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.
History
Curtis High School is named after nationally prominent 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 (1906â€"1912) was Harry Freeman Towle, a graduate of Dartmouth. 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
Curtis offers a International Baccalaureate Scholarship Honors program with accelerated curriculum and Advanced Placement courses, and courses include nursing, NJROTC, performing arts, visual arts, business/computer institute, CoOp, human and legal studies, journalism institute and school for international services.
Extracurricular activities
Curtis offers a robotics team, National Honor Society, chess club, Key Club, black and Hispanic awareness clubs, 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
Curtis fields over thirty varsity teams, including a swimming team, as well as golf, bowling, volleyball, soccer, basketball, wrestling, fencing, 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 Field was renamed Bobby Thomson Field in 2007.
Enrollment
Curtis has a total enrollment of about 2,830 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.
Feeder patterns and admissions
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
- Vincent Robert Capodanno, US Navy chaplain, received the Medal of Honor after dying under fire in Vietnam. Father Capodanno Boulevard is named for him, as is the USSÂ Capodanno
- Joseph F. Merrell Jr. (1926â€"1945), posthumously awarded United States Medal of Honor for combat in World War II. A ferry is named for him.
- Jeb Stuart Magruder, lawyer, advisor to President Nixon, Watergate conspirator
- Ralph J. Lamberti, Staten Island borough president
- Alfred E. Santangelo, United States Congressman
- Loring McMillen, Official Staten Island historian, and one of the founders of the Richmondtown Museum
Arts and music
- Florina Kaja, reality TV star
- Lois Lowry, children's author, two-time Newbery Medal winner
- Amy Vanderbilt (1908â€"1974), author of the best selling Complete Book of Etiquette (1952). A native of Staten Island
- Emily Genauer, art critic, won a Pulitzer Prize for newspaper reporting.
- Mario Buatta, famous interior designer
- Selita Ebanks, Victoria's Secret Model
- The RZA, hip-hop recording artist, and producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. In his song "Sunshower", he raps, "Old Earth got nervous, walked me to Shaolin, sent me to Curtis"
- Richie Castellano, singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist and keyboard player for the Blue Oyster Cult
- Jesse Blum, multi-instrumentalist for MisterWives
- David O. Stewart '69, historian and author
- Michael Henry Heim (1943â€"2012), literary translator, inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Sports
- Bobby Thomson '42, baseball player for the New York Giants, famous for "the Shot Heard 'Round the World"
- John Siano '42, College football player Villanova University '48
- Jack Hynes '37, Soccer Hall of Fame and MVP of the American Soccer League
- Frank Fernández, Major League Baseball player, Yankees, Athletics, Senators, Cubs
- James Jenkins, former football player with the Washington Redskins
- Andrew J. Barberi, football player and longtime Curtis High coach. Staten Island ferry MV Andrew J. Barberi is named for him.
- Dominique Easley, current player for the L.A. Rams
- Halil Kanacevic, professional basketball player
- Abel Kiviat '08, Olympic Silver medalist 1912
- Steve Gregory, football player for the Los Angles Rams
- Vernon Turner, '01 former player for the Buffalo Bills
- Anthony Varvaro, Atlanta Braves relief pitcher
- Shemiah LeGrande, current player for the Detroit Lions
- Isaiah Wilkerson, basketball player
- Irv Constantine, NFL player
- Sonny Ruberto, major league baseball player
- Terry Crowley, major league baseball player
- Elmer Ripley, early pro basketball player and college coach
Parental support
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
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:
- Infinity Broadcasting
- MIX 102.7 FM
- O’Melveny & Myers Law Firm
- Higher education institutions:
- College of Staten Island
- St. John's University
- Cultural/arts organizations:
- Snug Harbor
- Community-based organizations:
- NYCID
- Liberty Partnership
- Foward [sic] P.A.S.S.
- Hospital outreach:
- Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home
- Staten Island University Hospital
- St. Vincent's Hospital
- Egger Nursing Home
- Financial institutions:
- Federal Reserve Bank Mentoring Program
Schoolwide awards and recognition
- 7-time PSAL Girls' Bowling Championship
- 13-time PSAL Boys' Cross Country City Championship (1928, 1929, 1930 [nationals], 1931, 1933, 1935, 1938)
- 6-time PSAL Boys' Football Championship (1998, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2016)
- 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
- Girls' PSAL Lacrosse City Championship
- Boys' PSAL Lacrosse City Championship
- 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)
Other
Curtis alumn Jason Defazio was killed on 9/11. He worked on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center at Cantor Fitzgerald.
References
External links
- Curtis HS official website
- St. George Civic Association: Curtis High School
- Curtis High School Association of Alumni and Friends (CHSAAF)
- Class of 1974 reunion organization