First HBCU-Themed High School Opening in Queens This Fall
One hundred ninth graders will be making history this fall with the opening of HBCU – historically black college and university early college prep high school in Queens.
The public school will embrace its hbcu roots, providing students with guaranteed admission to Delaware State University. DSU ranks 9th among HBCUs and 42nd in public universities across the nation.
These rankings are what excites prospective parents like Jolanda Gomes.
“We think that is a great opportunity for advancement in the future,” Gomes says.
Every student will also graduate with an associate’s degree.
“It’s a definite plus to know that, okay, at least I know I’m accepted here, I can go here, I can further my education,” says Latasha Salter, parent of an admitted HBCU Early College Prep student.
This school is the first of its kind in New York City, created by founding principal Dr. Aysa Johnson, who is also a DSU alum.
“Access isn’t optional, and their genius can’t wait,” Johnson says.
One of Dr. Johnson’s inspirations for the school was the lack of awareness around HBCUs during the college admission process.
“We’re not telling our brightest brown students that they should look at HBCUs as a first option,” Johnson says.
And parents agree.
“Even when my daughter was going through the process not a lot of schools were pushing for hbcu,” Salter says.
With nearly 2000 public schools in New York city, why choose HBCU Early College Prep?
“There are high-quality educations being provided at HBCUs and there are hundreds of HBCU graduates who are doing amazing things throughout our country,” says Dr. Shawn Rux, senior executive director of the NYC Department of Education. “Kamala Harris, vice president, went to an HBCU. Taraji P. Henson, HBCU. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., HBCU. We can probably talk for the next hour about people who went to HBCUS.”
According to UNCF, HBCUs produce 80% of black judges and 50% of Black doctors and Black lawyers.
“But if you don’t tell a young person that, then they think it’s out of their reach,” Johnson says.
Located off the last stop of the F train, hbcu prep will be housed in I.S. 238 Susan B. Anthony academy. The school is expected to grow by 100 students each year, reaching full capacity in four years.
And in addition to the academic excellence HBCU Early College Prep is not forgetting about all the other parts of the HBCU experiences that make them rich cultural institutions—majorettes, marching bands and school dances like homecoming that will crown Mister and Misses HBCU Early College Prep.
Sharla Steinman is a bilingual journalist covering education in New York. She is originally from Los Angeles and a UCLA alum. She’s penned bylines in The New York Times and Uncloseted Media. You can reach out to her on X @Sharla_Steinman.
