NYC Lab High School for Collaborative Studies

I have a junior at Lab, and I couldn't be happier with the education he is receiving. The teachers at Lab are better than my professors in college many years ago. They care about the kids, and do their best to encourage each and every child. Lab teaches the kids to soar bravely in our complex world, which is perfect. Some schools only care about ranking and AP classes. I hope my younger child ends up here also!!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a freshman at LAB High School. She came from a small academically rigorous private school. She was well prepared, but the high school transition was challenging. She is thriving at LAB. The teachers are engaging, smart, and in-tune.The curriculum is insightful, demanding, yet inspiring. She has made lovely friends and I trust the adminstration 100% with her education and social prowess.I made the best decision I could have!
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated Lab two years ago but I must say I miss it terribly. I entered Lab in 2006 as the only student from my middle school on the upper west side but was welcomed with open arms and am still friends with the same people I met my first day. Though my first two years were utterly amazing filled with projects like learning about social issues in Romeo & Juliet that we later turned into raps, my creative and amazing education came to a halt my junior year when the principal decided to take out the Junior Internship program in which students would gain real world experience and get to know what fields they were interested in and created a curriculum called Junior and Senior Inquiry in which we were supposed to write a research paper (which we were required to do as seniors anyways so that was a waste of time.) All and all I personally believe the school went down hill when former co-principals Rob and Sheila left and I honestly wish they would've stayed longer. I chose to go to Lab because of the creative and fun atmosphere, I actually enjoyed learning in. Instead my final years of high school was probably like any other city school who's reputation isn't as pristine as Lab's.
—Submitted by a student

I am a student here. I consider Lab to be my second home! However, It is a school where you can easily sink or float. If your child is hardworking and driven, then they will undoubtfully succeed with a rich education and strong support. If your child decides to slack off, then they will suffer. The school will match what you have to offer. Lab's strengths lie in its teachers, particularly those of humanities departments. With emphasis on drawing connections, collaboration, and other life skills, we learn how to really think and comprehend, rather than just memorize. Additionally, Lab's extra curricular programs are stellar. If you participate and hone your personal interests, you'll make fantastic friends, be part of a family. Nearly every student participates in an extracurricular of some kind. Also, if you don't see it there, make it! The fact that creating your own club or program is so easy is really encouraging. It's true, Lab's detriments lie in its size. Classes can vary by the semester, wonderful teachers are laid off due to budget cuts, and we students suffer from the irregularities. But, like anything, you need to know what's right for. Lab is perfect for me!
—Submitted by a student

This school is full of juvenile delinquents. My son has had nothing but problems since his first day at this school and will not be returning next year. I wish we had never applied. Had the academics at least been up to par, it may have made a difference but it seems the teachers have given up because the majority of the kids are just not interested in their studies. The administration spends more time on discipline than the curriculum. Do yourself and your child a favor and do not list this school as a high school choice.
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from the lab school. I am now a senior in college. Lab is supposed to be one of the better public schools in the city but honestly the education I received was average, if that. Looking at the other reviews here I am surprised to see people claiming discrimination. While it is true that the school is rife with nepotism I never saw anyone discriminated against racially. Type casting is an issue though and if you are perceived as being anything less than a teachers pet you aren't really given much of a chance. The teachers were hit or miss. I had some really great and dedicated ones that left lasting impressions. Others you wondered how they even had a job at all. Ultimately, taking into account the facilities, neighborhood, and student body you are getting your basic NYC public school education which isn't really saying much. Looking back I had a lot a very valuable experiences at Lab but very very few of them came by way of education. I hope this helps future parent's and students. I can only speak from my own personal experience (I know classmates who loved Lab) but I'm being as honest as I possibly can.
—Submitted by a student

I recently got accepted to this school and was wondering if it should be the school that people should go into. From the fact that the students and parents, well most students and parents think this is a bad school but the teachers think this school is a good school. Oh and also I have a question whether or not this school have a masjid or mosque for you to do you religion. Is there a place to do it? Is it planned to be made? Please help.

I agree with some of the comments, people are making on here. This school ranks students quite unfairly, as I have noticed students who come well prepared from their old school, including those coming in with honors and scholarships to private schools, yet are given low grades when they arrive to this school. Many people have noticed some form of discrimination, in regards to the way some children are treated, which clearly reflects upon the grade the student receives. It is hard as a parent to see your child working very hard, but finding out that your child is being treated unfairly as opposed to others who perform at a lower standard yet receive higher grades. I hope to see educational authorities taking note of this ongoing situation, and hopefully help resolve this problem.
—Submitted by a parent

Great Faculty who really care. This school runs because of all their extra work
—Submitted by a teacher

The school is great because of the dedicated teachers and the nurturing atmosphere. Students are encouraged to be thinkers and problem solvers. The school went thru some growing pain when it went from a 6 to 12 school to a 9 to 12 school but that has begun to subside.
—Submitted by a parent

Great reliable and supporting teachers!
—Submitted by a parent

The teaching is rigorous, the students are thoughtful and nice, and the tone of the school is learning focused.
—Submitted by a parent

great school, great kids!
—Submitted by a parent

Students that graduate from LAB are among the most ambitious, competitive, innovative of all students. It is often reported from colleges and universities that our students are motivators and ,especially within smaller lecture halls, they lead discussions...Lab has marvelous human rights and history programs and very solid, intelligent math and science teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

This school doesn't live up to my expectations. Within NYC this school is rated as being one of the best schools in the city yet it is far from that. I'm currently a 9th grade students and I found this school to be very unsatisfactory. Many of the teachers don't care and there is a lot of favoritism. Teachers often favor wealthier students over others. The school doesn't challenge me, even though academic rigor is apart of the motto. Many of the students at this school are very lazy and don't care about school or learning. I think that the school leadership isn't very strong and should be improved on.
—Submitted by a student

Im a student that left the school after 9th grade to go to boarding school While the middle school was fairly challenging, the high school was filled with students who lacked the ambition to strive and do well in school, constantly skipping class and slacking in terms of homework I found myself becoming one of those students and thats when i decided to take myself out of that school. the school has some good teachers but being at a new school i can now see that lab doesnt have the sufficient grounds(althetics, proper classrooms, etc) to offer a student an education that will truly give them the work ethic and preparation for college that i believe another school could
—Submitted by a student

It's fun and the teachers are great!
—Submitted by a parent

Lab is a very open-minded school, and they teach student's things that they can use for the future.
—Submitted by a parent

NYC Lab school has a tremendous sense of community as well being surrounded by intelligence & compassion. The teachers & admin make the child feel like they can accomplish anything they want to.
—Submitted by a parent

I was the a member of the first graduating class. Although I cannot attest to the current quality of education at Lab, I was very disappointed and frustrated with my experience at Lab (1993-1997). This included the lack of science lab equipment, no Spanish teacher available to teach accelerated Spanish (we were even asked to repeat the Spanish class we already took the year before), high turnover among the math and science teachers, and some subpar teachers that could not teach. To be fair, I did enjoy a history teacher that has taught at Lab since it's beginnings. Thus, I received an excellent education from him.
—Submitted by a former student