Sunset Park H.S. gets an A+

Sunset Park High School is off to a bright future as the highest scoring school in the annual Quality Review in New York City this year.

Sunset Park High School, which opened in 2009, scored 98 out of 100 possible points on their review. This accomplishment is heightened by the fact that the high school’s first-ever class is also graduating this year.

Since its inception, the school has been a community asset. “Residents, the community board, and families advocated for a school [in Sunset Park] for 38 years before they were successful,” explained Principal Corrine Vinal. “From the beginning of its design, this school was a community school.”

The school’s success, according to Vinal, is due to the dedicated staff and structure modeled to give students the best opportunities. Each grade level functions as a community, taught by a team of teachers who meet daily to discuss academics and also distribute counseling.

One of the unique features of Sunset Park High School’s structure is that each teacher is also an advisor, meeting with students two times a week with the help of social workers provided by the Center for Family Life, a community center that works closely with the school.

“With this social work model, students move from dependence to interdependence to independence, getting ready for college,” said Vinal.

Sunset Park High School excels at preparing its students for their academic future. All students are involved in their extensive college preparatory curriculum in partnership with Brooklyn College, in which freshmen and sophomores take college level classes at their own school, while juniors and seniors have the opportunity to take classes on the Brooklyn College campus. Also, all 12th graders have internships, at hospitals, local businesses, or community boards.

In the future, Vinal will continue to support and improve the programs that have brought her school success. “I want to support and expand the internship program, and expand the use of technology in the lower grades,” said Vinal. “We’re moving to more personalized lesson plans and student voice.”

Students at the school were happy to hear the great news.

“It’s cool. It’s amazing,” commented 16-year-old Josh B.

His friend, Kevin S., added, “It’s all about grades and behavior,” he said. “I’m proud.”