55 Leslie Ave
Staten Island, NY 10305

As an alumnus, who graduated from the IBDP program, I can 100%, without a doubt, say that this school prepares you very well for university. Curtis truly offers everything that you could want from a high school. Yes, it does cater to low-income communities, but don't judge it based on that, as many people who SWEAR that it is an awful place have never stepped foot inside of this amazing school. I was on a variety of sports teams, the yearbook, and newspaper staff. I loved my time at Curtis and even visited to say hi to my former teachers from time to time. Speaking of teachers, they were some of the best, most caring, and influential people I have ever met. I was able to discover my passion(s) because of my teachers. Also, I made some of my best friends through being a student at Curtis. Yes, you will encounter some bad teachers and bad students, but that's anywhere, even at the best High Schools in the world. If you put your all into it and study, you can go anywhere and do great things. Curtis has so much to offer, and you will love it if you give it a chance. For the sake of being fully transparent, I admit that the deans and administrative staff don't really help out that much as all of the teachers stick out for each other, even though they know when a teacher is fully in the wrong. I had an issue with a teacher for whatever reason, she seemed to really hate me and I had meetings with the principal about them and my mother even came up because I would come home crying or feel beaten down (something no teacher has ever made me feel before). To be completely honest, I spoke with a lot of people who deal with this type of stuff and they said that she should have been put on administrative leave or been fired and an investigation should have happened cause she was harassing me and many others students. Nothing happened. I still graduated and am on my way to being a Doctor, so life works out!P.S. The IBDP program has got to be the best program to prep you for college readiness; I was a low to mid 90 GPA student at Curtis, and I haven't gotten lower than an A- (3.7/4.0) in any of my college courses. The IB program (both DP and CP) is intense but worth it if you want to go far in life. The IB program can even help you save money for college too, and some universities will give you credit depending on the course or even start you off as a sophomore. you do the math: I know friends who have saved $60,000+ in tuition costs cause they did the IB program.

Overall the school is good, but too many students in a class, like 32 students, and only one teacher without assistance. Not sure how the teacher can focus on students. Asked few friends from other schools, all classes are around 27 students with a teacher and an assistance. The school needs to control class numbers.

..Well, as a former student of 7th-8th grade I didn't exactly have the greatest approach to the students of the school. I am exceedingly shy, and lacked to maintain "healthy" friendships with my peers. Every-so-often I was verbally bullied, (By both students and one teacher) and once threatened. Acts of bullying, however, were never reported BY me. I frequently told my mom how I felt in the school. (Good relationship with my mother.) My mom reported every incident, yet schools never took immediate action (or any action for that matter.) Just because of WHO told them. Other then that, I made a few friends, and had an alright overall experience..