At a Glance
A career-focused screened high school in central Queens where getting in — especially into Medical Careers or Robotics — is the hard part
Best suited for
Students with a clear career interest — particularly in healthcare, IT, robotics, or skilled trades — who thrive in larger, more structured environments and have a specific program they want to attend. Best for families who value screened admissions, hands-on learning, and a defined pathway over a traditional comprehensive high school experience, and who can handle a longer commute or live within walking distance.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of 4-year graduation, English Regents college-ready and Regents completion · DOE 2025 report
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Seven distinct screened CTE programs with national-level applicant competition (Medical Careers at 1.8% offer rate, Robotics/STEM at 2%)
- 100/100 program richness score — the school offers everything from Driver's Ed to Glamour Gals to a SkillsUSA chapter
- Zero suspensions despite an enrollment of over 2,200 students
- Screened admissions model lets students choose a career pathway, not just a school
- 51% Asian student body creates a culturally distinctive community uncommon in NYC public high schools
Things to consider
- With 2,233 students, Edison is among the largest high schools in Queens — small-school seekers should look elsewhere
- PTA fundraising totaled just $3 per student last year, versus the district average of $165 per student — families here tend not to supplement via the PTA
- Teacher-principal trust at 65% is notably below district average and may signal leadership turnover or communication gaps with staff
- Program selectivity means your child's actual experience depends heavily on which CTE track they land in
- Subway access requires an 11–20 minute walk, so this is not a transit-pickable school for most families
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 28
Edison occupies a unique niche in District 28, which is otherwise dominated by elementary and middle schools — the listed peer schools are all K–8 campuses. As the district's flagship CTE high school, it draws applicants citywide and competes against other screened Queens high schools for the same ambitious families. The school itself does not appear to have an overall quality rating in the provided peer dataset, but its program richness score of 100/100 stands out.
Academics
Edison is a screened CTE school, meaning students apply to a specific program rather than the school as a whole — and the competition is fierce. Robotics/STEM took 1,224 applicants for 24 seats (2% offer rate) and Medical Careers 1,466 applicants for 26 seats (1.8%). The school offers AP Courses, ELL Support, and World Languages alongside its career tracks, and the program richness score maxes out at 100/100. Class size sits right at the district average of roughly 24.5 students. Students who land here have typically cleared a meaningful academic bar to do so.
Culture
Parents are unusually happy here — 94% parent satisfaction (above the district's 92.6% average) and 97% parent-principal trust — suggesting families feel heard and informed. The day-to-day feel is calm on paper: zero suspensions at a school of 2,200+ students is remarkable. But there's a real disconnect worth noting: teacher-principal trust sits at only 65%, well below the district average, and teacher instruction quality lands at 87% versus the district's 91.7%. That's not a crisis, but it suggests teachers may feel less aligned with leadership than parents do.
Community
Edison's student body is 51% Asian, 23% Hispanic, 15% Black, with smaller White and multi-racial populations — a noticeably different mix than the typical NYC high school. The diversity index is 70%, and 14% of students have IEPs. The economic need index of 62.2% means a majority of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, even though families describe themselves as solidly middle-class on the surrounding PTA and survey responses.
Neighborhood
Edison sits in Jamaica Hills-Briarwood, a middle-class Queens neighborhood where the median household income is $83,991, 13.4% of residents live below the poverty line, and 23% of households include children — slightly above the citywide share of families with kids. About 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 39.6% of homes are owner-occupied, with a median home value around $612,000. It's a stable, family-oriented area with a clear mix of immigrant and second-generation households.
The school is genuinely a walk-to-school destination only for nearby residents. The nearest subway is 169 St on the F line (about an 11-minute walk), followed by Parsons Blvd on the F (13-minute walk) and Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer on the E, J, and Z (about 20 minutes on foot). Most students rely on the school bus or family drop-off.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 813 families responded (39% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
Preparation for careers in one of the following visual arts areas: Graphic Arts, Digital Media, or Mobile Apps & Web Design/Developer. With a major focus on hands on instruction, these programs prepare students for relevant college majors with exposure to careers in all areas of visual arts. Industry certification (Adobe Certified Associate), dual enrollment, and articulated college credit courses included. Visit www.EdisonCTE.org for more information about our Visual Arts programs.
Preparation for careers in one of these information technology areas: Apple Service Technician, Internetworking, IT Specialist, and Cyber Security. With a major focus on hands on instruction, these programs prepare students for relevant college majors with exposure to careers in all areas of IT, industry certification (A+, Apple Certified Technician, Network+, Security+), dual enrollment, and articulated college courses. Visit www.EdisonCTE.org for more information about our IT programs.
Preparation for careers in the creative world of Architecture and Design. With a major focus on hands on instruction, this program prepares students to enter the field of architecture, construction, and engineering. Industry certification (AutoCAD & Autodesk Revit), dual enrollment, and articulated college credit courses included. Visit www.EdisonCTE.org for more information about our Architecture & Engineering program.
Preparation for careers in electrical & solar technology. With a major focus on hands on instruction, this program prepares students with a focus on low voltage systems, residential wiring, motors/motor controls, and solar technology. Exposure to careers in all areas of electrical & solar technology. Industry certification (OSHA, NCCER, and Energy Management). Visit www.EdisonCTE.org for more information about our Electrical & Solar Technology program.
Preparation for careers in one of the following automotive areas: Automotive Technology and Collision & Refinishing. With a major focus on hands on instruction, these programs prepare students for relevant college majors with exposure to careers in all areas of the automotive industry. Industry certification (ASE and i-Car), dual enrollment, and articulated college credit courses included. Visit www.EdisonCTE.org for more information about our Automotive and Collision & Refinishing programs.
Preparation for careers in computer science and engineering. With a major focus on hands on instruction and computer coding (Python, Java, and C++), this program prepares students with a focus on learning basic robot and drone building instructions, programming, movement, and working with sensors. Projects incorporate STEM concepts. Industry certification (OSHA and MTA: Intro to Python) Visit www.EdisonCTE.org for more information about our Robotics/STEM & Drone program.
Preparation for careers in the exciting world of Medicine. With a major focus on hands on instruction, this program focuses on the medical profession and prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies for success in college pre-med programs. Industry certification (AMCA and NOCTI: Medical Assisting), dual enrollment, and articulated college credit courses included. Visit www.EdisonCTE.org for more information about our Medical Assisting program.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Economic Need & Special Populations
How to get in, step by step
High school (9th grade)
High school is one citywide application, made in 8th grade. Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School admits through 7 programs, and each one has its own admissions method:
- Automotive TechnologiesScreened
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)Screened
- Electrical Installation TechnologiesEd. Opt.
- Information TechnologiesScreened
- Medical CareersScreened
- Robotics/STEMScreened
- Visual ArtsScreened
High school application
- Opened
- Tue, Oct 6
- Closes
- Fri, Dec 4
- Offers
- Wed, Mar 3
The DOE’s published dates.
- 1Apply on MySchools during the high school application, in 8th grade.
- 2Screened programs rank the 7th-grade core-course average, so last year's final grades are the ones that count.
- 3Educational Option programs fill in equal shares across three reading levels, half by the school's ranking and half by lottery.
- 4Rank programs in true preference order — the match places your child in the highest-ranked one that offers a seat.
Open houses and tours
Thomas A Edison CTE HS
Thu, Nov 12, · 6:00 PM · In person
Thomas A Edison CTE HS
Sat, Nov 21, · 10:00 AM · In person
Thomas A Edison CTE HS
Sat, Nov 21, · 1:00 PM · In person
From the MySchools admissions calendar, checked weekly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School a good school?
- On Motley, Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School earns an overall rating of 77/100 — the average of the school's four-year graduation rate, the share of its students scoring college-ready (70+) on the English Regents, and its Regents completion rate, shown out of 100.
- What grades does Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School serve?
- Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School?
- Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School is a screened school — it admits by application, ranking applicants on their course grades (4th grade for middle school, the 7th-grade core-course average for high school); a few schools add an assessment, writing sample, or interview.
- Is Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School public, charter, or private?
- Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School is a public school in NYC Community School District 28.
- What neighborhood is Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School in?
- Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School is in Jamaica Hills-Briarwood, Queens.