Academy of American Studies (30Q575)

40-11 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101, Queens
Phone: 929-487-1910
Hours: 7:30am - 3:45pm
School Website: https://www.academyofamericanstudies.com
NYCDOE Website: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/schools/high-school/30Q575/
Quality Snapshot: View snapshot
School Leader: William Bassell (wbassel@schools.nyc.gov)
Parent Coordinator: Desiree Alaimo (dalaimo8@schools.nyc.gov)
Parent Coordinator: William Bassell (wbassel@schools.nyc.gov)
Respect for All Liaison: Sinead Kiernan (skiernan@schools.nyc.gov)
Sexual Harassment Prevention Liaison: Tara Murphy (tmurphy23@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Leslie Kohn (lkohn4@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Marjorie Antoine (mantoine@schools.nyc.gov)
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About

Our rigorous college preparatory school focuses on American history and its interdisciplinary connections. Students learn in a supportive environment, allowing them to grow socially, emotionally, and academically. As the flagship high school of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, we provide rich insights into America's history through a rigorous and challenging curriculum that includes study in art, music (with a focus on opera, chorus and band/orchestra), theater, and journalism. Our Advanced Placement (AP) program and partnerships with SUNY, CUNY and St. John's University allow students to earn college and high school credits simultaneously. Our curriculum is enriched with trips to historical sites, international trips, museums, the theater, and The Metropolitan Opera, as well as community service, sports, and additional activities including student led clubs.

Reports: School Budget | PTA Financials | Room Utilization

Teachers with more than 3 years of experience: 83%

Academic Highlights: Upper level courses in science and Mathematics, English courses included Banned Books, Journalism, Fairy Tales, Creative Writing, and African American Literature, Rich electives in American History, law, and Senior Thesis/Civics for all, as well as enjoyable programs in the arts including fine arts, digital media, acting, playwriting, orchestral music, chorus, and opera appreciation, Advanced Placement Courses Available, Dually credited courses for juniors and seniors receiving college credit from SUNY Albany and SUNY New Paltz and high school credit from Academy

Other Features: 10th Grade Seats Available, College Trips, Expert College and Career Advisor On Staff, Multi-Session School, Orientation, Saturday Programs

School Features:

Offers 10th Grade Seats
School whose primary location is co-located with another school
Guidance Counselors, Social Workers

Upcoming Events

November 7, 2025 @ 5:00 pm Open House
November 17, 2025 @ 5:00 pm Open House

AP Courses, Languages, Sports, Art

AP Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP African American Studies, AP Calculus AB, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP European History, AP Human Geography, AP Macroeconomics, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Arts (College Course [Credited]), Biology (College Course [Credited]), Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (CPCC), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Languages Offered

Spanish

Diploma Endorsements

Math, NYS Seal of Biliteracy, Science

Boys PSAL Sports

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball

Girls PSAL Sports

Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball

Co-ed PSAL Sports

Stunt

PSAL Team

Academy of American Studies

Clubs

Art Club, Astronomy Club, Baseball Club, Basketball Club, Big Sib Orientation, Black Student Union, Book Club, Card Club, Co-Ed Volleyball Club, Coding Club, Crochet Club, Cross Country Co-Ed Running Club, Cultural Cuisine Club, Debate Club, DECA Finance Club, Drama Club, Environmental Science Club, Film Club, Forensic Club, French Club, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Girls Inc., Glamour Gals, Greek Club, Health Occupations Students of America, Hispanic Alliance Club, Honor Society, Hour Children Club, Humanitarian Club, Irish Club, Journalism Club, K-Pop Club, Key Club, Magazine Club, Mock Trial, Model United Nations, Multicultural Student Union, Music Club, Muslim Student Association, My Brother's Keeper, My Sister's Keeper, Peers for Change, Photography Club, Red Cross, Robotics, Senior Committee, Soccer Club, Softball Club, STEM Club, Student Government, Stunt Club, Tarot Club, UNICEF Club, Yearbook Club, Youth Medical Association

Art

The Academy of American Studies proudly supports the Arts! We continue to offer classes in: Studio Art, College Now Art History, Playwriting, Digital Media, Opera Appreciation, and Shakespeare. We are also in our second year of our renewed music program with the addition of two fully licensed music teachers. We offer classes in music including: Chorus, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, General Music classes. We are programming for a Modern Band and a second more advanced Chamber Chorus. Additionally, at the Academy, we actively seek to integrate the arts into all the curriculum areas. The Theatre for a New Audience worked with two 10th grade ICT classes and our two ENL classes. Eleventh grade students took trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for immersive art experiences. Students in twelfth grade were offered the opportunity to become part of the Center for Arts Education's Career Development Program and intern in the arts. The entire student body is also provided with artistic and cultural opportunities such as six trips to the Metropolitan Opera involving hundreds of students and alumni, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other NYC Art museums. We also took our students to various Broadway shows which included Hamilton, Aladdin, Hadestown, Macbeth, We also have an active Visual Art Club and Guitar Club. We also hosted our first Winter Concert and held our 2nd annual Spring Arts Fair where Visual Arts students shared their work and our music students performed for all who attended.

Programs

Academic Humanities(Q71A)
Humanities & Interdisciplinary

Focus is on the humanities, literature, writing, and American history, and also offers a full range of math and science courses. All students take Senior Thesis, a college preparatory research and writing class as well.

10th Grade seats available

Method:

Ed. Opt.

Requirement:

Ed. Opt. programs admit students across all academic levels. Students are grouped into Low, Middle, and High categories based on a composite of their academic data. One-third of offers are made to students in each category.

Priority:

(Group 1) Queens students or residents
(Group 2) New York City residents

Applicant Analysis

	2023-24	2022-23
GE applicants/seats:	615 / 71 (8.66)	729 / 85 (8.58)
SWD applicants/seats:	62 / 14 (4.43)	84 / 17 (4.94)
Rank Avg:	5.99
	Offers	Offers - Waitlist

Intensive Academic Humanities(Q71B)
Humanities & Interdisciplinary

10th Grade seats available

Method:

Screened

Requirement:

Students are admitted based on their course grades

Priority:

(Group 1) Queens students or residents
(Group 2) New York City residents

Applicant Analysis

	2023-24	2022-23
GE applicants/seats:	335 / 71 (4.72)	388 / 57 (6.81)
SWD applicants/seats:	15 / 14 (1.07)	23 / 11 (2.09)
Rank Avg:	6.21
	Offers	Offers - Waitlist

School Student & Admissions Statistics

School Year

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

Total Students Across All Grades

1,213

1,388

1,366

Grade 12 Students

325

356

224

Grade 11 Students

383

341

368

Grade 10 Students

332

414

376

Grade 9 Students

173

Avg. Class Size

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

16.9

18.1

18.9

Safety Comp. / Susp. / NYPD

<5 / 0 / 7

5 / 26 / 10

<5 / 55 / 11

Attendance %

91%

Graduation %

96%

College %

80%

87%

Total Applicants / Seats

Total Offers

2,727 (819) / 170
224

2,671 (952) / 170
222

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 3% responded

Academic Rigor

82.50%

Academic Engagement

75.00%

Safety

88.38%

Bully Prevention

77.25%

Inclusivity

83.27%

Mental Support

82.25%

Environment

78.43%

Post-School Support

72.90%

Teacher Responses 29% responded

Academic Rigor

81.00%

School Satisfaction

86.38%

Student Behavior

68.44%

Student Support

84.67%

School Leadership

82.20%

Instructional Clarity

79.20%

Instructional Development

76.89%

Post-School Support

90.83%

Family Responses 14% responded

Education

90.13%

Teacher Support

82.83%

Safety

85.33%

School Community

63.88%

School Leadership

83.30%

Post-School Support

88.50%

IEP Support

92.33%

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

Academic Summary & Data (2023-24)

Academic Proficiency

4-Year Grad. %

96.10%

CC Regents

Non-CC Regents

Impact Score

0.7

Performance Score

0.75

College Aptitude

CCR

68.80%

SAT Math

496

SAT R/W

519

Postsecondary

2-Year College 10.60%
4-Year College 78.30%
Public Service 0.40%
Vocational Program 0.40%
Unknown 10.30%

School Demographics (2024-25)

Student Population:

Male 47.90%
Female 52.10%

English Language Learners:

1.60%

Students with Disabilities:

13.00%

Economic Need Index:

58.70%

Student Ethnicity:

Asian 22.10%
Black 3.30%
Hispanic 35.00%
White 36.60%
Other 3.00%

Teacher Ethnicity:

Asian 17.90%
Black 6.40%
Hispanic 16.70%
White 53.80%
Other 5.20%

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

11.00%

Students with SETSS

0.70%

Students with ICT

7.50%

Students with SC

0.10%

Has all programs

99.00%

Has all services

94.00%

IEP Student Performance

Regents English

Regents Gl. Hist.

Regents US Hist.

Regents Algebra I

Regents Living Env.

4-Year Grad. Rate

78.4

IEP Movement

Fair

IEP Support

92.33%

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)

Program	Fully Receiving	Partially Receiving	Not Receiving
Integrated Co-Teaching Services	135 (100%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
SETSS	8 (100%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)

Service	Fully Receiving	Partially Receiving	Not Receiving
Counseling Services	63 (90%)	N/A (N/A)	7 (10%)
Counseling Services Bilingual	<=5 (100%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Hearing Education Services	<=5 (100%)	N/A (N/A)	0 (0%)
Occupational Therapy	16 (100%)	N/A (N/A)	0 (0%)
Speech-Language Therapy	>5 (96%)	N/A (N/A)	<=5 (4%)
Vision Education Services	<=5 (100%)	N/A (N/A)	0 (0%)

Transportation	Number Receiving
Curb to School	<=5 (100%)
Stop to School	0 (0%)
Unassigned	0 (0%)

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

ELL Performance (2023-24)

Regents English

Regents Gl. Hist.

Regents Algebra I

Regents Living Env.

4-Year Grad. Rate

91.7

ELL Progress

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

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