Leaving the Nest? Queens High School for the Sciences Students React to Potential York College Split

As other students enter into their towering high schools every morning, students at Queens High School for the Sciences (QHSS) rush inside the gates of York College to enter their small-hub located in the nursing building. Hallways that were once remnants of a college classroom have since been spruced up to display the diverse community of QHSS through built-in bulletin boards displaying the athletics department, murals with inspiring quotes, and artwork done by students. Outside of the classroom, students may escape the academic scene during their lunch and afterschool periods to the main college building, purchasing snacks from the cafe or catching up on work in the library. Living in the best of both worlds, students question how a breakaway from college may transform their high school experience.

QHSS is one of three specialized high schools located on a college campus. Since its opening in 2002, the high school has occupied various spaces. From trailers to its current shared space with York College, limited space has always been a part of QHSS’s history. With only 500 students, the close-knit community is a determining factor for many when choosing to attend.

Yet space has recently posed more of a pressing problem rather than a defining feature as QHSS lacks dedicated facilities for even the most basic needs. For example, the school cannot accommodate AP and final exams on its own campus, relying on York College at a staggering cost of $10,000 per year—a significant financial burden for a school with scarce funding.

The cramped one-floor classroom space and basement cafeteria fail to reflect QHSS’s academic rigor, discouraging prospective students from applying.

According to Saadat Azam, a current Stuyvesant freshman, “I remember first opening my SHSAT student handbook and being drawn to QHSS; it was just a few minutes away from where I lived. After doing research online, I found the extensive list of AP courses offered and its high ranking in the city. I was ready to commit to it until my guidance counselor informed me that it had no building. When I heard people warning me of a small school, I believed that it was due to the low number of accepted applicants, not because of the building. I confirmed the truth myself after going to the open house. Compared to other specialized high schools, like Brooklyn Tech or Bronx Science, QHSS felt much smaller which made me reconsider my choice. To me, a limited space meant limited opportunities.”

The limited space also complicates student life. At present, QHSSers can only use the gym between 8:00 AM and 12:30 PM, thus constraining physical education to five periods and making it difficult for coaches to schedule practices. As a result, teams are often forced to practice outdoors or at inconvenient early-morning hours, leading to decreased participation and opportunities for student-athletes.

Despite York College having a swimming pool in their gymnasium, QHSS was denied access to it—-causing the QHSS Co-Ed swim team to embark an arduous journey to Queens Community College for practice after school three days a week. It was an hour-long commute on the Q31 bus, coupled with 20 minutes walking. “My mom wanted me to quit, but I did not want to leave the team. I know some people did.” said co-captain Julia Gelman.

School events also suffer, as securing a venue within York College poses a constant challenge. Event Committee Board Member Ajwad Mahmood recalls struggling to organize the recent Winter Snow Ball, explaining that York’s renovations forced the event into the gym, an already high-demand space. “Since York almost always needs the gym and prioritizes their activities over ours, it was next to impossible to get a timeslot,” he says. With only an hour to set up and communication slowed by coordination between two administrations, planning became an uphill battle. “If we had our own space, we could’ve much more easily secured a timeslot, had far more time to set up, and avoided bureaucratic delays.”

The growing tension between the two institutions exacerbates the need for a dedicated school building. Frustration runs both ways: York College proves its growing weariness of high schoolers entering restricted spaces through increasing surveillance while QHSS administrators express feeling like “tenants.” Principal Ana De Jesus remarks, “Being here hurts the school more than anything.” She notes that QHSS has so little control over the building that even painting the walls requires college permission.

As space limitations continue to impact student life, academics, and extracurriculars, the need for a long-term solution becomes clearer than ever. Since the reopening of the school post-pandemic, QHSS administration have been actively looking and advocating for new space. Due to the permanent closing of the Jamaica Multiplex Cinema across the campus, there has been some commotion of securing the building as the new school but the news quickly died down after a couple of months.

However, QHSS has also been actively seeking a DOE-issued building that, unlike the cinema, would be permanently owned by the school. Located on Hillside, Jamaica, the five-story facility marks a significant upgrade from the current situation. The new building, if QHSS is able to secure it, is expected to resolve the school’s long-standing constraints by offering its own facilities. A portion of the space may be allocated to a small number of District 75 students with disabilities thus allowing QHSS students to still have space that is dominantly theirs.

Administration expressed their excitement over the news, highlighting several key advantages of the new building. Unlike other potential alternatives, this facility remains in Jamaica which ensures that students experience minimal disruption to their commute. The location within a growing neighborhood makes it an attractive option for students in Districts 28 and 29.

The principal has expressed that these changes will allow for extra classes, a thriving extracurricular community, and promote more school spirit. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a more holistic school experience that extends beyond academics.

“…Having a gymnasium or more rooms to include more classes is something that [is] …seen as a luxury. It is an opportunity we should take because…[it] gives us an opportunity to show we have a voice and that through change we can improve our situation,” Jerome Persaud, a Junior at QHSS, relished.

While there will be a larger space, class sizes will remain small. If the move happens, school size is expected to increase by up to 800 seats which increases funding for safety agents and custodians that are currently missing from the school.

Regardless of the great amenities, students worry that the new building will not resolve their preexisting concerns. Understanding the competitive nature of high school, students prioritize maximizing their opportunities. Therefore, instead of moving as an independent school, students believe it’s best to mend the relationship with York College, as the college affiliation grants them exclusive opportunities—whether that’s the dual enrollment program or connections to mentors.

Students passionate about biology, for instance, had the opportunity to work with PhD professor Louis Levinger through York College’s Summer STEM Academy. With a $1,500 stipend each, participants conducted research on the microbial composition of sourdough and kefir while gaining hands-on experience in lab procedures under expert guidance of Dr. Levinger and college seniors. The program offered a memorable summer of scientific exploration. Tristan Dai, a participant, reflected on the experience: “Being in a school affiliated with York College gives us a slight advantage that other students don’t receive… We begin to see resources that are quite literally across the street.”