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Our Insights

What’s Special

Law classes and mock court

The Downside

Declining enrollment, poor attendance

High School for Law and Public Service offers a three-year law course sequence in addition to regular high school courses. The school has a mock trial team and runs moot court cases. 

Founded in 1999, Law and Public Service shares the George Washington Educational Campus with four other schools. The structure is old but Law and Public Service is on a sunny floor that makes it feel grand. All students must pass through metal detectors

The school is safe and orderly with happy teachers, according to NYC school surveys, but enrollment has declined over the past decade. Fewer students graduate on time. Roughly half the students miss at least a month of school.  

Many students arrive with low skills. To catch up, all incoming ninth and tenth graders have double periods of reading and writing, and 10th graders have a double period of algebra. The school has after school tutoring, homework help, Saturday classes and lunchtime tutoring. Immediate referrals can be made to an on-site health clinic.

The school has a four-year visual arts sequence that includes studio art, graphic arts and art history. A theater class performs twice a year, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, December 2018)

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
76%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
56%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
68%
Average daily attendance
 
76%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
71%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
99%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
99%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

360
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
100%
Students with disabilities
 
21%
Multilingual learners
 
35%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
2%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
88%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
32%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
24%
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
59%
2.6
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
148
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 157

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
67%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey, 2021-22 School Quality Guide, 2019-20 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2021 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Advanced Courses

Which students have access to advanced courses at this school? Learn more

Calculus

Not offered in 2019-20

Computer Science

 
9%

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

 
53%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
33%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
24%

Music

Not offered in 2019-20
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2021-22 school year provided by the New York State Education Department, brought to you by

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
20%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
67%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
39%
From the 2020-21 and 2021-22 School Quality Guide
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
64%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought you by
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Law and Public Service (M31A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

At the High School for Law and Public Service, teachers, administrators, parents and caregivers work together to develop mature citizens committed to their community and high achievement. Our graduates have experience in and knowledge of the public sector, law and have the ability to make positive change in the community. Internships, mentoring programs, and partnerships offer our students the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real-life settings.

Spanish Transitional Bilingual (M31B)

Admissions Method: Screened: Language

Program Description:

Dual Language programs are designed to integrate English Language Learners with English-proficient students to receive content instruction in English and a target language.

High School for Law and Public Service ACES 15:1 Program (M31Y)

Admissions Method: ASD/ACES Program

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Comp Sci/Math Tech (Advanced Placement), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Volleyball

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

549 Audubon Avenue
Manhattan NY 10040

Trains: 1 Line to 191st St; A Line to 190th St

Buses: Bx18, Bx40, Bx42, Bx7, BxM1, M100, M101, M3, M4, M98


Contact

Principal: Paula Lev

Parent Coordinator: Nelia Polanco

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the George Washington Educational Campus with four other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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