High marks for Jamaica high schools

Three Jamaica schools have received bronze medals from U.S. News and World Report magazine for their academic excellence and high standards.
The survey conducted by U.S. News in collaboration with School Evaluation Services analyzed more than 18,000 schools to distinguish the best high schools in the country.
New York State Senator Malcolm Smith praised Gateway to Health Science High School, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, and Thomas A. Edison Vocational High School for earning the high honors, which rank them in the top ten percent of all high schools nationwide.
“The success of these schools is a testament to the work of not only the staff and administration, but to the effort the students are putting into their work, and the support the students are getting from their families,” Smith said.
Cynthia Edwards, principal of Gateway to Health Science H.S., believes that the academic success of her students is a product of personalized instruction, dedication of the staff and students’ own discipline.
“They come to school to come to school. It’s all about academics,” she said. Edwards also praised her students that despite their heterogeneous background, they managed to work together for the benefit of the Jamaica community, organizing a blood drive and collecting over 1,000 pounds of canned food for Christmas to feed the homeless. Edwards pointed that teachers oftentimes stay after hours to help students. “We are a public school with private flair,” she said.
Anthony Barbetta, principal of Thomas Edison H.S., also believes the bronze medal is “a very positive award,” which is a reflection of the dedication of his teachers. “Parents can see the school they are sending their children to excels,” he said.
All three schools have graduation rate of over 90 percent and rate of passing on the Regents exams of over 85 percent. They are also the three top ranked schools in their school district.