Independence High School: Best High School in New York (2026 List)

About Independence High School

Independence High School is a public high school in New York, New York for grades 9-12. Independence High School is 1 of 533 high schools in the New York City Public Schools. With an estimated 11:1 student to teacher ratio and a student enrollment of around 265 students, the door is open for individualized attention and credit recovery options. Independence High School offers a flexible academic program focused on college and career readiness. Students can find alternative pathways and individualized learning plans to help them progress toward graduation. Students have access to Advanced Placement coursework and exams with a 48% participation rate in AP. The school is very diverse with a total minority enrollment of 98%. 94% of students are economically disadvantaged. The proficiency in mathematics is 32% and in reading 59%. There are resources to help with next steps including SAT preparation and college counseling. Independence High School is a great school for supporting diverse learners and shows promise in personalized instruction and student support, and it is one of the best high school in New York.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 32%

Reading 59%

State average proficiency is 32% in Math and 59% in Reading.

25

Full-time Teachers

11 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

265

Total Students

$82249

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 1.13%

Asian 2.26%

Hispanic 66.04%

Black 29.43%

Two+ Races 0%

Native Am. 0.38%

White

1.13%

Asian

2.26%

Hispanic

66.04%

Black

29.43%

Two+ Races

0%

Native Am.

0.38%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 265

44.91%

119 Female

54.72%

145 Male

Student Population

265 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 11 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

420 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Independence High School Contact Information

Address

850 10TH AVE, NEW YORK, NY, 10019

View on Map

Phone

(212) 262-8067

Call Now

Website

http://www.ihsnyc.com/

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: 8:25 AM to 2:10 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:10 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

Independence High School in Hell’s Kitchen is preparing for the Class of 2026 graduation ceremonies in May, a significant milestone for students in the Hell’s Kitchen community. The university is still a trimester school with rolling admissions to help students find personalized pathways to credit accumulation and graduation. The school is geared to small classes, meaning targeted instruction and individual attention to every student.

FAQ

Q1. Are students allowed to take the SAT and ACT?

Ans. Yes, students who want to go to college can take both the SAT and the ACT at Independence High School.

Q2. Do teachers want their students to take harder classes?

Ans. Yes, Advanced classes help students do better in school by pushing them to work harder.

Q3. What do students learn at Independence High School?

Ans. Independence High School has a college-preparatory curriculum and gives students chances to learn by doing things and get better at them.

Q4. Are there programs that help people learn how to lead better?

Ans. Yes, students can learn how to be leaders by being part of student groups, working on group projects, and helping other students.

Q5. What kind of atmosphere does Independence High School have?

Ans. Independence High School has a structured and supportive environment that puts a lot of stress on academics, personal growth, and getting students involved.

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

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say