CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL
TOP HIGH SCHOOL 2021
LAWRENCE WOODMERE ACADEMY
TOP HIGH SCHOOLS 2021
MONSIGNOR MCCLANCY HIGH SCHOOL
TOP HIGH SCHOOLS 2021
MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL
TOP HIGH SCHOOLS 2021
THE KEW-FOREST SCHOOL
119-17 Union Turnpike
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 268-4667
kewforest.org
Independent, Co-ed, K-12
Head of School: Carla Jantos MacMullen
Head of Middle/Upper School: Tiffany D. Trotter
Head of Lower School: Karin Bernstein
Admissions Director: Soraya Diaz Tamayo (718) 268-4667, admissions@kewforest.org
Students: 225
Teachers: 45-plus
Average Class Size: 8
Top 5 or Most Unique Extracurricular Activities: Model United Nations (UN), Mock Trial, Athletics, Community Service, Student-run Clubs
Unique Academic Programs: Fully in-person for the 2021-22 school year, Project-Based Learning, and advanced coursework through AP classes at the School and One Schoolhouse.
Open House Dates: Virtual on October 7 for Lower School and October 28 for Middle & Upper School. On campus on November 13 for Lower School and December 4 for Middle & Upper School
Notable Alumni and/or Programs: Kew-Forest has a robust Class Ambassador program, in which alumni help to promote the mission of the school by strengthening communication among classmates and bridging the relationship between alumni and the School.
Notable graduates of The Kew-Forest School include:
• David Arabov (‘08), Entrepreneur; Former CEO & Co-Founder, Elite Daily
• Hank Azaria (‘81), Emmy award-winning actor, comedian & producer
• Alessandra Galloni (‘91), Global Managing Editor, Reuters
• James Gray (‘87), Film director & screenwriter
• Bonnie Hammer (‘67), Chairman, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group
• Casey Heeg (‘69), Mission Architect, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Catherine W. Skinner (‘48), Senior Research Scientist, Yale University
Top 2021 Seniors Attending: MIT, Northeastern University, Williams College
Most 2021 Seniors Attending: Boston University, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Trinity College
College Credit Courses: Yes – Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered in Biology, Calculus BC, English Language and Composition, Modern World History, Physics 2, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Studio Art, US Government and Politics, and US History
Admissions Requirements: Kew-Forest is always looking for students who will contribute to the vibrant and collaborative environment in its classrooms. To assess suitability, they ask applicants to submit their academic records, as well as to present themselves by way of an interview and a student statement.
Scholarships/Financial Aid Availability & Requirements: Kew-Forest offers need-based tuition assistance to qualified families based on a review of the financial aid application submitted through FAST. Tuition assistance decisions are made separately from admissions decisions.
Percentage of Students on Academic Aid: For the 2021-22 school year, over $1 million in need-based tuition assistance was awarded to 50 percent of high school students.
School Motto: Ad Summum (To the Top)
What makes Kew-Forest a Top High School? The Kew-Forest School nurtures lifelong learners from around the world. Its educators inspire young people to think boldly and find their voices. Its students support each other and explore thoughtfully as they shape the future.
What makes your school stand out as a top institution (i.e., % of students going to college, ratio of college advisors, % of students playing sports, faith-based activities, ETC.).
• The strength of its students: Nearly all AP students earned scores of 4 or 5 over the last two school years despite pandemic-related disruptions to their education.
• The strength of its faculty: Faculty eagerly seek professional growth opportunities to further deepen and refine in-person teaching and learning.
• Close faculty-student connections: A low student:teacher ratio allows faculty to get to know students individually.
• Globally minded and culturally competent graduates: Alumni consistently report feeling well prepared for life beyond Kew-Forest.
HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL
TOP HIGH SCHOOLS 2021
ARCHBISHOP MOLLOY HIGH SCHOOL
TOP HIGH SCHOOLS 2021
End overcrowding
Dear Editor,
As a graduate of Forest Hills High School (Class of 1957), I was shocked to learn that 4,000 students now attend my alma mater. That’s nearly four times the number when I went there, and many of them live far from Forest Hills.
Parents complain that students don’t have enough room for the social distancing required by COVID-19 protocols.
The reason for overcrowding at FHHS and other high schools is a change in admission policy that occurred under former mayor Mike Bloomberg. Students were enrolled in the high school closest to their home for more than a century.
That changed in 2004, when the Department of Education introduced a school choice program requiring all 8th graders to submit a list of 12 high schools they
wish to attend, no matter where they lived.
The DOE would match student preferences with each school’s attendance capacity. The intent was noble, but the results are a nightmare.
Schools with a high rate of college admissions, like FHHS, are flooded with students, while under-performing schools lose students and funding, which is based on enrollment. Thus they have fewer resources to improve.
The DOE must restore the zone-based system of high school enrollment except for the eight specialized high schools that require a rigorous admissions test.
This will create a fairer balance of enrollment at all high schools and a better education for all of our city’s students.
Sincerely,
Richard Reif
Kew Gardens Hills
Variety hosts back-to-school festival
Following the first week of in-person learning, hundreds of families enjoyed a back-to-school festival at the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens (VBGC) in Astoria, marking the start of a new school year.
With the support of over a dozen community partners, the all-day celebration included school supply giveaways, local food vendors and outdoor activities for hundreds of students in Queens.
With last year’s back-to-school festival cancelled due to the pandemic, club CEO Costa Constantinides said it was extra special to help students feel normal again in a kid-friendly atmosphere.
With six sites serving over 4,000 area youth, the club is the largest youth services provider in western Queens.
“Today is a celebration,” Constantinides said. “We understand the gravity of the responsibility we have to provide them with an after-school experience and help them get back to normal.”
As a father of a son who hasn’t seen the classroom in over 18 months, Constantinides stressed the importance of the educational resources available at the club, as well as helping families through tough times.
“I know so many children in New York City who had a very similar situation,” he said. “From dealing with the angst of COVID, a family member losing their job or losing a family member, we hope to help them through the tension of this pandemic and help them feel like a kid again.”
School supplies were available to families through donations from the offices of Borough President Donovan Richards and State Senator Mike Gianaris, corporate sponsors and volunteer drives. Both Richards and Gianaris made appearances at the all-day event.
The hot and sunny day also called for Constantinides to sit in the dunk tank, making a splash for a good cause.
Elsbeth Grant, the club’s Chief Advancement Officer, would also be a dunk tank victim, saying it was wonderful to have kids back at the club playing again.
“It feels so great to have kids back at the club safely,” said Grant. “We want going back to school to be an exciting experience. I’m sure it can be scary with everything going on, we just want to support our community by making it fun and helping them prepare to go back to the classroom.”
Community partners joining the festival included Chip Cookies, San Antonio’s Wood Fired Pizza, Ample Hill Creamery and STEM learning from the BioBus. A vaccine pop-up station was also made available by the state Department of Health.
Volunteer Ashley Dean helped organize a school supply drive with her local running group, and chose the club to be the recipients of the backpacks and notebooks she collected over a month-long period.
“School is expensive for a lot of families,” said Dean. “People have multiple children so it’s nice to be able to ease a burden. Setting the kids up to succeed is important, especially right now.”
North Brooklyn Angels step up in time of need
Distribute items for needy families at Brooklyn Hospital
