Special Music School (03M859)

129 West 67 Street, Manhattan, NY 10023, Manhattan
Phone: 212-501-3318
Hours: 8:00am - 3:05pm
School Website: https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/sms/
NYCDOE Website: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/schools/high-school/03M859/
Quality Snapshot: View snapshot
Building Access Profile: View profile
School Leader: Katherine Banucci-Smith (kbanuccismith@schools.nyc.gov)
Parent Coordinator: Lisa Stump (lstump@schools.nyc.gov)
Respect for All Liaison: Patricia Skelly (pskelly@schools.nyc.gov)
Sexual Harassment Prevention Liaison: Patricia Skelly (pskelly@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Patricia Skelly (pskelly@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Liza Dupler (ldupler@schools.nyc.gov)
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My Info

Jump to: Overview | About/Events | AP/Lang/Sports | Programs/Offers | School Stats | Academics | Surveys | Special Education | IEP Stats | ELL Performance | Demographics | Similar Schools

Overview
AI Summary
Special Music School (SMS) is a highly selective public school for musically gifted students and operates as a partnership between Kaufman Music Center and the NYCDOE, combining rigorous academics with intensive music study. The course offerings are designed to develop 21st-century musicians who excel in academics, composition, and performance. Students [more]
Academic Score
  83.29%
Survey Score
  84.67%
About & Events

SMS is a public school for musically gifted students. The school admits 50 students per grade and combines rigorous academics with intensive music study. The school is a partnership between Kaufman Music Center and the NYCDOE. Our mission is to develop students who have the skills, competencies, and knowledge necessary [more]

Reports: School Budget | PTA Financials | Room Utilization

Teachers with more than 3 years of experience: 75%

Other Features: Paid Internships, Program(s) with 1 SWD Applicant Per Seat, Program(s) with 3+ GE Applicants Per Seat

School Features:

  • Audition Offered
  • School whose primary location is co-located with another school
  • Guidance Counselors

Upcoming Events

AP Courses, Languages, Sports, Art
AP Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Music Theory, AP Physics 1, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP United States Government and Politics [more]
Course List
View Courses
Languages Offered
Spanish
Diploma Endorsements
Arts
Boys PSAL Sports
Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL Sports
Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Wrestling
PSAL Team
Martin L. King Jr
This school is part of a PSAL team comprised of the following schools:
High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice (03M492)
High School of Arts and Technology (03M494)
Manhattan / Hunter Science High School (03M541)
Maxine Greene High School for Imaginative Inquiry, The (03M299)
Special Music School (03M859)
Urban Assembly School for Media Studies, The (03M307)
Art Courses
Chorus/Singing, Exploring Music, Music Industry & Contemporary Music, Orchestra/Strings
Programs & Offers
Voice, Instrument, and Composition(A85A)
Performing Arts

We offer students the opportunity to major in Instrumental Music, Voice, or Composition. Students receive approximately 10 hours of music instruction throughout the week. Professional musicians lead large ensembles, chamber groups, and private study. Students work with visiting artists through master classes. Upperclassmen choose from a variety of interest-based electives including Orchestral Conducting, Entrepreneurship, Recording and Production, Jazz History and Theory.

Method:
Requirement:
Students are ranked by the school based on their auditions. Offers are made in priority group and rank order.
Priority:
  • (Group 1) Continuing 8th graders
  • (Group 2) New York City residents

Applicant Analysis
2024-252023-24
GE applicants/seats:137 / 39 (3.51)151 / 39 (3.87)
SWD applicants/seats:16 / 11 (1.45)14 / 11 (1.27)
Rank Avg: 5.214.73
OffersOffers - Waitlist
School Student & Admissions Statistics
School Year
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
Total Students Across All Grades
176
176
170
    Grade 12 Students
47
47
36
    Grade 11 Students
48
49
48
    Grade 10 Students
41
45
45
    Grade 9 Students
40
35
41
Avg. Class Size
21.0
22.0
17.6
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
11.6
12.1
12.2
Safety Comp. / Susp. / NYPD
0 / 0 / 0
0 / 0 / 1
0 / 17 / 5
Attendance %
94%
94%
Graduation %
97%
100%
College %
81%
93%
Total Applicants / Seats
Total Offers
427 (153) / 50
93
482 (165) / 50
64
391 (151) / 50
52

This data was gathered from various NYC DOE reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/information-and-data-overview

Survey Summary & Data (2024-25)
Student Responses 84% responded
Academic Rigor 
  83.00%
Academic Engagement 
  67.91%
Safety 
  88.38%
Bully Prevention 
  84.38%
Inclusivity 
  85.45%
Mental Support 
  71.25%
Environment 
  67.71%
Post-School Support 
  75.75%
Teacher Responses 62% responded
Academic Rigor 
  80.50%
School Satisfaction 
  92.25%
Student Behavior 
  86.00%
Student Support 
  99.60%
School Leadership 
  93.27%
Instructional Clarity 
  93.20%
Instructional Development 
  94.56%
Post-School Support 
  95.17%
Family Responses 60% responded
Education 
  91.88%
Teacher Support 
  89.33%
Safety 
  88.00%
School Community 
  63.63%
School Leadership 
  82.60%
Post-School Support 
  89.00%
IEP Support 
  86.00%

Note: Yellow bars indicate city-wide averages for the associated category

View Full NYC DOE Survey Results:

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly school surveys: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/nyc-school-survey

Academic Summary & Data (2023-24)
Academic Proficiency
4-Year Grad. %
  97.90%
CC Regents
  79
Non-CC Regents
  79
Impact Score
  0.82
Performance Score
  0.86
College Aptitude
CCR
  76.40%
SAT Math
  579
SAT R/W
  606
Postsecondary
4-Year College 89.80%
Unknown 10.20%

View Full Academic Data:

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly quality reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/school-quality-reports-and-resources

School Demographics (2024-25)
Student Population:
Male 47.40%
Female 52.60%
English Language Learners:
  1.60%
Students with Disabilities:
  14.70%
Economic Need Index: 
  32.20%
Student Ethnicity:
Asian 20.30%
Black 5.60%
Hispanic 16.00%
White 38.60%
Other 19.50%
Teacher Ethnicity:
White 58.30%
Other 41.70%

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's demographic snapshots: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/information-and-data-overview

IEP Statistics (2023-24)
IEP Services
Students with IEPs
  19.90%
Students with SETSS
  0.00%
Students with ICT
  11.40%
Students with SC
  0.00%
Has all programs
  97.00%
Has all services
  100.00%
Has some services
  0.00%
Has no services
  0.00%
IEP Student Performance
IEP Movement
Needs Improvement
IEP Support 
  86.00%

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly quality reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/school-quality-reports-and-resources

Special Education Programs & Services (2024-25)
ProgramFully ReceivingPartially ReceivingNot Receiving
Integrated Co-Teaching Services<=5 (?)24 (92%)<=5 (?)
SETSS<=5 (?)<=5 (?)0 (0%)
ServiceFully ReceivingPartially ReceivingNot Receiving
Counseling Services>5 (96%)N/A (N/A)<=5 (4%)
Hearing Education Services<=5 (100%)N/A (N/A)0 (0%)
Occupational Therapy<=5 (100%)N/A (N/A)0 (0%)
Speech-Language Therapy12 (100%)N/A (N/A)0 (0%)
TransportationNumber Receiving
Curb to School<=5 (100%)
Stop to School0 (0%)
Unassigned0 (0%)

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's Special Education Reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/government-reports/special-education-reports

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