Wikipedia

Curtis High School

Curtis High School, operated by the New York City Department of Education, is one of seven public high schools located in Staten Island, New York City, New York. It was founded on February 9, 1904, the first high school on Staten Island.

Curtis High School
Address
Map
105 Hamilton Avenue,

Staten Island

New York City
,
New York
10301

United States
Coordinates40°38′43″N 74°4′54″W / 40.64528°N 74.08167°W / 40.64528; -74.08167
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoCurtis High School
Established1904
PrincipalGreg Jaenicke
Faculty190
Number of students2,541
MascotWarriors
NewspaperCurtis Log
YearbookCrosswinds
Colors  Maroon
  White
Websitecurtishs.org
North side

History edit

Curtis High School is named after nationally prominent Republican writer and orator George W. Curtis, who lived nearby. The school was the first public building built following the consolidation of Greater New York. It was part of a plan to erect a major high school in each of the outlying boroughs, with Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, Morris High School in the Bronx, and Flushing High School in Queens being the other three. It was designed by the architect C. B. J. Snyder. The cornerstone was laid in 1902, it was completed and opened 1904. The original building of brick and limestone is dominated by a large square turreted tower inspired by English medieval models. The first principal was Columbia graduate Oliver Durfee Clark, who served 1904 to 1906. The second principal (1906–1912) was Harry Freeman Towle, a graduate of Dartmouth College. Additions were made to the building in 1922, 1925 and 1937. John M Avent (Columbia Graduate, author) was principal from 1924 to the late 1940s. Curtis was designated a New York City Landmark on October 12, 1982. The gym and cafeteria wings were added at a later date as additions to the original building's neo-Gothic architecture.

Academics edit

Curtis offers an International Baccalaureate Scholarship Honors programs IB-DP and IB-CP with accelerated curriculum and Advanced Placement courses, and courses include nursing, NJROTC, performing arts, visual arts, business/computer institute, CoOp, human and legal studies, and journalism.

Extracurricular activities edit

Curtis offers a robotics team, National Honor Society, chess club, Key Club, black and Hispanic awareness clubs, film club, Moot Court, the Curtis Players, jazz band, orchestra, dance, symphonic band, the Curtis Log (newspaper), Crosswinds (yearbook), math team, criminal law and justice mentoring program, peer mediation and conflict resolution programs.

Sports edit

Curtis fields over thirty varsity teams, including a swimming team, as well as golf, bowling, volleyball, soccer, basketball, wrestling baseball/softball, tennis, track/cross country, gymnastics, lacrosse and football teams. In addition, Curtis club teams include boys' varsity and junior varsity, and girls' varsity Ultimate teams. The Curtis High School Track was named after Abel Kiviat and the Baseball Field was renamed Bobby Thomson Field in 2007

Enrollment edit

Curtis has a total enrollment of about 3,006 and is open to residents of New York City entering either ninth or tenth grade. Enrollment requirements vary depending on which of the ten "houses" the student is going to be enrolled. There are zoned programs where enrollment is based mostly on geography, with Staten Island residents having priority over all other boroughs. Within Staten Island, geographical areas closer to the school have priority over all other areas of Staten Island. Most other programs rely either on the prospective student's grades and city standardized tests or specialized enrollment tests.

The school's population is 38% African American, 31% Hispanic, 22.9% White and 7.5% Asian.[1]

Feeder patterns and admissions edit

All New York City students entering high school must apply to schools, as there are no zoning boundaries for high schools in New York City. Only special zoned programs have geographical restrictions whereby certain areas of Staten Island have priority over all of the rest of New York City.

Notable alumni edit

Name Year Profession Notability Reference
Vincent R. Capodanno 1947 Priest Priest and Missioner who was killed in action during the Vietnam War [2]
Joseph F. Merrell 1944 Soldier Medal of Honor recipient [3]
Jeb Stuart Magruder 1952 Politician Advisor to Richard Nixon and Watergate scandal conspirator [4]
Ralph J. Lamberti 1948 Politician Staten Island Borough president from 1984 to 1989 [5]
Alfred E. Santangelo 1930 Politician Former United States congressman [6]
Loring McMillen 1924 Historian Official Staten Island historian [7]
Florina Kaja Transferred (attended until 1998) Reality TV personality Bad Girls Club and Bad Girls All-Star Battle [8]
Lois Lowry Transferred (attended until 1952) Writer Children's book author [9]
Amy Vanderbilt Transferred (attended until 1924) Writer author of the best-selling Complete Book of Etiquette (1952 [10]
Emily Genauer 1929 Art Critic Pulitzer Prize for Criticism winner [11]
Mario Buatta 1953 Interior Designer interior designer who designed for several famous clients [12]
Betty Aberlin 1959 Actress Best known for Playing Lady Aberlin on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood [13]
Selita Ebanks 2001 Model Victoria's Secret Model [14]
RZA 1987 Musician hip-hop recording artist, and producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan [15]
Richie Castellano 1998 Musician singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist and keyboard player for the Blue Öyster Cult [16]
David O. Stewart 1969 Author historian and author [17]
Michael Henry Heim 1961 Author literary translator, inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences [18]
Bobby Thomson 1942 Baseball Player baseball player for the New York Giants, famous for "the Shot Heard 'Round the World"
Jack Hynes 1938 Soccer Player Soccer Hall of Fame and MVP of the American Soccer League [19]
Frank Fernández 1961 Baseball Player MLB player, Yankees, Athletics, Senators, Cubs [20]
James Jenkins 1987 Football Player Former Tight End for the Washington Redskins [21]
Dominique Easley 2010 Football Player NFL first round pick who played for the Patriots and Rams [22]
Halil Kanacević 2009 Basketball Player Professional basketball player in Europe; played college basketball at Saint Joseph's [23]
Abel Kiviat 1908 Runner Olympic Silver Medalist in the 1500m run [24]
Hassan Martin 2013 Basketball Player Professional basketball player in Europe and Asia; played college basketball at Rhode Island [25]
Hank Majeski 1935 Baseball Player MLB Player; Braves, Yankees, Athletics, White Sox, Indians, Orioles [26]
Steve Gregory 2002 Football Player NFL Player; Chargers, Patriots [27]
Mouhamadou Gueye 2016 Basketball Player Forward for the Toronto Raptors [28]
Vernon Turner 1986 Football Player former NFL Player [29]
Anthony Varvaro 2002 Baseball player Former MLB pitcher and NYPD police officer [30]
Shemiah LeGrande 2004 Football Player Former NFL Player [31]
Isaiah Wilkerson 2008 Basketball Player Professional basketball player in Mexico and Europe; played college basketball at NJIT [32]
Irv Constantine 1928 Football Player Played 1 NFL game for the Staten Island Stapletons [33]
Sonny Ruberto 1964 Baseball Player Former MLB player and coach [citation needed]
Terry Crowley 1965 Baseball Player and Coach 3x World Series Champion [34]
Elmer Ripley 1921 Basketball Coach Basketball Hall of Famer [35]

Parental support edit

Parents collaborate with the school's administration and its staff through monthly PTA meetings, PTA newsletters, School Leadership Team meetings, Gear-Up, Principal's Consultative Council, Health Fair, HIV AIDS Team, and the football, track, robotics and performing arts parents clubs.

Community support edit

Partnerships:

  • Liberty Partnership Mentoring Program (CSI)
  • Gear-Up
  • Discovery Institute (CSI)
  • Brooklyn Polytechnic University Center for Youth in Engineering and Science
  • Curtis HS Career Connections
  • Global Ambassadors
  • Corporations:
  • Higher education institutions:
  • Cultural/arts organizations:
    • Snug Harbor
  • Community-based organizations:
    • NYCID
    • Liberty Partnership
    • Foward [sic] P.A.S.S.
  • Hospital outreach:
  • Financial institutions:

Schoolwide awards and recognition edit

  • 7-time PSAL Girls' Bowling Championship
  • 13-time PSAL Boys' Cross Country City Championship (1928, 1929, 1930 [nationals], 1931, 1933, 1935, 1938)
  • 7-time PSAL Boys' Football Championship (1998, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2016, 2017)
  • 3-time PSAL Boys' Golf City Championship
  • 2-time PSAL Girls' Cross Country City Championship
  • 3 time Boys' PSAL Indoor Track City Championships, (first one in 1909 with help of Olympic Silver medal winner Abel Kiviat),1928
  • Boys' PSAL Bowling Championship
  • Girls' PSAL Basketball "A" City Championship (2011, 2012, 2013)
  • Girls' PSAL Golf City Championship
  • 2-time Girls' PSAL Lacrosse City Championship (2015, 2016)
  • Boys' PSAL Lacrosse City Championship (2016)
  • Boys' PSAL Basketball "A" City Championship
  • Boys' PSAL Wrestling "A" City Championship
  • 3-time Girls' PSAL Wrestling Championship (2013, 2014, 2015)
  • Boys' PSAL Soccer Championship (1915, 1917)
  • Boys' PSAL Baseball Championship (1943, 1961, 1962)
  • Boys' PSAL Tennis Singles Championship (1917)
  • Boys' Lacrosse Semi Finals NYC (1915,2017,2019)

Other edit

Curtis alumn Jason Defazio was killed on 9/11. He worked on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center at Cantor Fitzgerald.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Curtis High School". SchoolDigger. 2011.
  2. ^ "Father Capodanno Biography". Archdiocese for the Military, USA.
  3. ^ Harkins, Jim (20 November 2021). "Remembering an 18-year-old Staten Islander who died in a 'gallant, one-man attack' during WWII". silive.
  4. ^ "Jeb Stuart Magruder – Curtis High School Association of Alumni & Friends". www.chsaaf.com.
  5. ^ "2nd annual Mitzvah Awards set for May 4". Newsroom. 27 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov.
  7. ^ "Loring McMillen – Curtis High School Association of Alumni & Friends". www.chsaaf.com.
  8. ^ Yates, James (2 December 2009). "'Bad Girls Club' Season 4 premiere recap (video): Staten Island in da house". silive.
  9. ^ Lowry, Lois. "The Giver Summary".
  10. ^ Advance, Staten Island (27 March 2011). "Amy Vanderbilt, arbiter of social graces, began her career at the Staten Island Advance". silive.
  11. ^ "Emily Genauer's Criticism Published for the First Time on Pulitzer.org". www.pulitzer.org.
  12. ^ Benanti, Carol Ann (16 October 2018). "Renowned interior designer, Mario Buatta: 'The Prince of Chintz' dies at 82". silive.
  13. ^ Santos, Dr Gracelyn (19 September 2019). "Vintage photos of Staten Island public high school students". silive.
  14. ^ Stein, Mark (15 May 2015). "How old do they look? (Staten Island edition)". silive.
  15. ^ Wrobleski, Tom (26 December 2022). "See yourself in any of these 34 vintage photos from Curtis High School?". silive.
  16. ^ "Discography – Richie Castellano".
  17. ^ "David O. Stewart – Curtis High School Association of Alumni & Friends". www.chsaaf.com.
  18. ^ Fox, Margalit (5 October 2012). "Michael Henry Heim, Literary Translator, Dies at 69". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Hart, Stephen (4 August 2013). "Staten Island soccer legend Jack Hynes dead at 92". silive.
  20. ^ "Frank Fernandez". www.sisportshalloffame.org.
  21. ^ "James Jenkins Stats, Position, College, Transactions". www.profootballarchives.com.
  22. ^ "Dominique Easley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  23. ^ "Halil Kanacevic College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  24. ^ Advance, Staten Island (27 March 2011). "Our only Olympic Medalist got his start at Curtis HS". silive.
  25. ^ "Hassan Martin College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  26. ^ "Hank Majeski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  27. ^ "Steve Gregory Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  28. ^ "Mouhamadou Gueye Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball-Reference.com.
  29. ^ "Vernon Turner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  30. ^ "Anthony Varvaro Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  31. ^ "Shemiah LeGrande - Football". Hofstra University Athletics.
  32. ^ Regina, Nick (3 June 2022). "'Zay Day' -- Local hoops star Isaiah Wilkerson hosting community celebration to end gun violence". silive.
  33. ^ "Irv Constantine Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  34. ^ "Terry Crowley". www.sisportshalloffame.org.
  35. ^ "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Elmer Ripley". www.hoophall.com.

External links edit

 
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