Departments

English Department

The High School for Public Service, like all state high schools, requires students to pass eight semesters of English. However, our department’s offerings are non-traditional. During both the 9th and 10th grade year, students have the opportunity to choose a thematic course each semester. In keeping with our schools Legal and Medical Academies, students in our Legal Academy will take Law & Literature while students in our Medical Academy will take Medicine & Literature in the Fall Semester of their 10th grade year. Our Department offers Advanced Placements courses to interested students during the 11th and 12th grade years.

With regards to the NYS Regents exam, it is our belief that by providing students with a strong foundation in reading and writing— and in honing analytical and critical thinking skills—they will perform well on all kinds of assessments, including standardized tests. The percentage of students passing the NYS English Language Arts (ELA) Regents exam on the first attempt at our school is frequently at or above 90%. All students in English 11 take the ELA Regents exam in January. Our high pass rate can be attributed to our belief in differentiating our teaching in order to serve every student at whatever level he or she is at during the four years of high school.

Mathematics Department

The Mathematics Department at the High School for Public Service follows the traditional three-year course sequence in NYS allowing students to obtain the required 6-credits in Mathematics necessary for graduation. Students entering HSPS in the 9th grade will take Algebra I, move onto Geometry in their 10th grade year, and then take Algebra II/Trigonometry in their 11th grade year. Students entering HSPS having passed the Algebra I Regents exam will take Geometry in their 9th grade year, move onto Algebra II/Trigonometry in their 10th grade year, and then take Pre-Calculus in their 11th grade year. For interested students, we also offer advanced courses in Mathematics, including: AP Calculus A/B, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Statistics.

Science Department

The Science Department at the High School for Public Service has an abundance of Science courses offered including: Living Environment, Chemistry, Earth Science, Forensic Science, and AP Physics. Additionally, students admitted into our Medical Science Academy have the opportunity to take a three-year course sequence that involves exploration of allied healthcare career options, the study of basic as well as more advanced medical science topics, and a variety of hands-on clinical applications. The culminating course in the Medical Science Academy in AP Biology.

New to the Science Department is our Urban Farming Academy. Students in the Urban Farming Academy have the opportunity to take courses in Ecology, Environmental Science, and AP Environmental Science.

All students graduating from the High School for Public Service must take 6-credits in Science in order to meet the requirements for graduation.

Social Studies Department

Social Studies at the High School for Public Service reflects the curriculum established by NYS. Our 9th grade students will take Global History & Geography 9 (Global I/II). Students who successfully complete two semesters of Global 9 will move onto Global History & Geography 10 (Global III/IV) in their 10th grade year. All students will sit for the NYS Global II Regents exam in June of their 10th grade year. For students who express interest, our Department offers AP World History in the 10th grade. After successfully complete Global 10 or AP World History, our students will take either United States History & Government or AP United States History in the 11th grade. All students will sit for the NYS United States History Regents exam in June of their 11th grade year. In their final year at HSPS, students will take one semester of Economics and one semester of Participation in Government. The four-year course sequence allows students to meet the 8-credit graduation requirement.

Additionally, students admitted into our Legal Academy have the opportunity to take a three-year course sequence that allows them to explore various fields of law including criminal law, civil law, juvenile justice, corrections, criminology, and constitutional law. Students may also complete an independent study project or internship in their senior year to complement their classroom studies.

Health & Physical Education

Health and Physical Education are a pivotal part of the HSPS curriculum. All students take Health in the Fall Semester of their 9th grade year. Physical Education is offered at all grade levels. Physical Education classes are conducted in our own fitness center, as well as the campus gym and campus weight room. When the weather permits, our Physical Education classes are held outside in Wingate Park.

Foreign language Department

HSPS offers Spanish as a Language Other than English (LOTE). Students at all course levels will explore linguistic and cultural thematic units while developing their reading, writing, speaking, and auditory skills. Upper-level courses are conducted in Spanish to facilitate immersion within the modern language. Students who continue onto Spanish III will take the LOTE exam.