High School for Law and Public Service

The High School for Law and Public Service in Manhattan offers a specialized curriculum for grades 9-12, focusing on law, public service, and social justice. The school is known for its supportive teachers and a small-school environment where students feel connected to staff and classmates. It provides a three-year law course sequence, including a state-of-the-art courtroom, and offers Advanced Placement courses and an NJROTC program. Students engage in service learning, internships, and mentoring programs, applying academic knowledge to real-life settings, and benefit from partnerships with organizations like the Justice Resource Center and the District Attorney's Office. The school also emphasizes community building and conflict resolution through student-led Restorative Justice practices. The school demonstrates strengths in student outcomes, with a 94.0% four-year graduation rate and 73.1% of graduates enrolling in college, both well above citywide medians. Parent satisfaction is exceptionally high, with 100% positive responses on recent surveys. Student surveys also indicate a positive school climate, with high favorable rates for safety, cleanliness, and fair conflict resolution. However, Regents exam pass rates are a concern, with many subjects showing scores significantly below state averages. The school serves a high proportion of English Language Learners and economically disadvantaged students, and provides academic support such as double periods in reading, writing, and algebra for incoming 9th and 10th graders, along with after-school and Saturday tutoring.