American Studies was designed as a small school for about four hundred students. It was created in 2002 along with Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, and the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering at City College. New York City previously had three specialized high schools, Brooklyn Technical High School, Bronx Science, and Stuyvesant, besides LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. The three new schools were created to provide more opportunities for students beyond the previous three specialized high schools. Unlike the other specialized high schools, American Studies puts a special focus on history, and all students are required to study U.S History for 3 years, and take the AP US History Exam in May of the third year. Despite the school's emphasis on history, it also offers a variety of AP classes in other subject areas, such as Calculus. Students are required to take AP World History exam in the spring semester of junior year after taking the course from freshman to junior year. Some students who excel in math have the ability to take college math courses at Lehman College during their junior or senior year.
History
In 2008, American Studies was awarded a Gold Medal by U.S. News & World Report in its ranking of the Best Public High Schools. The school was ranked 29th, beating its rivals and fellow specialized high schools Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical High School, and Stuyvesant High School. In 2009, it climbed up 10 spots and was ranked as the 19th Best Public High School, claiming the top spot for all New York City High Schools and 2nd for all of New York State. In 2014, American Studies has held on to its Gold Medal by U.S. News & World Report and was ranked 32nd out of 22,000 public schools in the nation, making the school #1 in the state. In 2015, the school was ranked 11th nationally, making it #1 in the state for the second year. In 2016, the school was ranked 15th in the nation and #1 in the state of New York by U.S. News and World Reports.
Affiliations with Lehman College
As part of the new Specialized Schools that opened in CUNY campuses, American Studies students are granted permission into Lehman College campus to use the college library, gym, cafeteria, and occasionally the theater if the high school might need it for events such as plays. Students are given CUNY I.D. cards for access to the campus and for verification purposes.
In 2019, the average SAT score for American Studies was 1400 and average ACT score was 32.
Enrollment
Admissions to High School of American Studies is solely based on the SHSAT, a competitive standardized test that permits entrance into Specialized High Schools. In recent years, the cut-off score, or the minimum score needed to gain entrance to American Studies, was 524. In September 2019, only 102 out of 30,000 students that applied were admitted into the school, making the acceptance rate 0.3%. High School of American Studies consistently ranks as among the top 100 high schools in the United States. Its most recent U.S. News and World Report ranking in 2019 puts HSAS at # 6 in New York State and # 56 in National Rankings. According to state test scores, 100% of students are at least proficient in math and 100% in reading.
Transportation
Public transportation
Similarly to the modes of transportation available to Bronx Science students, the New York City Subway's Bedford Park Boulevard and Bedford Park Boulevard–Lehman College stations are located nearby. Additionally, New York City Bus's routes stop near HSAS. Students residing a certain distance from the school are provided full-fare or half-fare student MetroCards for public transportation.
Vallo Transportation
Vallo Transportation is a private bus service offered to High School of American Studies at Lehman College students and Bronx Science students.
