Long Island City High School

I attended LIC in the early 60s during a time when the Vietnam War Protest were just getting started. There has always been controversy with LIC. But she is like a good ship. She can and alway have safely sails rough and uncharted seas and achieved her educatioal and moral mission. I thank my former teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, para professionals, the Parents & teachers association. More importantly my former principal Dr. Howard L. Hurwitz for working hard with my parents and I so that I could gain an experience that is next to devinity. I have gone on to achieve many goals. I entered into the U.S. Navy, attended the Naval, Military and Air War College, Naval Post Grad School. I owe all of this to the dedicated team of educators and volunteers at LICHS. Keep LICHS open

LIC HS has been in turmoil during the last 3 years, due to a drop in the graduation rate to a small percentage below the NYC standards. This is not caused by the lack of the teachers' knowledge and abilities, as the mayor has suggested, but rather by the changing student population, and the scramble to create new procedures to keep up with the incoming students' needs. LIC is not failing because the teachers and students have given up. The constant changes in the administration and new DOE policies have taken the spirit out of the school, the parents, the teachers, the administrators, the students, and the neighborhood. The graduation rate drop is due to the challenges of preparing the English Language Learners and Special Services Students to pass NY state required tests needed to fulfill NYS graduation requirements. Everyone in LIC is working harder than ever, and no one should be blamed for failing to meet an almost impossible task. Morale is down, and the DOE is fixing this by requiring more teacher observations, taking away teacher preparation time to hold more meetings to discuss the student problem, and adding more layers of checks and balances. What???????
—Submitted by a teacher

My daughter entered this school specifically for its Culinary Program, but discovered that although its Culinary Program is amazing, there is so much more to commend it. The majority of her teachers were dedicated and fair professionals who encouraged her to experience all the school has to offer. And she did. Along with being a member of the National Honor Society, she was a member of the Robotics Team, the Law/Debate Team, the Handball Team, the Lacrosse Team, and the Bowling Team. She became Captain of the Bowling Team and won the trophy for Best Female H.S. bowler in Queens. She was scouted for scholarships from colleges with bowling teams. But turned them down b/c she got a full scholarship to Culinary Institute of America. Educating a child is a partnership and with the help of the teachers, staff and opportunities available at L.I.C. H.S., we did a fine job. This is an excellent school!
—Submitted by a parent

The Special Education program is better than at some of the states private charter schools.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is great so far! I am a freshman at LICHS and I have to say it is more than I expected it to be. I expected it to be bad and dull but it is the complete opposite! This school has great teachers and as well as students. Everyone is great and you'll blend right in! The academics here are great I am in all honors and their really giving me and education. It all depends on the student cause their the one that make the choices!
—Submitted by a student

As a senior in lic high school now going to college, I'd have to say this school did a good job to make me get to the level I am at now. Any others that say otherwise shouldn't blame the teachers and school for themselves for not striving to do good. Unlike other high school's you can leave from any door of the school at any time; whether you have classes or not. This leads kids to cut and in turn brings them down. Teachers and guidance are top notch, some of which you will never forget. Facilities are also great although the use of them in lic high school need some work. I went to this school because it was convenient and because I was told that the teachers were very good. I see now that was true.
—Submitted by a student

its ok right now but skool lunches need to be a bit better and they need to put more time in between periods so the students that want to learn can get to get there classes on time and i speak on behalf of all my classmates
—Submitted by a student

this school is terrible. terrible teachers and terrible education. they don't prepare you the way they should for universities.
—Submitted by a student

my daughter likes this school. first year here. however her classes have been changed 3x, as soon as she settles down & starts making friends, she gets a new program. get it together administration. it's not fun going into a class, sitting through attendance then realizing your name wasn't called, teacher telling you to leave, you no longer belong here. two other comments about this school. they do not have a website. why is that? in this day & age. I'm sure some ot the kids would be able to get one up & running with very little guidence from the staff. this school has plenty of sports. at orientation the princilpal stressed joining a team & said the coaches will approach the freshman until they join something. my daughter signed up for 5 of them and has yet to be notified by a coach or team member about joining.
—Submitted by a parent

awesome teachersss and great friends..
—Submitted by a parent

Cause we have great academics, athletic teams, clubs, teachers and a Olympic sized pool.
—Submitted by a parent

this school has amazing teachers, all of them are excellent and friendly. we have great ap classes and various electives which is a good thing we have chocies. its the same thing with our gyms, this school offer many things for us; I'm glad i picked this school.
—Submitted by a parent

this school is one of many schools who accepts and make our classes easier. the teachers are great they help us a lot even with smiles on their faces. i enjoy going to this school its very friendly and it has many choices to pick. this school also has better school lunch than other schools which is a good thing, we have a school store which is amazing.
—Submitted by a parent

If you plan on joining any sport, you are sure to be able to find great ones at long island city high school. All extra. curricular activities at this wonderful school is open to any student that is interested in being a well rounded individual inside and out :)
—Submitted by a student

this school is an amazing school it is hard to find a school with facilities such as these that are offered especially in new york .the teachers clearly know what they are doing
—Submitted by a student

A excellent school I have had 4 generations that have gone to this school and we absoultly love it. 5 STARS
—Submitted by a parent

Both my daughters graduated from LIC ('06 and '08). Now my son is starting 9th grade in Sept. 2008. I guess the third time's a charm! LIC offers a wide range of programs that cover a lot of topics, even if the high school directory currently only shows 4. The Academies have also helped kids so they don't have to run from the 1st floor to the 6th in between classes. The few downsides are the overcrowding and really staggered schedule from some students but the diversity outweighs these problems. They also have a wide range of sports and one of the few schools with a pool so kids can learn to swim.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student at LICHS. I am going to be a junior and I really like the school. It's in great, safe neighborhood, and transportation is really easy, the closest subway is 5 blocks from the school and the closest bus is right on the school block. People have said it is a bad school because of low graduation rates, when I, a student there have not met one kid that has dropped out. Its a good school with a lot of tivities. The downside is the security guards an be rude.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from LIC in 2003. Over all it is a very good school w/ plenty of Advance Placement classes and extracurricular activities, more than other high schools in my opinion. Most of my classmates went of to college, ranging from Cooper Union to Vanderbilt to the CUNY/SUNY colleges. This high school offers plenty of opportunities to succeed but students just need to take advantage of them.
—Submitted by a student

As a parent with a sophmore at LIC and an 8th grader who plans to enter next year, I am very happy with the school. Yes, it is overcrowded but it has downsized over recent years and the school day has been made shorter. Very few public high schools offer such a variety of coursework and extracurricular activities. The building is beautiful and, most importantly, safe. Many students go on to very good colleges and often leave LIC with college credits already earned.
—Submitted by a parent