At a Glance
A tiny, highly-screened health sciences academy where nearly every parent and teacher gives the school near-perfect marks
Families seeking a small, selective high school with an explicit health sciences focus and a demonstrated culture of strong parent-teacher-principal relationships. This is a fit for students who've demonstrated academic readiness and want a competitive, college-prep environment with extensive extracurricular options. Families should be comfortable with the neighborhood's tradeoffs (transit-rich but lower safety scores) and understand that screened admissions means applying — there's no guarantee. Students needing significant special education supports may find better matches elsewhere given the school's low 3% IEP population.
- Near-perfect trust scores: 98% parent-principal trust and 100% teacher-principal trust
- Zero suspensions recorded — unusual for any high school
- 14.3% admissions offer rate makes it competitive (477 applicants for 69 seats)
- 100% teacher rating for instruction quality
- 94% family survey response rate shows genuine community engagement
- 90/100 program richness with 30+ clubs including SAT prep, Saturday Math Academy, and peer tutoring
- Screened admissions means a self-selected, academically-motivated student body
- No academic test scores available to benchmark performance against district averages
- Very small school (264 students total) — limited athletic team depth and course variety by definition
- Only 3% IEP population — may not be the right fit for students needing intensive special education services
- Screened admissions means your child needs to apply and be accepted — there's no zoned guarantee
- Safety scores in the neighborhood are low (25th percentile) — families should visit and assess for themselves
- Teacher survey sample is small (24 responses) — while overwhelmingly positive, it's a limited view
- Health environment concerns in the area: elevated asthma rates and lead exposure risks
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 24
In District 24 (Queens), which includes schools like P.S. 007 (84/100), Central Queens Academy Charter (82/100), and Robert F. Wagner Jr. Secondary School (74/100), this small health sciences academy stands out for its culture rather than its test scores. The peer comparison data doesn't include this school in the quality review scores, but its admissions selectivity (14.3% offer rate) puts it in a different category than most zoned schools. Its survey numbers outpace district averages across the board — 96% parent satisfaction vs. 94% district average, 100% instruction quality vs. 92%.
Test score data is not available for this school, which is typical for newer or specialized programs. What we do know: average class sizes match the district at 24.5 students, and the school's 90/100 program richness score indicates robust academic offerings beyond core subjects, including SAT prep, Saturday Math Academy, and peer tutoring support.
The survey numbers here are remarkable. Parents report 96% satisfaction, and nearly every parent and teacher surveyed gives top marks for trust in leadership (98% parent-principal trust, 100% teacher-principal trust). Teachers rate instruction quality at a perfect 100%, and there's been not a single suspension recorded. With a 94% family survey response rate, these aren't fringe opinions — this is what the community actually thinks.
The student body is 74% Hispanic, reflecting Elmhurst's large Latino population, with 17% Asian students and small Black (3%) and White (4%) populations. At 44% diversity index, it's less diverse than some Queens schools but more diverse than many citywide. Only 3% have IEPs, suggesting this screened program serves a relatively narrow academic profile. The neighborhood around it is young-family-heavy (23.5% households with children) with moderate income ($68K median) and a 30% college-educated population.
Elmhurst is one of Queens' most densely populated, transit-rich neighborhoods — think multiple subway lines, robust bus networks, and the commercial corridors of Queens Boulevard nearby. Family density scores an exceptional 93.1, meaning lots of kids in the area. Safety scores a low 25.67 percentile, which is a real consideration for families; the area has elevated asthma rates and lead exposure concerns. But it also has strong health environment scores (71.26) and easy access to Elmhurst Hospital and community health resources.
Highly walkable from nearby residential blocks and well-served by multiple subway lines (the 74th Street/Broadway station is close). Families from elsewhere in Queens can reach it via the Q32, Q53, and many local bus routes.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 262 families responded (94% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
A CTE elective sequence for students interested in health careers that includes coursework in anatomy, biotechnology, career exploration, internship and clinical medical assisting.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is International High School for Health Sciences a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for International High School for Health Sciences yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Elmhurst.
- What grades does International High School for Health Sciences serve?
- International High School for Health Sciences serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into International High School for Health Sciences?
- International High School for Health Sciences is a screened school — it admits by application, weighing grades, attendance, and sometimes a test or interview.
- Is International High School for Health Sciences public, charter, or private?
- International High School for Health Sciences is a public school in NYC Community School District 24.
- What neighborhood is International High School for Health Sciences in?
- International High School for Health Sciences is in Elmhurst, Queens.
Get the complete picture
Motley pulls together data from across New York City so you don’t have to. One free account, every school.
No credit card required
Get all this when you sign in
Survey data, program listings, admissions stats, and the full editorial profile — free, no credit card.
Full School Profile
Skip the tour guessing game. Get the standout features, honest trade-offs, and whether your kid will actually thrive here — before you visit.
Survey Results
See what 2,600+ schools’ own families and teachers really think — trust, safety, instruction quality — so you walk in with the truth, not the brochure.
Programs & Activities
Stop Googling program lists. AP courses, STEM labs, dual-language tracks, sports teams, arts — all categorized so you can compare schools in minutes.
Admissions Demand
Know your odds before you apply. Apps-per-seat ratios, offer rates, and fill data — so you don’t waste your top choice on a long shot.
Economic Need & Special Populations
Find out if the support your child needs is actually there — IEP enrollment, economic need index, and the demographics no other site surfaces.
Discipline
One bad year doesn’t tell you much. Three years of state-verified suspension data shows whether things are getting better or worse.