York Preparatory School

York Preparatory School
Location
40 West 68th Street New York City (Manhattan) , New York 10023 United States
Coordinates	40°46′27″N73°58′46″W / 40.774212°N 73.97937°W / 40.774212; -73.97937
Information
Type	Private, Day, College-prep, Cognita School
Established	1969
Founder	Ronald Stewart and Jayme Stewart
Head of school	Kathryn Maggiotto
Grades	Sixth grade–12
Gender	Coeducational
Student to teacher ratio	5:1
Campus	Urban
Color(s)	Blue and Yellow
Mascot	York Prep Panthers
Nickname	Panthers
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper	The Paw
Yearbook	The Legend
Tuition	US$58,000 [1]
Website	yorkprep.org

40 West 68th Street

York Preparatory School, commonly referred to as York Prep School, is an independent, university-preparatory school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City, near Lincoln Square. ^[2]

The coeducational school provides instruction to approximately 350 students between 6th and 12th grades. ^[2] The student:teacher ratio is 5:1. ^[3]

York Prep is approved by the New York State Board of Regents and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. ^[4]

For the 2024–2024 school year, tuition is US$64,560. Total tuition for Jumpstart US$95,237, Total tuition for ITP US $80,973. ^[5]

History

Founded and owned by Ronald and Jayme Stewart (née Spahn), ^[6] York Prep opened its doors in September 1969 to 158 students in grades 6-12 and by 1972 had 212 students. ^[7] Ronald Stewart serves as headmaster and his wife Jayme Stewart is director of college guidance. Jayme Stewart, who has shared college entry tips with CNN, ^[8] is also the author of a 1991 book, How to Get into the College of Your Choice: And How to Finance It. ^[9]

York is a for-profit school; Jayme Stewart's brother Stephen H. Spahn owns another for-profit school in New York City, the Dwight School. ^[10]

Kate Maggiotto, succeeded Mr. Stewart as the next Head of York Prep beginning 1 June 2023. ^[11]

Academics

The curriculum provides a foundation in the traditional core subjects of a liberal arts education—English, mathematics, social studies, science, and foreign language. In addition, students can choose from a wide range of specialized electives. ^[12]

The school uses a system called "tracking," which places students in one of several ability groups available in every subject area. This allows students to work at an advanced pace through Honors courses and the Scholars Program, in subjects in which they excel, and at a moderate pace in those subjects where they need more guidance. ^[13]

York Prep offers a Jump Start Program at supplemental cost to provide assistance to students with different learning styles and learning disabilities. ^[14] The program offers participants two weekly one-on-one 40 minutes sessions with their assigned Jump Start teachers, morning check-ins with their teachers, and supervised group study sessions after school. ^[15]

Grading system

York Prep operates on a semester system. Numerical grades begin in grade 6 and run through grade 12. A grade point average of 85 or above constitutes being on the Honor Roll, while a grade point average of 90 or above constitutes being on the Headmasters List. The lowest failing grade is a 55%, while the highest failing grade is a 65%. Parents and students receive weekly grades and progress updates via an online grading book called Canvas, a component of the York Prep website^{[ clarification needed (see talk)]}. Each family signs in with a unique username and password to access their student's grades and progress in all academic subjects. Students receive quarterly grades four times per year.

Facilities

The school, which then housed 250 students, made news in 1997 when it expanded in an unusual transaction, trading property with Ramaz School. ^[16] Ramaz purchased a new building for York Prep at 68th Street and traded that for the existing school at East 85th Street.

The property at West 68th Street is the original New York home of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. The new school site—a seven-level granite building—has three science laboratories, three technology centers, a library, performance and art studios and a sprung hardwood floor gymnasium, which has a fitness center, weight room and locker room facilities.

Notable alumni

• Liv Tyler, model and actress ^{[17] [10]}
• Yannis Pappas, comedian
• Robert E. Chambers, alumni, nicknamed the "Preppie Killer", is an American who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of 18-year-old Jennifer Levin. He killed her in New York's Central Park during the early morning hours of August 26, 1986. ^{[18] [10]}
• Alexis Rockman, artist ^{[19] [10]}
• James De La Vega, artist ^[20]
• Phil Abraham, Emmy-nominated director of Mad Men ^{[21] [22]}
• Michael Avedon, American fashion and portrait photographer ^[23]
• Samia Finnerty, musician ^[24]

In news and popular culture

• The front of the school was featured in the film "Elf" starring Will Ferrell.
• Director of College Guidance Jayme Stewart was featured in an article in U.S. News & World Report on volunteer opportunities for high school students
• The school and several of its students were featured in the series Ice-T's Rap School , a 6-part reality show aired on VH1 in 2006 where the rapper introduced eight of York Prep's students to rap and rap culture. ^[25]
• York Prep is mentioned in Season 1 Episode 3 of ABC's Castle "Hedge Fund Homeboys". York Prep students are referred to as "Yorkies" and mentioned as wearing uniforms.
• In the HBO original documentary Siempre, Luis about Luis A. Miranda Jr.,—activist, father of Lin-Manuel Miranda, and father by adoption of Miguel, who attended York Prep from 6th through 12th grade—Miguel is seen wearing a York Prep top, and Luis talks about his success at a mainstream school, and the final episode is Miguel receiving his acceptance letter to his early decision first choice college, Skidmore College. ^[26]

References

1. "York Preparatory School Tuition & Financial Aid". York Preparatory School. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
2. "York Preparatory School". New York State Association of Independent Schools . Retrieved September 3, 2008.
3. "Best New York City Private & Selective Public high Schools". New York: The Princeton Review, Inc. 2008: 194.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. "Directory of Members". Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools: Commission on Secondary Schools. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
5. "Tuition & Financial Aid at York Prep School in Manhattan". www.yorkprep.org. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
6. "Ronald Stewart And Miss Spahn Wed in Suburbs" (PDF). The New York Times. October 7, 1968. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
7. Cushman, Sandi (June 11, 1972). "A Private School Should Fit Your Child's Needs". New York: Sunday News. p. 128.
8. Schurenberg, Eric; Alexander, Jan (May 1, 1989). "The agony of college admissions". CNN. Archived from the original on October 9, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
9. Melvin, Tessa (November 6, 1994). "If you're thinking of living in". The New York Times . Retrieved September 3, 2009.
10. Anderson, Jenny (May 27, 2012). "For-profit private school is calling its own shots". The New York Times . Retrieved September 4, 2019.
11. "Kate Maggiotto to Succeed Ronald Stewart as Head of York Prep in June". April 4, 2023.
12. "Learning at York Prep". York Prep School. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
13. Frost, Emily (January 11, 2015). "York Prep principal strives for inclusive, family atmosphere". DNAinfo . Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
14. "Best New York City Private & Selective Public high Schools". New York: The Princeton Review, Inc. 2008: 193.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
15. "Jump Start". York Prep School. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
16. Rothstein, Mervyn (May 21, 1997). "School plans to build at another's site". The New York Times . pp. B6. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
17. Maguire, Madeline. "Liv Tyler". Ok! Online. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
18. Tavernise, Sabrina (August 30, 2005). "Drugs send Chambers, '86 killer, back to jail". The New York Times . Retrieved September 3, 2008. At 19, Mr. Chambers, who had attended the prestigious York Preparatory School, became a symbol of depraved youth on the affluent Upper East Side.
19. Bernard, Sarah (October 9, 2000). "Jungle Boy". New York Magazine. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
20. Fleming, Colin (October 2007). "Spanish Harlem's Hero". Smithsonian Magazine. Archived from the original on September 27, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
21. "Academy of Television Arts & Sciences" . Retrieved February 4, 2014.
22. "York Prep Alumni Community". York Prep School. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
23. Bernstein, Jacob (December 5, 2012). "Michael Avedon Follows in His Grandfather's Footsteps". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 30, 2016.
24. "York Prep Winter 2014 Newsletter, page 20". Issuu. August 13, 2014. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
25. Buckman, Adam (October 17, 2006). "Gift rapped". New York Post . Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
26. "Luis Miranda Jr. Shares wisdom, humor with Skidmore community".