Susan E. Wagner High School
Location
Map
1200 Manor Rd.
Staten Island, NY

United States
Coordinates40°35′50″N 74°07′31″W / 40.59722°N 74.12528°W / 40.59722; -74.12528
Information
TypePublic
Established1968
School districtNew York City Department of Education District 31
School numberR460
PrincipalDavid A. Cugini
Teaching staff190.24 (on an FTE basis)
Grades9–12
Enrollment3,304[1] (2021–22[1])
Student to teacher ratio17.37[1]
Color(s)White and navy blue   
MascotFalcon
WebsiteOfficial Website

Susan E. Wagner High School is a New York City public school located at 1200 Manor Road in Staten Island, New York. The school is owned and run by the New York City Department of Education.[2] It opened in September 1968, and was named in honor of Susan E. Wagner (1909–1964), the late wife of former mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. On average, the school has about 3,300 students. Wagner's school colors are Navy and White, with the Falcon as the mascot. Wagner has a variety of programs including the Law and Politics program, the Virtual Enterprise program, the Scholars Academy, Air Force JROTC, Theatrical Arts program, and annual SING! productions. The school has the largest marching band in New York City, with over 150 members. The school received the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in the 1988–1989 school year.[3]

History

Wagner was founded in 1968 and was named in honor of Susan E. Wagner (1909–1964), the late wife of former mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. Joseph Brennan was the first principal from 1968 to 1970. Gary Giordano was principal of the school from 2002 to 2017. Afterwards, David Cugini, a former social studies teacher at the school, was given the job.[4]

Academic Courses

Wagner follows Regents curriculum. They offer Regents courses in Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Global History & Geography, United States History & Government, Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, and English Language Arts.[5]

Elective Courses

Wagner offers multiple Elective Courses. These include:

Advanced Placement Courses

Wagner offers multiple Advanced Placement Courses. These include:

College Now Courses

Wagner offers College Now courses through the City University of New York College Now (Kingsborough and College of Staten Island), Wagner College, and St. John's University. There are courses in all subjects included.[11] Courses include but are not limited too:

Learning Centers

All Wagner students are organized in a learning center based on an academic subject, with its own Teacher/Coordinator, guidance counselor, Assistant Principal, and specific activities. Some learning centers are open to both zoned and non-zoned students.[12] Wagner is currently going over an overhaul of its Learning Centers as well, with some debuting in the 2023–2024 school year.

Scholars Academy

All "scholar" classes are weighted by 1.05, meaning that the average of the class is multiplied by 1.05. The weighted average of the class is the grade that is used in the configuration of the final average. To become a scholar, you must have above a 88 overall average. To remain in the program you must maintain above an 85 average in at least three scholars classes. An overall average below 88 will result in scholars probation and eventually removal from the program. All students must be inducted in the school's branch of National Honor Society, receive an Advanced Regents Diploma, and will take most, if not all, regents examinations New York State offers.

The Scholars Academy has tough requirements, students must take each math course from Algebra I to Pre-Calculus. They must take Living Environment, Chemistry, & Physics, and three years of a foreign language (Spanish, Italian, or French). Students in the academy are required to take numerous AP Courses, starting with AP World History in sophomore year. Students in the academy receive the option of three tracks; a STEM Track (Students take AP Biology and then AP Computer Science for two years), a Humanities Track (Students take Latin and Student Teaching) and an Arts track.[13]

Performing & Visual Arts Programs

The performing and visual arts department was awarded $13 million for a 27,000 square-foot performing arts center, which opened in October 2016. The center includes a 2,680 square foot black box theater, professional dance studio, many new classrooms for chorus, guitar, band, theater, stage craft and carpentry, and a music suite containing five sound-proof practice rooms. The program is directed by Assistant Principal of Arts Paul Corn, who has served in that role for over ten years.[14]

Music

The school has numerous bands: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and a Marching Band. The school also has a wide range of Required Music courses, such as Beginning Instruments, and Guitar courses. The advanced bands perform throughout the city, as well as annual trips to compete in locations such as Florida, Washington, D.C., and Boston. In addition to instrumental music, Wagner has an Intermediate, Advanced, & Concert Chorus, along with a Chamber Choir.[15]

Visual Arts

Students in the Visual Arts Academy are placed in two tracks based on what they auditioned for, Drawing or Photography & Graphic Design. Students who choose to take art beginning as a freshman will take either Required Art, Ninth Grade Major Art, or Intro to Photography. Students will have classes on all major types of visual arts throughout their time in the academy. In Photography, students explore types of photography, graphic design, and including creativity in taking pictures.[16][17]

Theatrical Arts

Students in the Theatre Academy take four years of advanced theatre courses. Students will start with Acting, then Musical Theatre, then Advanced Acting, then Playwriting, and finally Directing. Created by Diana Zerega, the longtime Coordinator of the program, Wagner's theatre program is often considered second only to Laguardia High School's, the city's largest performing arts high school.[18]

In 2011, the school was awarded a $200,000 from Borough President James Molinaro to retrofit their auditorium after their production of Les Misérables. The retrofit was complete in time for their Spring Musical of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2012. The theatre program has also been invited to the historic St. George Theater to perform Les Misérables and Sweeney Todd.

Student Activities

Wagner has a large pool of Activities for students overseen by the Coordinator of Student Activities (COSA) and the Student Government. The school's include but are not limited to the Gay-Straight Alliance, Debate Team, Key Club, Service to Society Club, Science Research Club, and more.[19]

SING Productions

Founded at Midwood High School (Brooklyn, New York) in 1947, "SING" is a student-run theater production that includes script/acting, dancing, art, a chorus, and a band. Students are judged on areas including originality, singing, art, acting, band, script, and dancing. There are three groups: Sophmen (freshmen and sophomores conjoined), Juniors, and Seniors. Susan E. Wagner's SING program began in 1974, and averages nearly 200 to 250 participants yearly. Each student will end up spending about 300 hours on the show, however the students often have a strong pride from it.[20]

International Festival Production

The International Festival is a student-run production that showcases an assortment of food and a three-hour show presenting the diversity of the school through a collection of dances, fashion, songs, plays, and exhibitions from all around the world.[21] This production includes over 20 cultural-based club with the goal of performing.

Athletics

Having over 30 Junior Varsity and Varsity teams, Wagner has a very large Athletics Department. The school's Boys Bowling Team has been very successful. In 2021, it won the PSAL Bowling Championship for the third year in a row.[22] Wagner has teams in Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Golf, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Stunt, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, and more.[23]

Notable alumni

This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (February 2022)

References

  1. ^ a b c "SUSAN E WAGNER HIGH SCHOOL". School Directory Information. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for SUSAN E WAGNER HIGH SCHOOL". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "NBRS Previous Awardees". United States Department of Education. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "2 long-time Island high school principals stepping down". June 29, 2017.
  5. ^ "Regents Exams - Testing / Tutoring Schedules - Susan E. Wagner High School". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  6. ^ "English". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "Social Studies". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Science". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Mathematics". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  10. ^ "Foreign Language / ESL". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "College Courses". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Learning Centers - Susan E. Wagner High School". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Scholars Academy". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Isl, Claire M. Regan | For the Staten; Advance (May 8, 2016). "At Susan Wagner, a 'junior college' approach to high school". silive. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "Music Academy". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "Susan E. Wagner High School". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "'Day in the Life': Susan Wagner photo students' project on display". silive. May 21, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  18. ^ Isl, Charista S. Mroczek | For the Staten; Advance (September 23, 2016). "Susan E. Wagner Theater Program lauded for excellence". silive. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "Home - School Profile - Susan E. Wagner High School". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  20. ^ "Behind the scenes at Wagner High School's SING!". silive. November 8, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  21. ^ "'Wagner Strong' International Pride Festival 2018". silive. January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Advance, Annie De Biase/Staten Island (November 18, 2021). "HS boys' bowling: Susan Wagner Falcons soar to third consecutive PSAL city crown". silive. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  23. ^ "Athletics". www.wagnerhigh.net. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  24. ^ Sandy Kenyon (March 18, 2019). "Marcia Clark talks about producing 'The Fix' on ABC". ABC7 New York. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  25. ^ "Drita D'Avanzo, 'Mob Wives' star: Her rise and her arrest". silive. December 20, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  26. ^ Fun, Sherrina Navani/Shore Family (November 29, 2011). "From Staten Island to stardom, for some". silive. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  27. ^ "Jersey Shore's Angelina Pivarnick: Everything you need to know". Issaquah Press. August 7, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  28. ^ "Islanders Who Made It To The Pros: Frank Menechino was Staten Island's long shot". silive. March 29, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  29. ^ R, Judy L.; R, All | (March 8, 2009). "Staten Islander young and energetic, and wants to stand up for you". silive. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  30. ^ Somma-Hammel, Jan. "Susan Wagner family and school cheers on Super Bowl Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo". silive. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  31. ^ Victoria Priola, eCommerce writer (April 21, 2021). "Jeff Wittek launches 'tell-all' YouTube docuseries about meeting David Dobrik, growing up on Staten Island". silive. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  32. ^ Louis' rant on schooling in NYC on YouTube
  33. ^ Louis' education history; who is this idiot on screen and what are his credentials? on YouTube

External links

Authority control databases
Categories