Francis Lewis High School

Francis Lewis High School (FLHS) is a public high school located in Fresh Meadows, in the New York City borough of Queens. Operated by the New York City Department of Education, the school serves students of grades 9 through 12. The school is named after Francis Lewis, a representative of New York and signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

The school has approximately a 92% attendance rate and 86% graduation rate.

Student body

As the most-selected non-specialized public high school in New York City,^[2] Francis Lewis is one of the most overcrowded schools in New York City, with an enrollment of approximately 4100 students, exceeding the 2,300 capacity by 176 percent.^[3][4]

On March 2016, Francis Lewis had 9,468 applicants applying for a seat in the school.^[5]

For the 2014 academic year, the student body was 54% Asian, 23% Hispanic, 14% Caucasian, and 7% African American.

Academics

To give students high school credit and Regents credit, Francis Lewis offers numerous classes such as Integrated Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry/Algebra II, Pre-Trigonometry, English, Living Environment/Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Global History and Geography, US History and Geography, US Government and Economics, Health, Music Appreciation, and Graphic Design.

For Physical Education, Francis Lewis offers Frisbee, Racket Sports, Soccer, Basketball, Yoga and Dance, Weight Training and Conditioning, and Volleyball.

Language studies

In keeping with the school's diversity, Francis Lewis offers numerous foreign languages, including Hebrew, French, AP French, Korean, Japanese, AP Japanese, Chinese, AP Chinese, Latin, Modern Greek, Ancient Greek, Spanish, AP Spanish, AP Spanish Literature, and Arabic.

Advanced Placement courses

In 1978, Francis Lewis High School was the first public high school to achieve certification to the International Baccalaureate^[6][7] which supplemented the Advanced Placement (AP) courses by offering college credit for work done during high school (based on the final test score). Students may choose the full program to get a full years' college credit, or simply courses of interest (for credit towards single college courses such as math or humanities).

Students can choose from 25 AP courses offered at Francis Lewis, including Art History, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Chinese Language and Culture, Computer Science A, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Environmental Science, French Language and Culture, Human Geography, Japanese Language and Culture, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Physics B, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, Physics C: Mechanics, Psychology, Spanish Language and Culture, Spanish Literature and Culture, Statistics, United States Government and Politics, United States History, and World History.

College Now! Courses

Francis Lewis offers several courses from College Now (CN), a program offered by CUNY to allow students access Community University of New York classes as well as college credit.

Students can choose up to six classes including Astronomy, Health and Nutrition, Criminal Justice/Sociology, Computers in Modern Society, English, and Pre-Calculous.

Special Programs

Francis Lewis offers a number of programs upon admission, including:

• The Jacob K. Javits Law Institute for law studies. Students take semesters studying American law, analyzing the court system, and participating in mock trials.^[8]
• The University Scholars Program, a highly selective program which gives its students an accelerated humanities program including Mythology and Philosophy. Students are required to take two foreign languages.^[9]
• The Math and Science Research Program that offers advanced studies of math, science and statistics. Students analyze scientific articles, write scientific papers, design and conduct experiments, and participate in science fairs.^[10]
• Math Team is a program that offers advanced studies in math in addition to required math courses. Students participate in math competitions in New York City.
• The Robotics and Engineering Program offers students education in engineering. Students learn how to construct and program their own robots and compete in citywide competitions.^[11]
• The International Relations Program allows students to take an accelerated class in international relations including conflicts and trade. Students take field trips to the United Nations building to analyze relations between different country leaders.^[12]
• The Computer Science Program allows students to learn how to code on a computer and improve their programming skills.

The Science Research Program has garnered various Siemens Competition and Intel Science Talent Search finalists and winners.^[13][14]

Francis Lewis offers several more programs that are offered before sophomore year, including:

• The Journalism Academy offers students a classes to better understand news writing, reporting, and production. Students learn to produce a news story, learn to photojournalism skills, and broadcast and report through multimedia.^[15]
• The Music Program allows students to further their music skills with different types of instruments and through voice.^[16]
• The Virtual Enterprise International Academy allows students to learn the basis of designing and selling a product. Student learn marketing techniques, and they use these skills to try to sell a product to real investors.^[17]
• The Sports and Medicine Academy teaches students necessary skills for working in the medical field. Students study human anatomy, medicines, and medical conditions.
• The Sports Academy for majoring in sports.
• School of Design allows students classes to further their art skills through graphic design.
• The Dance Academy allows students to take a dance class in addition to the physical education class. Students learn how to do classical dances and modern dances.

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

In 1994, the US Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program was established in the school.^[18] It is the largest in the nation, with more than 1000 cadets of the 1,725 high school chapters in the country.^[19] The battalion is an honor unit with distinction, and is considered one of the best and well-known US Army JROTC units in the nation.^[20] It has a 100% graduation rate, and more students are accepted and enroll into the United States Military Academy than any other high school in the country.^[21]

There are six JROTC teams, Academic, Choir, Drum Corps, Honor Guard, Raiders, and Drill Team(Armed and Unarmed). Three teams compete: Academic, Drill Team (Unarmed- Patriot Pride, Armed- Patriot Guard) and Raiders (female- Patriot Strength, male- Patriot Force).^[22]
The Patriot Guard were national champions in 2007,^[23] 2009-2011,^[24] and placed second in 2012. The Patriot Pride came in second in 2006, 2008 and 2009 and first in 2010 and 2013 National Championships in Daytona, Florida.^[25]
The female Raiders had been national championships for four consecutive years, until their defeat in 2013.^[26] The male Raiders' most recent first place title was in 2011, having come in third in the 2012 Nationals and second in the 2013 Nationals.^[27]
The Academic team placed as finalists in the JROTC Leadership Academic Bowl in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and was first at the 2015 Leadership Bowl Nationals.^[28]

The JROTC Program can be chosen as a major or an elective a student can have in addition to their program.

Notable alumni

• Steve Dorff (1968) - composer/music producer
• Rick Elice (1973) - actor, writer
• Irv ("Mr. G") Gikofsky (1963) - Metro NY TV weatherman and winner for four Emmy Awards and as Edward R. Morrow Award^[29]
• Steve Greenberg (1978) - record producer, former President of Columbia Records
• Peter Guttman (1972) - Travel journalist, lecturer, and author
• Heejun Han (2007) - Finalist on American Idol, Season 11
• Albie Hecht - Former President of Nickelodeon, Founder of Spike TV and CEO of Worldwide Biggies
• Mike Jorgensen (1973) - baseball player, manager
• Ronnie Mund - Radio Personality of the Howard Stern Show and Professional Limo Driver for Howard Stern
• Jonathan Pontell - television director, producer and editor.
• Ron Shandler (1974) - national baseball analyst, author of Baseball Forecaster, founder of BaseballHQ.com, columnist for USA Today.
• Dennis Walcott - Former Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education and current President and CEO of the Queens Borough Public Library System (as of 2016)
• Chris Welty (1981) - computer scientist
• David M. Zornow (1972) - global head of Litigation/Controversy practices at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

References

External links

• Francis Lewis High School
• At High School in Queens, R.O.T.C.’s Enduring Influence
• At School in Queens, Success Draws Crowd - NY TImes
• National Drill Competition- Champions Interview- NBC