Students from the two selective programs often attend top-ranked colleges, many on significant scholarships.[4] Typically, the school sends around 3% of its seniors to Ivy League colleges, and 10% of seniors to colleges such as New York University, Boston College, and Johns Hopkins University. The average SAT scores in Midwood High School (2015) were 530 Verbal, 610 Math, and 570 Writing.
"Getting into Midwood High School ... is about as easy as getting into an Ivy League college. More than 12,000 eager eighth graders applied this year for 450 fall openings in Midwood's highly touted programs in the medical sciences and humanities."[5]
As of the 2014–15 school year, the school had an enrollment of 3,785 students and 160.4 classroom teachers (on a full-time equivalent [FTE] basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 23.6:1. There were 1,849 students (48.9% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 180 (4.8% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[2]
The school occupies a building designed to hold 2,800 students, with an enrollment nearly 1,000 larger. Renowned for its diversity, Midwood students are made up of about 37% Asians, 30% African-American, 24% Whites (Non-Hispanics), 7% Hispanic and 2% Native Americans and other races.
Classes are held in three overlapping sessions, with students arriving and departing at different times. Band practice starts at 8 a.m. and the first group of students breaks for lunch at 8:50 a.m. Advanced Placement courses are in such high demand that an applicant has to have nearly perfect grades to gain admittance.[9]
A new science annex, built across the streets from the original building, opened in the summer of 2008 to help ease the overcrowding problem. The building houses new science labs that replaced the antiquated labs in the original building. The annex also hosts a new library; the library in the original building is now split into two classrooms. The annex is connected to the southern end of the original building by a glass bridge that connects the second and third floors of the buildings.[10]
CUNY Brooklyn College partnership
Midwood High School is the affiliated campus high school of Brooklyn College, a partnership which began with the 1984–85 academic year. It was one of the earliest New York City public high schools to partner a four-year college in the City College of New York (CUNY) system.[11] The campus high school project reflects the college's continuing concern for strengthening public secondary education and building professional working relationships between its faculty and teachers in the city's schools. Its goal is to strengthen the preparation of Midwood High School students for college and expand the constituency from which those students are drawn.
In this partnership, Midwood High School remains under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Education. In matters of curriculum design, school organization and high school–college articulation, the president of Brooklyn College maintains contact with the chancellor of the New York City public schools, the High School Division of the Department of Education and the Midwood High School principal."[12] In addition, Students are able to take classes at Brooklyn College and other Colleges in the CUNY system, free of charge, through the College Now[13] program.[12] Through this program, students can obtain both high school and college credits.
Classes
Advanced Placement courses
Midwood offers 22 Advanced Placement courses, and the school's AP courses offerings have been listed by the College Board as among the best in the nation. A high percentage of the students sign up for the Advanced Placement exams, and score in the Upper Quartile. Due to a high demand by students to take AP courses, students are required to apply for AP classes in the spring and go through a competitive academic review process in order to be accepted into AP classes:
[14]
Midwood is composed of three institutes – Medical Science, Humanities, and Liberal Arts. Students are placed into classes specifically for their course. Placement in the Medical Science and Humanities Institutes is highly competitive and dependent upon strong academic performance. Students in either one of these institutes are required to take 6 terms of foreign language at Midwood High School, regardless of any acceleration credit from junior high school.
The Medical Science Institute (Med-Sci) is for students interested in science or the medical field along with mathematical interests. It requires 6 terms of science and 6 terms of math and 6 terms of a foreign language. As of 2011, incoming freshman of the Medical Science Institute must choose from three different tracks: Medical, the Research, or Engineering. The Science Research Program also has its own website.[15]
The Humanities Institute is for students interested in English language arts, literature, languages, and social studies. It requires two foreign languages, including 2 terms of Latin and 6 terms of another foreign language. Also, 8 terms of English, and 8 terms of social studies. The Humanities Institute is a challenging program that affords students the opportunity to learn about the world, its different societies and cultures. Students in this program are not required to take as many years of math and science as students in the Medical Science Program.
The Liberal Arts & Science Institute (formally called the Collegiate Program), serves students who reside in the geographical catchment area. Students in the program choose among four main areas of study: Law/Leadership/Community Service, Pre-engineering/Technology, Performing Arts and Communication/Media Arts. Students in this program with grades at 95 or above average may request to switch to either the medical science or humanities program.[16]
These are supported through the school's courtroom, robotics lab, chemistry lab, drama classrooms, and television studio.
Law department
Among the variety of courses taught at Midwood, the school has its own Law department, with a mock courtroom, housed on the 4th floor of the main building. Through the law department (under the guidance of the Social Studies department) students have the opportunity to take Criminal and Constitutional law courses, participate in We The People, and participate in Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions, in which the school works with select law firms throughout the city as they compete against other schools. Finally, through the department, students have the chance to take internships with the Kings County District Attorneys Office[17] or other law firms in the city.
Intel Science Talent Search Competition
Midwood has two classes that specialize in introducing students to scientific research, culminating in the creation of projects for the Intel Science Talent Search (formerly the Westinghouse Intel Science Talent Search). In 1999, Midwood had the most semifinalists in the Intel STS and Siemens-Westinghouse Science & Technology Competition of any school in the country. The following year the school tied for first place in STS.
Secondary schools of finalists and semi-finalists (1999-2015)[18]
Schools with the Most Semifinalists and Finalists (1999–2015)
The school has been working to provide students with the latest technology for students to use. In addition to having Smart Boards in most of the class rooms, and class sets of IPads, the school has recently invested $1300 in a 3D Printer.[19] In addition, Chromebook laptops are becoming increasingly available in the school and are used in many classes.
In 2018, the boys' lacrosse team won the city championship in their divisions, defeating Columbus High School.
In 2017, the girls' volleyball team won the city championship in their division by defeating Cardozo High School. In 2016, the Varsity Boys' Baseball team won the school's first "AAA" Division City Championship by defeating Tottenville High School at Yankee Stadium.
Midwood's handball team won 2 consecutive city championships in 2008 and 2009. Midwood Girls' Handball team won finals in 2009 and city championship in 2010.[21] Midwood's lacrosse team has won several city championships, including 2006, 2007, and 2008. The team had made every championship appearance between 2007 and 2011 with 3 championship wins including an undefeated championship in 2011. Midwood HS Football Team who was coached by Alan G. Arbuse, was also back to back 1979 & 1980 City Champions and 1979 Metro Bowl Champions.
Midwood's girls' bowling team had gone into the semi-final in the past three years, and undefeated division championship. The Midwood boys' bowling team has also made the playoffs 3 times in last 4 years. Midwood's girls' swimming team had come into the play off in the past 14 years, and is considered one of the top teams within Brooklyn and New York City. Midwood also started the first Girls' Lacrosse team in Brooklyn.
The Midwood Boys' Volleyball Team, considered to be one of the best and the "team to beat" in the PSAL, has gone undefeated in their division for the past 13 years with 4 city championships in 1996, 2001, 2007, and 2009 (the most Volleyball Championships ever by a PSAL team).
The Midwood Boys' Track and Field Team won its first-ever indoor track championship in winter 2008. Under coach Marc Cohen, the track and field team also managed to win its first ever outdoor track title in June 2010, upsetting some of the fastest high schools in the city and solidifying the legacy of Midwood Track and Field. They have also won their first-ever Cross Country title in November 2013
The Midwood Girls' Track and Field Team won their first ever Outdoor title Championship in May 2014.
The team is given the nickname "The Midwood Hornet" or simply "Hornet".
Clubs
Midwood has the following clubs: 4H, Alternate Music Association (AMA), American Heart Association (AHA), American Sign Language Club, Amnesty International Club, Anime Club, Art Club, Astronomy Club, Big Brother/Sister Club, Bio-Med Society, Black Heritage Alliance (BHA), Book Club, Cancer Support Club, Chess Club, Christian Student Union, Coding Club, College Committee Club, Crochet Club, Cultural Diversity Club, Dance Team, Debate Team, DIY Jewelry Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, Environmental Conservation Club, E-Sports Team, Fashion Club, Finance 101 Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club, Guitar Club, History Olympiad Team, J-Pop Club, Jewish Student Union, K-Pop Club, Key Club, Korean/Japanese/Chinese (KJC) Club, Marvel Cinematic Universe (Comic) Club, Math Team, Mental Health Awareness Club, Mock Trial, Model United Nations, Muslim Student Association (MSA), Pa'lante Student Union, Patterns (English Publication), Photography Club, Podcast Club, Pride Club, Public Health and Safety Club, Red Cross Club, Speech Team, Student Government, Tea Club, UNICEF Club, Video Game Club, Women's Health Club, World Issues Club, Young Democrats Club, and Young Women's Leadership Club. Students complained that the school didn't have an official Math Team. In response, an unofficial group for students with an interest and talent in math was established.
SING!
SING!, an annual student-run inter-school musical theater competition was conceived at Midwood by Bella Tillis, a music teacher, in 1947.[22]It is still being produced at Midwood. It's also a tradition for many New York City High School seniors, juniors, and "so-fresh" (freshmen and sophomores working together) who compete against each other to put on the best performance at their own school. The 1989 movie Sing, which starred Lorraine Bracco, was based on SING!. SING has been responsible for hours of dedication and hard work, as well as fierce competition, among New York City's high school students.
In the summer of 2004, the film The Squid and the Whale was filmed in Midwood High School's auditorium, using students from the school's Drama Club as extra seat-fillers, in 80s-style costumes. The production also used background scenes on the stage that had been painted for the Drama Club's production of Bye Bye Birdie two months prior. The film production crew also enlisted the help of a former Drama Club and SING! lighting manager to help them light the stage for the scene.
Argus
The headline picture of Midwood's newspaper Argus
The Argus, Midwood's official school newspaper, publishes articles written by students. It is published monthly. Editors are chosen by Midwood's journalism teacher in June from among the junior Journalism class. It contains different things such as news, features, op-ed, arts & sports, photography, school info, and web info, all per student request/input, as well as updated news about PSAL sport events and other events occurring in and outside the school. The newspaper also has its own website.[23]
Senior seminar/Independent research studies
Midwood High School offers a new program to most senior students who need to fill up their schedule with 5.5 hours of class under the new department of education law that was taken into effect September 2012. During students free periods, they would be offered a multitude of special programs to do for class credit. Examples include SING, peer tutoring, monitoring for a teacher, and certain clubs that are offered in Midwood High School. Students fill out a time card for the number of hours that they have done in school. Students need to get a certain number of hours to pass the class, and it counts as a class credit.
Woody Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg, 1935, class of 1953), Academy Award-winning film director and screenwriter, Academy Award-nominated actor, Grammy Award winner[24]
Judi Chamberlin (née Rosenberg; 1944–2010), activist, leader, organizer, public speaker and educator in the psychiatric survivors movement[citation needed]
Steven M. Podos (1937-2009), professor/chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City[61]
^"A Tribute To Midwood High School At Brooklyn College". Extension of congressional records: Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 107th Congress Second Session: Vol.144 Par 8t. Capitol Words. Archived from the original on 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
^Lethem, Jonathan. "Noah Bambach", Bomb (magazine), Fall 2005. Accessed February 28, 2017. "JL: Where did you go to school? NB: I went to St. Ann's for middle grades and then I went to Midwood High School."
^Teicher, Jordan G. "Capturing Basketball's Greatest Moments", Slate (magazine), June 26, 2015. Accessed February 28, 2017. "Bernstein has been taking photos since he was 14. He grew up in Brooklyn and developed his skills working at Midwood High School's newspaper and yearbook."
^Bernstein, Richard J. (2007). "The Romance of Philosophy". Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association. 81 (2): 107–119. JSTOR27653996 – via JSTOR.
^Stevens, William K. "Yes, You Can Do Something About the Weather", The New York Times, December 31, 1996. Accessed February 28, 2017. "Like science itself, Dr. Cane's path owes much to chance. Born and raised in Brooklyn as the son of an engineer and a school attendance officer, he graduated from Midwood High School, where he developed an interest in math and science, especially math."
^Cohen, Corine. "Interview with Didi Conn", NYC Tourist. Accessed February 28, 2017. "[Q] Where did you go to school? [A] I went to Midwood High School in Brooklyn and then to Brooklyn college for 1 1/2 years."
^"Choir Performs Corigliano's First Work", NPR, November 7, 2006. Accessed February 28, 2017. "John Corigliano's very first piece was written for his alma mater, Midwood High School in Brooklyn, New York."
^"Richard Davidson", from Current Biography. Accessed February 28, 2017. "Richard J. Davidson, called Richie by all who know him, was born on December 12, 1951. He attended Midwood High School, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, a public school for academically gifted teenagers."
^DeMattesis, J.M. "The Benevolent Conspiracy", J.M. DeMatteis's Creation Point, February 14, 2010. Accessed February 28, 2017. "I was never a great student – or even a particularly good one. By the time I entered Midwood High School, I was sullen, cynical and psychologically damaged."
^Hakeem Jeffries Biography, United States House of Representatives. Accessed February 28, 2017. "Rep. Jeffries was born in Brooklyn Hospital and raised in Crown Heights. He is a product of New York City's public school system having graduated from Midwood High School and currently lives in Prospect Heights with his family."
^Gibberd, Ben. "Writing the Myth of Moses", The New York Times, September 12, 2008. Accessed February 28, 2017. "Upon his father's death in 1977, the son, then 18, found himself alone. After graduating from Midwood High School in Brooklyn, Mr. Nersesian held a number of temporary jobs, including selling books on West Fourth Street and working as an usher and manager in a series of East Village movie theaters, where, using his portable typewriter, he wrote in the theaters' offices during screenings."
^ abcKatz, Nancie L. "Midwood to Honor Top Alumni", New York Daily News, October 13, 1999. Accessed February 28, 2017. "Among fellow alumni to be honored are Syms Clothing President Sy Syms ('43), public relations powerhouse Howard Rubenstein ('49) and famed food critic Mimi Sheraton ('43)."
^Fox, Margalit. "Erich Segal, Classicist Who Wrote Populist Blockbuster Love Story, Dies at 72", The New York Times, January 20, 2010. Accessed February 28, 2017. "Erich Wolf Segal was born in Brooklyn on June 16, 1937, the son of Samuel Segal, a rabbi, and the former Cynthia Shapiro. After graduating from Midwood High School, he earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard, where he had the distinction of being both class poet and class Latin orator."
^Chen, David W.; and Barbaro, Michael. "Quiet Leader Wages a Bold Campaign", The New York Times, September 16, 2009. Accessed February 28, 2017. "After graduating from Midwood High School, Mr. Thompson majored in political science at Tufts."
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