Staten Island Technical High School

Staten Island Technical High School (or Staten Island Tech) is one of the eight specialized public high schools in New York City. It is located in the New Dorp section of Staten Island.

Staten Island Tech began in 1982 as an annex of Ralph R. McKee Vocational-Technical High School, located in the St. George section of Staten Island, after New Dorp High School, which had occupied the building since the 1930s, moved to its current location on New Dorp Lane. The technical courses were taught in the annex, while the vocational courses stayed in St. George. (To some who grew up in the 1980s, the schools are still referred to as McKee Tech and McKee Vocational.)

Through the advocacy of parents, staff, and students, Staten Island Tech was made an independent high school by the New York City Board of Education in May 1988. Nicholas M. Bilotti, who had been serving as director of the annex, was appointed principal of the new high school.

The school admitted students based on their seventh-grade class grades and standardized-test scores until 2005, when it was added to the group of New York City's specialized high schools and therefore began using the New York City Specialized High Schools Admissions Test to screen prospective students.

Tech is known for its perfect Regents and Graduation rates in 2004.

Tech is also known locally as a very open community for the homosexual. The Gay-Straight alliance is very big presence in the school. One notable member of this community is James Kandrach, who has been on the forefront of gay awareness in the school.

The school currently has approximately 800 students. Classes focus on engineering and the sciences, and all students take Russian language courses. There are two exchange programs with Russia.

Notable Staten Island Tech Alumni include:

• Shamoon Siddiqui (2000)

External links

• www.siths.org -- Home page of Staten Island Technical High School