Our school emphasizes the study of American history and offers students an academic program that is both well-rounded and challenging. Our goal is to prepare students for admission to highly competitive colleges and for a wide range of careers in politics, law, journalism, business, science, mathematics, and the arts. Admission is based solely on a competitive examination, known as the NYCDOE's Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), open to all eighth and ninth grade New York City students. All applicants must be New York City residents in order to take the examination. All students engage in a three-year chronological study of American History. Our aim is to make history come alive through the use of primary source documents, films, biographies, literature, and creative teaching techniques. Supported by the Gilder-Lehrman Institute, students gain first-hand knowledge of the key events in American history through trips to sites and cities of historic importance and through participation in special seminars with guest speakers. We also offer honors-level, Advanced Placement, and elective courses in mathematics, science, constitutional and criminal law, literature, film, foreign languages, history, and the arts. A special component of our program focuses on the development of college-level research skills and methodologies, and students are therefore supported by school and college faculty in the process of pursuing individualized research projects. Through our collaboration with Lehman College, students have access to its campus library and athletic facilities, and take credit-bearing college classes and seminars in their junior and senior years. After school, students may participate in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities and PSAL sports. In all of our endeavors, we seek to encourage in our students a love for learning and an inquisitive spirit.