Will Stuyvesant Remain on Top?

May 31st, 2002

By Lexi Pritchett
With the addition of three new specialized science high schools on college campuses in Manhattan and surrounding boroughs, students who narrowly missed admission to the three existing specialized high schools will soon have the opportunity to partake in an above-average education, according to The New York Times. The proposal, made by Chancellor Harold O. Levy, is an attempt to reduce the outflow of gifted students to suburban schools because local high schools are unable to satisfy their needs, such as the ability to diversify their courses.

According to Levy, these new specialized high schools will be admitting roughly 125 new freshmen per year, keeping the schools composed of approximately 500 students in total. Due to the necessary minimum class size, the small student population limits the variety of courses that can be offered.

Despite the possibility of new competition, Principal Stanley Teitel, along with many others, isn’t worried.

“I haven’t lost any sleep over it yet,” said Teitel in reference to the competition posed by the new schools. “I don’t think it’s going to have any effect on us whatsoever.”

According to Teitel, although it does not prove to be competition now, if the schools build a reputation in the future there could be competition, depending on the facilities, staff, and location.

Some, like freshman Ben Krueter, feel that “because Stuy is as good as it is, no matter the competition it has, it will stay the best.”

“It’s taken us many years, even decades, to establish our reputation, as it will take the new schools, so there’s no imminent threat,” Krueter said.

Senior Tyler Brewster agrees. “If it means more kids can have the opportunities we have, I don’t see it as a threat at all.”

An orientation is scheduled to take place at the end of May by invitation only, for those students who missed the specialized high school cutoff for next year’s incoming freshman class, The New York Times stated. The three additional high schools will form the lowest tier of the acceptable scores for admission. The ranking of the three existing elite high schools will remain the same, with Stuyvesant remaining the toughest school to get into.