Heritage School (The): Top Public High School in New York NY (2026 List)

About Heritage School (The)

The Heritage School is a public high school in the New York City Public Schools system for grades 9-12. The school has around 256 students and a teacher to student ratio of about 10:1. The Heritage School provides a college preparatory program with a focus on humanities, arts integration and community engagement. The school offers Advanced Placement course work and exams and has an AP participation rate of 42%. The student body is 98% minority (majority Hispanic) and 91% of students are economically disadvantaged. Math proficiency is 28%, Reading proficiency is 72%. Per pupil spending is comparable to NYC district averages. East Harlem’s The Heritage School offers the benefits of a supportive, small-school atmosphere with programs such as advisories, mentoring and college counseling. The college readiness program includes SAT and ACT preparation. The Heritage School is recognized as one of the top schools for academic growth and community connections in a diverse environment, and it is one of the best high school in New York.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 28%

Reading 72%

State average proficiency is 28% in Math and 72% in Reading.

25

Full-time Teachers

10 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

256

Total Students

$82249

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 1.56%

Asian 1.56%

Hispanic 61.33%

Black 33.2%

Two+ Races 0.39%

Native Am. 1.17%

White

1.56%

Asian

1.56%

Hispanic

61.33%

Black

33.2%

Two+ Races

0.39%

Native Am.

1.17%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 256

44.53%

114 Female

55.47%

142 Male

Student Population

256 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 10 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

145 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Heritage School (The) Contact Information

Address

1680 LEXINGTON AVE, NEW YORK, NY, 10029

View on Map

Phone

(212) 828-2858

Call Now

Website

http://www.heritage-school.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:00 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Heritage School, supported by Teachers College, Columbia University, has launched new social-emotional learning initiatives focused on gratitude and recently held their annual Thanksgiving Feast to foster community. According to the January 2026 issue of the school newspaper, students and staff are participating in new and expanded arts-centered initiatives designed to increase engagement on their Manhattan campus. The school has also beefed up its one-on-one college counseling to help guide students toward their next academic move.

FAQ

Q1. Are there students from many different backgrounds at the school?

Ans. Yes, the school has a very diverse group of students.

Q2. Does the school offer counseling or therapy?

Ans. Yes, the school offers counseling, behavioral support, and intervention services all in one place.

Q3. Does Heritage School (The) have Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes?

Ans. Yes, the school offers CTE classes and optional programs.

Q4. Is it possible for students to take the SAT and ACT?

Ans. Yes, the school lets students who want to go to college take the SAT and the ACT.

Q5. Does Heritage School (The) have activities outside of school?

Ans. Yes, students can participate in sports, clubs, the arts, and leadership programs.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

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What Parents Say