At a Glance
A large, unscreened Staten Island high school with competitive specialty programs and remarkably strong teacher trust
Families seeking a large, unscreened high school with strong teacher relationships, zero-tolerance discipline, and competitive specialty programs; particularly well-matched for students who thrive in robust extracurricular environments and for families who prioritize trust and climate over small-school intimacy.
- Three competitive application programs (Software Engineering, Law Enforcement, IB/Honors) with rigorous admissions
- Zero suspensions — a notably clean discipline record for a large high school
- Exceptional teacher trust scores (94% principal trust, 91% collegial trust)
- 94% of teachers report high instruction quality
- Extremely robust extracurricular offerings (100/100 program richness score) including 30+ clubs
- Strong arts program including orchestra, jazz band, theater, and dance
- No published ELA/Math proficiency scores available for direct comparison
- Large school size (2,253 students) may feel overwhelming for some freshmen
- Family survey response rate of 10% means not all parent voices are captured
- Neighborhood safety scores (36.02) are notably low — families should visit and assess personally
- Economic need index of 74.6% indicates significant student poverty requiring additional support
Based on 2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 31
Curtis High School occupies a unique position in District 31, which primarily consists of elementary schools scoring 85-99 on state metrics. As the district's main large high school with unscreened admissions, Curtis handles a broader student population than the elementary feeder schools while maintaining strong climate metrics. The peer schools listed (P.S. 35, Naples Street, P.S. 005) are all elementary schools, making direct comparison difficult — Curtis functions as the district's gateway to secondary education for most Staten Island families.
Curtis High School operates without published state test proficiency data in this dataset, but the school offers AP Courses and a competitive International Baccalaureate/Scholarship Honors Program that draws 316 applicants for 78 seats. The academic program is supported by strong teacher-reported instruction quality (94%), slightly exceeding the district average of 93%. The school maintains class sizes aligned with the district average of 23.4 students.
This is where Curtis truly stands out — the school reports zero suspensions in the current year, well below the district average of 0.44%. Teacher trust metrics are exceptional: 94% of teachers trust the principal and 91% report collegial trust. Parents report 91% satisfaction with the school, and 92-93% trust between parents and teachers/principal. These numbers suggest a school where relationships between staff, families, and leadership are strong. The family survey response rate of 10% (217 responses) provides reasonable signal, though parents who responded are clearly engaged.
With 2,253 students across grades 9-12, Curtis is a large high school serving a demographically diverse population: 45% Hispanic, 32% Black, 13% White, 8% Asian, and 1% multi-racial. The diversity index of 70% reflects this mix. Notably, 20% of students have IEPs and the economic need index sits at 74.6%, indicating a student body with significant financial challenges. This differs somewhat from the neighborhood's demographics (33% BA+ education rate, 35% homeownership), suggesting Curtis draws from a broader geographic area.
St. George-New Brighton on Staten Island offers excellent transit access (85.82 percentile) but lower family density (24.52 percentile) and safety scores (36.02 percentile, notably low). The neighborhood has a median home value of $556,676 and median household income of $73,042, with a 19.5% poverty rate. Families will find good stability (79.69 percentile) and reasonable health environment scores, but should note the area's crime density and collision rates when considering logistics.
The neighborhood's high transit score makes the school accessible via public transportation, though families driving will want to account for local traffic and parking given the area's crime and collision indicators.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 217 families responded (10% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
This program offers students the opportunity to learn Microsoft Office applications, e-commerce, and introductory Computer Science which includes web design and computer programming. This course sequence leads to an industry-recognized certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Students will have an opportunity to take AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A.
This program offers students the opportunity to gain a basic understanding of law as the foundation of human society and our role as citizens in the justice system. In addition to standard academic curricula, students interact with representatives from the legal community, including district attorneys, judges, and special law enforcement agencies such as the FBI.
The IB Diploma Program offers students a unique, rigorous curriculum in Humanities and STEM-related fields authorized by the IB Organization. All students are expected to achieve an Advanced Regents Diploma and will also take numerous AP courses in addition to their seven required IB courses.
This program offers students opportunities to explore the following: writing, layout design, photography and documentary film. Students become multi-platform producers and explore how to use social media to tell their stories and represent their generation. Students become citizen journalists and learn how their voices can impact the often changing media environment.
The Naval JROTC program is a leadership and citizenship training program co-sponsored by the Department of Education and the United States Navy. The curriculum is divided into three areas: academic, military skills, and physical fitness.
This program offers two State-approved CTE health career programs. The Practical Nursing program includes 798 clinical hours in addition to the curriculum. These students are then eligible to take the NCLEX State Board examination for Licensed Practical Nurse. The Nursing Assistant program includes 108 clinical hours along with a curriculum that allows students to take the NYS certification exam to be certified as a Nursing Assistant.
The Performing Arts program offers students the opportunity to study dance, theater, or music through a variety of classes that are enriched by after-school performances and partnerships with Roundabout Theater, Battery Dance Company, Theatre for New Audiences, and The College of Staten Island. Course offerings include: IB Dance, Modern Dance, Ballet, Composition, Theater I, IB Theater, Chorus, Piano, Guitar, Orchestra, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band.
This program offers students challenging college-prep classes such as AP, IB, AVID, and CTE classes. Students are supported with AVID pedagogy that develops study, note-taking, and organizational skills. Curtis is pursuing certification of its IB Career-related program which is nested within this program. Curtis currently offers career pathways in STEM, art, and law. This program is also part of the CHS World Student Exchange with the Netherlands, Italy, France, and/or Spain.
This program offers students the opportunity to study fine arts or graphic design through a variety of classes that are enriched by after-school programs and a design partnership with Roundabout Theater. Course offerings include: Drawing, Painting, AP Art History, IB Art, and/or CTE Graphic Design using Adobe Creative Suite.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Curtis High School a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for Curtis High School yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in St. George-New Brighton.
- What grades does Curtis High School serve?
- Curtis High School serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into Curtis High School?
- Curtis High School is a screened school — it admits by application, weighing grades, attendance, and sometimes a test or interview.
- Is Curtis High School public, charter, or private?
- Curtis High School is a public school in NYC Community School District 31.
- What neighborhood is Curtis High School in?
- Curtis High School is in St. George-New Brighton, Staten Island.
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Discipline
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