenges with behavior and safety, including bullying and physical altercations, despite a strong security presence. The school shares a campus, which some students feel limits space. A proposed merger with Rockaway Collegiate High School is under consideration to expand resources.