General Information
The Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences @ Kingsborough Community College, CUNY, formerly Kingsborough High School for the Sciences, is a four year high school (grades 9 -12). The school is located in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York. Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences is a public school under the administration of the New York City Department of Education.
LMGHS was opened in September 1993 by former New York Mayor David Dinkins and the late Leon M. Goldstein, who was President of Kingsborough Community College, CUNY for 28 years; the high school was later renamed in his honor. LMG is located on the northern part of the campus of Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York; it overlooks Sheepshead Bay, Jamaica Bay, Rockaway Inlet, and the Atlantic Ocean. The school is housed in a building designed for LMGHS, built by the NYC Department of Education, and opened in September 2002.
Every year approximately 250 students enroll. It offers students an excellent college preparatory academic education. LMGHS was rated one of the best public high schools in New York City by New York Magazine and #191 out of over 1600 high schools nationwide by Newsweek Magazine.
Goldstein has collaborative partnerships with Kingsborough Community College (KCC), and is able to use many of its facilities, i.e., the theaters in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) and Marine Arts Center (MAC), the college library, the KCC Art Gallery, the gymnasium, etc. Leon M. Goldstein HS offers College Now as a result of the partnership with KCC; these programs allow high school students to take college courses and earn college credits from CUNY.
Goldstein has state of the art facilities, and puts great emphasis on technology. The school has two computer labs, and at least one computer in every classroom. All classrooms in Goldstein are also equipped with a Promethean Board interactive whiteboard. This allows classes to be much more interactive due to access to the amazing information and communication features of the Internet in classrooms. Due to this high connectivity, teachers use the school website to post homework, and utilize Internet innovations such as blogs for homework and other assignments. Using this 21st Century technology fosters further academic discussion among students and teachers. LMG also offers technology savvy students the opportunity to join the Tech Squad to assist the school's computer technicians in maintaining school computers and equipment.
In order to meet the basic requirements to qualify for a diploma, students must complete four years of English, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Physical Education and elective classes; a total of 44 specific credits are required for graduation. In addition, students are required to complete at least one year of Foreign Language (in order to take the Foreign Language Regents Examinations three years are required); one credit each of Music and Art are also required.
A New York State Regents Diploma will be given to students that pass the Regents Examinations in English, Global History, American History, Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Foreign Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and complete three years of a Foreign Language. Students who have completed a minimum of nine semesters (9 credits) of arts study, along with a rigorous assessment of their art form, including passing the Visual Arts or Music Regents Examination, will also earn the NYC Chancellor’s Arts Endorsed Diploma.
Leon M. Goldstein High School offers a large variety of Advanced Placement classes including: AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Computer Science, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Spanish Language, AP World History, AP United States History, AP Economics, AP Calculus, and AP Statistics.
A wide range of electives are offered to LMG students, such as: Piano, Jazz Band/Orchestra, Chorus, Ceramics, Painting, Government, Economics, SAT Preparation, Robotics, Psychology, Environmental Science, and Forensic Science.
LMGHS not only emphasizes the sciences, but the arts as well. The school has specially dedicated classrooms/studios designed for the Chorus, Drama, Painting, Ceramics, Photography, Piano, and Jazz Band/Orchestra students in order to foster the arts. Students at LMGHS have earned the NYC Chancellor’s Arts Endorsed Diploma in recognition of their study and commitment to their art form. In addition to SING!, Goldstein produces several theatrical performances throughout the year, showcasing students from the Drama and Chorus classes. There are also Winter and Spring concerts in which the school’s Jazz Band and Orchestra, Chorus, and Piano students perform for the student body and parents. The school’s Piano students also perform in a separate recital at the end of every school year. A large annual exhibition of student artwork is displayed in the (1600 square foot) Art Gallery of Kingsborough Community College every January; the gallery exhibition opening incorporates talks by participating art students and performances of the students in the Jazz Ensemble and the Chamber Chorus. The school has a small, but significant art collection including the painting, "Freedom of Artistic Expression" by Frank Herbert Mason (in the school library), the sculpture, "Genius" by Ralph Helmick (in the main lobby), as well as paintings, sculptures and photography by former students.
Leon M. Goldstein High School has a wide variety of varsity sports teams including a basketball team, swimming team, bowling team, soccer team, wrestling team, tennis team, girls volleyball team, girls flag football and boys golf team. LMG has an active cheerleading squad called the “Boosters”; they play a key role in fostering school spirit and are present at most major school sports events. A popular school athletics tradition are the annual Students vs. Faculty games; basketball and volleyball are the primary sports chosen. The school's mascot is the dolphin, a very intelligent sea mammal and ancient symbol of the sea and intelligence. Dolphins are sometimes sighted in the waters near the school during the warmer months of the summer and early autumn.
LMGHS has an active student government, which is elected every May. The school maintains positions for President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and student representatives from each grade. There is also a Senior Council composed of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two cabinet members. The Senior Council is responsible for organizing Senior events, voicing concerns of the Senior class to the administration, and keeping the Senior class informed. Student representatives are also elected to serve on the LMG School Leadership Team.
The LMG School Leadership Team consists of representatives from the school administration, parents, teachers and students. The SLT meets monthly to discuss and work on issues related to implementation of the school’s mission and vision.
Clubs in LMGHS include: Basketball Club, Art Club, American Red Cross, Anime Club, Science Olympiad Team, Debate Club, Chess Club, Tech/Scenic Design/Stage Crew, School Newspaper Staff, Yearbook Staff, Tech Squad, Asian Heritage Club, Hispanic Heritage Club, Italian Heritage Club, Muslim Heritage Club, Jewish Heritage Club, BSU, Chess Club, Book Club, and Film Club, etc.
SING! is held annually at LMG. It is a competitive musical theater production pairing the Seniors and Freshmen versus the Juniors and Sophomores. SING! is student run and consists of writing, song, dance, acting, costume design, and stage design, etc. SING! is an after-school activity and generally culminates with a two night performance at the end of October. It involves a large percentage of the LMGHS student population and fosters school community spirit.
Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences has a community service performance requirement for all students. Each student is expected to complete forty hours of community service per year. Community service can be defined as volunteer work; a wide variety of experiences are acceptable. The Guidance Counselors and the Coordinator of Student Activities (COSA) can assist students in finding appropriate placements.
LMGHS students are members in national organizations such as a Key Club Chapter. Both of these clubs award community service credits to members who participate in club activities, and often involve the entire student body and school community through their activities. Goldstein also has chapters of the Arista – National Honor Society, Archon Honor Society, English Honor Society, Math Honor Scoiety, Music Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and Social Studies Honor Society: student membership in Arista/Archon is awarded for exemplary work in community service and academic achievement.