By Anna Gustafson
Queens elected officials are urging students who have not been matched with a high school yet to apply for a slot at Metropolitan High School, which will open in Forest Hills next school year.
Students have until April 29 to apply for schools as part of the city’s supplementary round — which allows pupils who have not been admitted to a high school to prioritize their top 12 choices for schools. If they are not placed in a high school as part of this round, there will be a third appeals round in which students can apply to schools.
“We fought very hard to ensure that the residents of our neighborhoods would be able to send their children to this new local school,” state Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) said. “It is now crucial for parents to take advantage of this opportunity and fill out an application to have their child considered for placement at the Metro school.”
The high school will be part of a campus scheduled to open at 91-30 Metropolitan Ave. this fall. Two schools are slated to open there, the high school and a combined middle and high school named the Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School.
Hevesi, City Councilwomen Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) and Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) and Assemblyman Michael Miller (D-Woodhaven) negotiated with the city Department of Education to ensure officials give zoned students first crack at the 350 seats expected to open this fall at Metropolitan HS.
The DOE said in early February it was increasing the number of seats for incoming freshman from 250 to 350, but said the additional 100 seats were going to be open to anyone in Queens — a decision met with ire from local community members.
Following meetings attended by the elected officials and city education officials, the city agreed to give priority to students from School Districts 24 and 28.
“The Queens Metropolitan HS will be one of New York City’s finest public schools,” Koslowitz said. “Yet, in order to make the local zoning agreement a reality, we need local students and parents from [District] 28 to participate in the supplemental round exercises by making the Queens Metropolitan HS their choice.”
Crowley praised the incoming high school and said it will provide a first-rate education for area students.
“Under the current leadership, this local institution shows promise of excellence and will serve as an asset to our neighborhood,” Crowley said.
District 24 covers schools in Glendale, Ridgewood, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Long Island City. District 28 includes schools in Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Rego Park and Forest Hills.
Supplementary round choice forms must be submitted to counselors by April 29.
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
