At a Glance
A small Queens high school built around language, independence, and real-world work for students with developmental disabilities.
Best suited for
Families of high-schoolers with developmental disabilities who want a small, language-focused environment with serious work-experience opportunities and individualized attention over a traditional college-prep track.
What stands out
- The TELL (Extraordinary Language and Literacy) program is the school's academic backbone, treating language as the gateway skill for everything else.
- Real corporate work placements through the PVH Vocational Training Program put students into Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger stores as part of the school day.
- Graduation pathways include the Skills & Achievement Commencement Credential (SACC) and CDOS credential — alternative credentials designed to honor what each student can actually demonstrate.
- At 154 students total with a 9:1 ratio, every teen gets genuine individualized attention from teachers who know their profile.
Things to consider
- This is a specialized school for students with developmental disabilities — it's not a general high school, and the credentials offered (SACC, CDOS) are alternatives to a Regents diploma, so families should be clear on what outcomes they're seeking.
- The small enrollment means a narrower social world than a typical large high school, which works for some kids and feels limiting for others.
- Queens commute: easy on the E and F, but families in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or eastern Queens should factor in real travel time daily.
- Tuition and admission details aren't published in standard directories — families will need to reach out directly to understand cost, funding options (some students may attend through district referral), and eligibility.
Identity
Tiegerman High School is a nonsectarian, coed secondary program serving students with developmental disabilities through a language-based learning model. Its mission centers on helping young people find their voice, communicate effectively, and grow into independence. The school is New York State approved as a non-public school, with curriculum aligned to Next Generation Learning Standards.
Community
The student body of 154 spans grades 9 through 12 and reflects a notably diverse mix: roughly 36% Black, 31% Hispanic, 25% White, and 6% Asian students, with a diversity index well above what most private schools in the city post. Families come to Tiegerman specifically for its specialized approach, so the community shares a common understanding of what their kids need.
Neighborhood
Kew Gardens is a settled, middle-income Queens neighborhood where about half of working-age adults hold a bachelor's degree and the poverty rate sits low. The area has a residential, almost suburban feel — quiet blocks of prewar co-ops and small apartment buildings — with the kind of stable middle-class fabric that often appeals to families juggling school commutes and therapy schedules.
Jamaica-Van Wyck (E) is about a 4-minute walk, Briarwood (E, F) is roughly 7 minutes, and Sutphin Blvd (F) is around 9 minutes on foot, so multiple E and F train options make the commute workable from much of Queens and into Manhattan.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Close-knit community with individualized attention; 8.0 out of 10 rating; positive parent testimonial about special education support
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Make this school part of your plan
Everything on this page is yours to read. An account keeps your research in one place.
No credit card required
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 9 to 12 in Kew Gardens.
- What grades does TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL serve?
- TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL?
- TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL in?
- TIEGERMAN HIGH SCHOOL is in Kew Gardens, Queens.