York Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
York Preparatory School is an independent university-preparatory school
in the Lincoln Center area of New York City
.
The coeducational school provides instruction to approximately 340 students between 6th
and 12th grades
. The student:teacher ratio is 6:1.
York is approved by the New York State Board of Regents and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition is around $35,000 per year for high school students.
The school is family-based, with founder Ronald Stewart serving as headmaster and his wife Jayme Stewart as director of college guidance. Jayme Stewart, who has shared college entry tips with CNN
, is also the author of a 1991 book, How to Get into the College of Your Choice: And How to Finance It.
The school uses a system called “tracking
,” which places students in one of several ability groups available in every subject area. This allows students to work at an advanced pace through Honors courses, AP classes, and the Scholars Program, in subjects in which they excel, and at a moderate pace in those subjects where they need more guidance. Also, York Prep’s Jump Start Program enables students with different learning styles to function successfully in an academically-challenging mainstream setting. Study skills, test-taking skills, and organizational skills are key components of this supplemental program.
Parents are kept informed of a student's progress through individual reports posted every week on Edline
, a component of the York Prep web site. Each family sign in with a unique password and can see their child's progress in all academic subjects.
. Ramaz purchased a new building for York Preparatory at 68th Street and traded that for the existing school at East 85th Street.
The new site—a seven-level granite building—houses three computer labs, a large gym, an art studio, and two professionally equipped science labs.
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in the Lincoln Center area of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The coeducational school provides instruction to approximately 340 students between 6th
Sixth grade
Sixth grade is a year of education in the United States and some other nations. The sixth grade is the sixth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 11 – 12 years old...
and 12th grades
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
. The student:teacher ratio is 6:1.
York is approved by the New York State Board of Regents and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition is around $35,000 per year for high school students.
History
York started in 1969 with 139 students in grades 6-12 and by 1972 had 212.The school is family-based, with founder Ronald Stewart serving as headmaster and his wife Jayme Stewart as director of college guidance. Jayme Stewart, who has shared college entry tips with CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, is also the author of a 1991 book, How to Get into the College of Your Choice: And How to Finance It.
Academics
The curriculum provides a foundation in the traditional core subjects of a liberal arts education—English, mathematics, social studies, science, and foreign language. In addition, students can choose from a wide range of specialized electives.The school uses a system called “tracking
Tracking (education)
Tracking is separating pupils by academic ability into groups for all subjects or certain classes and curriculum within a school. It may be referred as streaming or phasing in certain schools. In a tracking system, the entire school population is assigned to classes according to whether the...
,” which places students in one of several ability groups available in every subject area. This allows students to work at an advanced pace through Honors courses, AP classes, and the Scholars Program, in subjects in which they excel, and at a moderate pace in those subjects where they need more guidance. Also, York Prep’s Jump Start Program enables students with different learning styles to function successfully in an academically-challenging mainstream setting. Study skills, test-taking skills, and organizational skills are key components of this supplemental program.
Parents are kept informed of a student's progress through individual reports posted every week on Edline
Edline
Edline is a Learning Community Management System that many schools use for school and class organization. It provides district, school and classroom level website support for administrators, parents, teachers and students from kindergarten through 12th grade...
, a component of the York Prep web site. Each family sign in with a unique password and can see their child's progress in all academic subjects.
Facilities
The school, which then housed 250 students, made news in 1997 when it expanded in an unusual transaction, trading property with Ramaz SchoolRamaz School
The Ramaz School is a coeducational, private Modern Orthodox Jewish prep school located on the Upper East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It consists of a lower school , a middle school , and an upper school .The Ramaz Upper School is a college preparatory school...
. Ramaz purchased a new building for York Preparatory at 68th Street and traded that for the existing school at East 85th Street.
The new site—a seven-level granite building—houses three computer labs, a large gym, an art studio, and two professionally equipped science labs.
York in film and television
- The front of the school was featured in the film "Elf" starring Will FerrellWill FerrellJohn William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
. - The school and several of its students were featured in the series Ice-T's Rap SchoolIce-T's Rap SchoolIce-T's Rap School is a reality television show on VH1. It is a spin-off of the British reality show Gene Simmons' Rock School, which also aired on VH1....
, a 6-part reality show aired on VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
in 2006 where the rapper introduced eight of York Prep's students to rap and rap culture. - York Prep is mentioned in Season 1 Episode 3 of ABC's CastleCastle (TV series)Castle is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on ABC on March 9, 2009. The series is produced by Beacon Pictures and ABC Studios. On January 10, 2011, Castle was renewed for a fourth season...
"Hedge Fund Homeboys". York Prep students are referred to as "Yorkies" and mentioned as wearing uniforms. - York Prep is described as "practically public school" by Jenny HumphreyJenny HumphreyJennifer Tallulah "Jenny" Humphrey is one of the characters in both the Gossip Girl and The It Girl series of novels by Cecily von Ziegesar...
in the Gossip GirlGossip GirlGossip Girl is an American young adult novel series written by Cecily von Ziegesar and published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. The series revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite...
Season 3 Episode They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?"They Shoot Humphreys, Don't They?" is the 52nd episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl. It was also the ninth episode of the show’s third season. The episode was written by Amanda Lasher and directed by Alison MacLean. The episode was considered very polemic according to the Parents... - The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
highlighted the honeybees on York Prep's rooftop. - The Daily News (New York) featured beekeeping at York Prep.
- NY1NY1NY1, New York One, is a 24-hour cable-news television channel focusing on the five boroughs of New York City. In addition to news and weather forecasts, the channel also features human-interest segments such as the "New Yorker of the Week" and the "Scholar Athlete of the Week", and specialty...
's report focused on York Prep's beekeeping activities.
Notable alumni
- Liv TylerLiv TylerLiv Rundgren Tyler is an American actress and model. She is the daughter of Aerosmith's lead singer, Steven Tyler, and Bebe Buell, model and singer. Tyler began a career in modeling at the age of 14, but after less than a year she decided to focus on acting. She made her film debut in the 1994...
, model and actress - Kelly Klein, photographer and ex-wife of Calvin Klein
- Robert E. ChambersRobert Chambers (killer)Robert Emmet Chambers, Jr. , nicknamed the "Preppie Killer", is an American who pled guilty to manslaughter in the death of 18-year-old Jennifer Levin...
, alumni - Alexis RockmanAlexis RockmanAlexis Rockman is an American contemporary artist known for his paintings that provide rich depictions of future landscapes as they might exist with impacts of climate change and evolution influenced by genetic engineering. He has exhibited his work in the United States since 1985, including a...
, artist - James De La VegaJames De La VegaJames De La Vega is an American visual artist of Puerto Rican descent who lives in New York City. He is best known for his street and muralist art, which has led to his occasional arrests, and for his innovative storefronts where he sells his paintings and merchandise...
, artist - Phil AbrahamPhil AbrahamPhil Abraham is an American film and television cinematographer and director. He worked on all six seasons of The Sopranos, initially as a camera operator, then as a cinematographer and eventually as an episodic director...
, Emmy-nominated director of Mad MenMad MenMad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
(The Jet Set)