New_Utrecht_High_School

New Utrecht High School

New Utrecht High School

Public school in Brooklyn, New York, United States

New Utrecht High School is a public high school located in Bensonhurst, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The school is operated by the New York City Department of Education under District 20 and serves students of grades 9 to 12.

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39.6% of students are Asian-American, constituting a plurality of the student population. Despite a steady decline in enrollment the past few years, it remains one of the largest high schools in New York City, ranking 12th out of 542 high schools in the city for number of students in the 2022-23 academic year.

History

New Utrecht High School was established in 1915 as an offshoot of the nearby coeducational Bay Ridge High School. New Utrecht High School became an all-boys school, while Bay Ridge High School became an all-girls school.

The school's first location was a wooden building on 86th Street and 18th Avenue, with a population of 350 students. Irving Hazen was the founding principal, and he adopted the green and white colors of his alma mater, Dartmouth College, as the school's colors.

In November 1924, the school moved to its present location on 80th Street and 16th Avenue, with 2,300 students. In February of the following year, girls were admitted, resulting in the school becoming coeducational. Over the next few years, the school continued to grow, consisting of a main building and four annexes, with a student population of nearly 11,000. It was the largest student body in the world at the time.[3][4] In 1930, with a student population of 9,000, it was reported that 10 communists attacked the student government while they were debating.[5]

New Utrecht High School was the scene of several racial conflicts between blacks and whites within the community in the 1970s to 1990s. In 1974, 300 black students stormed the school after a fight between a black student and a white student ended up with the former being injured, spurring rumors that it was a racial attack.[6] In 1990, a black student was shot by a group of white students stemming from an incident in the locker room.[7]

In the 2000s, New Utrecht High School underwent a major overhaul. It added a new, two-story cafeteria building, which replaced the old cafeteria located in the main building. The old cafeteria was subsequently turned into classroom space. A new entrance was also created, accompanied by a corridor connecting the cafeteria building with the main building.[8]

Today, New Utrecht High School functions as a zoned school primarily serving students living in the neighborhoods of Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, New York.

As of 2023, the principal of the school is Svetlana Litvin.

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Demographics

A plurality of New Utrecht's student body is Asian-American, reflecting the high Asian population of Bensonhurst and the surrounding neighborhoods. A significant portion of the student population is Hispanic. Both the Asian and Hispanic percentages have increased and continue to do so, while percentages for White and Black students have consistently decreased over the past decade.

There is a large gender gap among the student body. In the 2022-23 school year, 55.8%, or 1,739 students, were male; only 44.2%, or 1,379 students, were female. 17.7% of students have disabilities, 18.2% are English Language Learners, 76.7% are in poverty, and 77.4% are considered to be part of the Economic Needs Index.[30]

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Enrollment

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Curriculum

New Utrecht High School offers a variety of classes to fulfill the credit requirements for New York City students, including electives such as art and music classes, the student government, and math team. Most academic classes are available at the Honors level for higher-achieving students, and the school offers many Advanced Placement courses.[35]

Academies

There are several academies at New Utrecht High School, some of which offer employment-oriented training in specialized fields, which include:

  • Academy of Business and Technology
  • Academy of Medical Professions and Health Careers
  • Academy of Legal Studies
  • Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
  • Academy of Art and Design
  • Academy of Asian Studies
  • Academy of Computer Science
  • Honors Academy

Some of the academies are associated with NAF, a non-profit organization originally known as the National Academy Foundation.

Proficiency

The graduation rate in June 2022 was 73.8%, a decline from 81.2% in June 2021 and 85.1% in June 2020.[36]

During the 2021-22 school year, 44% of students were classified as chronically absent by the New York State Department of Education, including over 57% of Hispanic students and almost 79% of black students. In comparison, around 54% of white students were chronically absent and just under 24% of Asian students, suggesting strong inequities in school attendance.[37]

Regents scores

The following table lists a report of Regents scores from June 2023.[38]

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SAT scores

The mean SAT score among New Utrecht students in Spring 2022 was a 936, with a 457 in English and a 459 in Mathematics.[39] This is over 100 points below the national average of 1050.[40]

Extracurricular activities

Clubs

Several clubs are available for the students of New Utrecht High School, such as the Green Team, Newspaper, the Photography Club, and the Science Olympiad Team.[41] Many after-school activities are coordinated by the Chinese-American Planning Council, which offers programs to students with the goal of advancing the Asian-American community of New Utrecht.

Events

A few special events and productions are held at New Utrecht High School:

  • AAPI Club Fair
  • Anime Event
  • AP/College Now Fair
  • Art and Music Night
  • Chinese New Year Show
  • Club Fair
  • Fashion Show
  • International Show

Student government

New Utrecht High School has a student government class which functions as an elective credit for students. Members are responsible for approving funds for clubs and organizing a School Spirit Week, Thanksgiving Dinner, Toy Drive, and other annual school-wide events.

For nearly a century, the student government positions were mayor, deputy mayor, secretary, treasurer, and student representatives from each grade. The mayoral theme was a longstanding tradition that stemmed from the fact that the neighborhood of New Utrecht was named by Dutch settlers after the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands.

In 2015, the student government changed the name of the two significant positions of mayor and deputy mayor to student body president and vice president. Beginning in Fall 2023, the roles of student president and vice president were abolished and replaced with a council, or group of students. Each member holds an equal role in the student government.

Notable alumni

New Utrecht High School is the venue for key scenes in the 1947 movie It Happened in Brooklyn, starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante, and Peter Lawford.

The front and rear views of the school building were used in the opening and closing scenes of the TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, which starred alumnus Gabe Kaplan.

  • Main entrance, 2023
  • View from 81st St. and 16th Ave., 2023
  • 79th St. student entrance, 2023
  • View of the field from 80th St., 2023
  • Rear of the building, 2021
  • Mural on the field, 2021
  • View of the train from the field, 2021
  • The entranceway of the school, 2021
  • 79th St. student entrance, 2021
  • The side of the school, 2013
  • The entranceway of the
    school, 2013
  • The rear of the school, 2013
  • The school in 2003

Notes

  1. As of August 2023
  2. It's unlikely but possible that there was another principal from 1932 to 1936, as the latest documentation found of Harry Potter as principal is from 1932.
  3. Change in percentage from 2003 to 2022
  4. The table does not show available enrollment data from 1976 to 1998. You can view this data by clicking on the two references before this note.
  5. Level 4 is the highest proficiency level for this examination.

References

  1. [1]
    "Search for Public Schools - NEW UTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL (360015102036)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  2. [2]
    https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/us-news-ranks-best-high-schools
  3. [3]
    Silberstein, Rachel (2015-09-29). "Save The Date: New Utrecht High School Celebrates 100 Years On October 24". BKLYNER. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  4. [4]
    "New Utrecht High School - Brooklyn, NY"
  5. [5]
    "RED PROPAGANDA IN SCHOOL BARRED; New Utrecht High Principal Says Government Was Attacked in History Debate.FURTHER MEETINGS HALTEDStudent Body of 9,000 IncludesOnly 10 Communists, It Is Said--One Pupil Scores Policy". The New York Times. 1930-04-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  6. [6]
    Peterson, Iver (October 9, 1974). "300 Blacks Storm New Utrecht, Forcing High School to Close". The New York Times.
  7. [7]
    Hevesi, Dennis (28 March 1990). "A Black Is Shot In a High School In Bensonshurst". The New York Times.
  8. [8]
    "Helpern Architects|New Utrecht High School"
  9. [9]
    Media, Greater (2009-09-17). "RBR Board of Education names new superintendent – Central Jersey Archives". Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    "They're older, grayer, better — and they'll meet at New Utrecht HS". Brooklyn Eagle. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    The NUHS: October 23, 1961. 1961-10-23.
  12. [12]
    The NUHS: January 1965. January 1965.
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    "ISAAC HERSH". The New York Times. 1987-07-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    "Francis J. Griffith, Educator, 79". The New York Times. 1988-05-21. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    Griffith, Francis (1960). "Another Look at the Conant Report". The Bulletin of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. 44 (258): 59–62. doi:10.1177/019263656004425810. ISSN 2471-3317. S2CID 144516378.
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    "New Utrecht High School - Digital Collections - Brooklyn Public Library". www.bklynlibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    McFadden, Robert D. (2001-03-18). "Abraham Lass, 93, Passionate Principal and Writer, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    "New Utrecht High School - Comet Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY), Class of 1941, Pages 1 - 17". e-yearbook.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    "New Utrecht High School - Comet Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY), Class of 1946, Page 12 of 120 | online yearbooks". e-yearbook.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    "In memoriam | Brooklyn Visual Heritage". www.brooklynvisualheritage.org. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    "DR. LEO R. RYAN, 62, HEADED HIGH SCHOOL". The New York Times. 1966-06-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    "New Utrecht High School - Comet Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY), Class of 1940, Pages 1 - 17". e-yearbook.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  23. [23]
    "CITY FIGHTS ROGALIN PLEA; Accused Principal's Request for Retirement Opposed in Court". The New York Times. 1942-05-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York". Newspapers.com. 1942-04-02. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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    https://www.ourfamtree.org/records/principals.php/NY/Kings-Co/Brooklyn%2C-New-Utrecht-High-School
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    "New Utrecht High School - Comet Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY), Class of 1929, Pages 1 - 17".
  27. [27]
    "1918 New Utrecht..June".
  28. [28]
    "New Utrecht football — going back in time". 3 October 2022.
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    https://www.forgottenbooks.com/en/download/TheHighSchoolsofNewYorkCity_10159232.pdf
  30. [30]
    "Information and Data Overview". New York City Department of Education. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  31. [31]
    "ARCHIVE OF NEW UTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL REPORTS". New York State Department of Education. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  32. [32]
    "Archive: Enrollment Data". New York State Department of Education. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  33. [33]
    "Archive Enrollment Data 1994-2011".
  34. [34]
    "Archive Enrollment Data 1976-1994".
  35. [35]
    "AP Courses". New Utrecht High School. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  36. [36]
    "NEW UTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL - NEW YORK STATE REPORT CARD [2021-2022]". New York State Department of Education. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  37. [37]
    "NEW UTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL - NEW YORK STATE REPORT CARD [2021-2022]". New York State Department of Education. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  38. [38]
    "NEW UTRECHT HIGH SCHOOL - NEW YORK STATE REPORT CARD [2022-2023]". New York State Department of Education. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  39. [39]
    "SCHOOL PROFILE - TRANSCRIPT SUPPLEMENT FOR THE CLASS OF 2023" (PDF). New Utrecht High School. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  40. [40]
    "Average SAT Score: Full Statistics". BestColleges. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  41. [41]
    "Clubs & Events". New Utrecht High School. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  42. [42]
    "Troy Ave Sets up Scholarship at High School He Went to with Banga - XXL". 13 June 2016.
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    "New Utrecht (Brooklyn, NY) Baseball". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
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    Levin, Jay. "Harold Martin, former Bergen County freeholder and state Assemblyman, dies", The Record (Bergen County), October 20, 2010. Accessed November 24, 2019. "Harold Martin was born in West New York and grew up in Brooklyn, where his family operated a successful menswear store. He graduated from New Utrecht High School and studied political science and economics at Rutgers University, from which he received bachelor's and master's degrees."
  45. [45]
    Carey, Benedict (14 September 2018). "Walter Mischel, 88, Psychologist Famed for Marshmallow Test, Dies". The New York Times.
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