HILLSIDE ARTS AND LETTERS ACADEMY

HILLSIDE ARTS AND LETTERS ACADEMY is a Title I public high school that is part of the NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #28 school district, located in JAMAICA, NY with about 471 students offering grade levels from 9th Grade to 12th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 26 teachers, HILLSIDE ARTS AND LETTERS ACADEMY has a student/teacher ratio of about 18:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

HILLSIDE ARTS AND LETTERS ACADEMY (HALA) is a small, specialized public high school located in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York. Situated within the Jamaica Educational Campus, the school is known for its intimate learning environment, which prioritizes personalized instruction and a tight-knit community feel. As its name suggests, the curriculum places a heavy emphasis on the humanities, creative writing, and the arts, aiming to foster students' critical thinking and expressive abilities through a rigorous, college-preparatory lens.

The school is characterized by its commitment to student-centered pedagogy and a collaborative culture. By maintaining a smaller student body, Hillside Arts and Letters is able to provide a more focused support system, often utilizing advisory programs and project-based learning to help students navigate their academic and personal goals. Because it shares a campus with other specialized schools, students at HALA also benefit from a broader network of extracurricular opportunities, athletic programs, and shared resources, while still enjoying the identity and specialized focus of their specific academy.

For more information, contact HILLSIDE ARTS AND LETTERS ACADEMY at (718) 658-1249 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.