Academy of American Studies - History and Background

History and Background

The Academy of American Studies was developed by way of a collaborative effort between the Gilder Lehrman Institute and the Queens High School superintendent. They believed that preparing students by teaching them about the past would lead to inevitable success. This school is the first history school in the United States, which is why it is called the Flagship School of the Gilder Lehrman Institute. The first principal of the Academy of American Studies was Mr. Michael Serber, who currently works for the Gilder Lehrman Institute. The second and recent principal, Ms. Ellen Sherman, used to go to Long Island City High School when it was in that very building, so one can see how history really is a huge part of this school's role as a college prep school. Nine years since its opening, the school has grown into a "community". Now with a campus (a "south building" and a "north building"; the latter is shared with Newcomers High School), this preparatory school has a "college feel" like it never has before. Due to the academy's success, the Institute has founded 44 other schools across the nation and the Academy is the model for all of those schools.

In the year 2005, as a result of a collaborative effort between the administration, parents, and some students, the Academy of American Studies boosted security by adding crosswalks to the street where students are in most danger.

October 12, 2006 was a significant day for the Academy. First of all, that day was its 10th anniversary celebration. Secondly, it marked the grand opening of its student-run history research center that contains many primary sources that were donated by the Gilder Lehrman Institute. Thirdly, a Proclamation that was signed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg was presented in the Academy's ceremony to publicly announce that October 12 was going to be celebrated in New York City as The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Day.

Starting on the 2012-2013 school year, due to the initiative of the new principal, William Bassell, many improvements were implemented into the Academy. The choice of classes which students can take became much greater, as AP Economics, AP Human Geography, Statistics, and several more classes were added. A new library and science labs was provided to the students; it is shared with the Newcomers High School.

The Academy of American Studies (via Gilder Lehrman) offers summer 1-3 summer scholarships to outstanding freshman each year. In order to be eligible to compete for this scholarship, freshman must rank in the top 10% of their class, as of the end of their December report card. After being notified of such, they must write an essay, and if their essay makes "the cut", they can go on to the interview round. From the interview, 1-3 stellar students are selected, and get to go to Cambridge University in England. The school also offers 1-2 summer scholarships to juniors each year. In order to be eligible, each junior must write an essay about why s/he would benefit from a trip to China, and must then be interviewed.

Trips are key parts of the educational process at the school. All freshmen are invited to Philadelphia in the fall and Boston in the spring. Sophomores go to historic lower Manhattan in the fall and spend an overnight in Gettysburg in the spring. Juniors take a college tour in the fall and visit Plymouth with a whale watching cruise in the spring. The seniors used to spend 3 days & 2 nights in Washington, D.C. and in the fall and have a self-chosen senior trip in the spring but to due rising prices seniors receive one trip which is 4 days and 3 nights to DC for 400 dollars. The academic trips are offered at a discount due to our relationship with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.