Hillside Arts & Letters Academy: admissions and school facts
Hillside Arts & Letters Academy (DBN 28Q325) is a New York City public high school in Briarwood-Jamaica Hills, Queens with one admissions program. Admission: Educational Option (Ed. Opt.). Its average SAT is 875 (2024-25), against a median of 871.5 across NYC high schools. 96% of students graduate in four years.
- Programs
- 1
- Average SAT
- 875
- NYC median 871.5
- 4-year graduation
- 96%
- College and career rate
- 59%
- Students
- 412
- Applicants per seat
- 1
Free. Enter your academic group and borough, and the estimate takes your priorities into account.
How to get in
Seats and applicants are from the DOE directory for the Fall 2025 admissions round. Rules can change: confirm them on MySchools.
Educational Option (Ed. Opt.)Q46A
Focus: Humanities & Interdisciplinary
Educational Option: the school takes students of mixed levels. About 16% of seats go to high-scoring students, 68% to mid-range and 16% to lower-scoring; a random number decides within each category.
90 seats · 71 applicants · 1 per seat
About the school
The mission of Hillside Arts & Letters Academy is to offer students a challenging curriculum with a special emphasis on visual arts, music, and writing. Students at our school become self-directed and resourceful learners with a deep appreciation for the arts. We prepare students to graduate as independent thinkers who are academically well-rounded, creative, and especially well-prepared to innovate and collaborate. Our school ensures student success by providing support through advisory classes, youth development programs, and a deep commitment to our students. We are part of the Career Readiness and Modern Youth Apprenticeship (CRMYA) pilot, which helps us support career readiness for all our students. We have courses that help our ninth and tenth graders explore their career interests and develop readiness skills. Our students can apply for apprenticeships in tech, finance, and...
Courses and languages
Languages: Spanish
AP courses (9): Calculus AB, Computer Science Principles, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Spanish Language and Culture, Statistics, Studio Art - 2D, United States Government and Politics, World History: Modern
Sports and clubs
Girls: Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Volleyball
Boys: Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Fencing, Football, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
Co-ed: Cricket, Golf, Stunt
Students
- Girls
- 52%
- English language learners
- 29%
- Students with disabilities
- 13%
- Economic need index
- 83%
- Asian
- 27%
- Black
- 28%
- Hispanic
- 39%
- White
- 1%
- Multi-racial
- 1%
- Native American
- 3%
What the school community says
Share of positive answers in the 2026 NYC School Survey. This is a DOE survey, not a rating from us.
- Students feel safe
- 90%
- Rigorous instruction
- 60%
- Supportive environment
- 67%
- Family and community ties
- 83%
Location and getting there
- Address
- 167-01 Gothic Drive, Queens, NY 11432
- Neighborhood
- Briarwood-Jamaica Hills
- Subway
- F to 169th St
- Bus
- Q1, Q17, Q2, Q25, Q3, Q30, Q31, Q34, Q36, Q43, Q65, Q76, Q77, X68
- School hours
- 8:03 AM – 2:53 PM
- Building access
- Not Accessible
Where to check and ask
Common questions
How do you get into Hillside Arts & Letters Academy?
Hillside Arts & Letters Academy admits students through: Educational Option (Ed. Opt.). Families apply by ranking programs on one MySchools application; the application closes December 4, 2026 for fall 2027 entry.
How competitive is Hillside Arts & Letters Academy?
In the Fall 2025 round the school’s programs had 1 applicants per seat. Your real chance also depends on your priority group and admissions method.
What is the average SAT at Hillside Arts & Letters Academy?
The average SAT was 875 in 2024-25, compared with a median of 871.5 across NYC high schools (DOE data, students who took the test).
What is the graduation rate at Hillside Arts & Letters Academy?
96% of students graduate in four years, and the college and career rate is 59% (DOE Fall 2025 directory).
Where is Hillside Arts & Letters Academy and how do you get there?
The school is at 167-01 Gothic Drive, Queens. Subway: F to 169th St. Bus: Q1, Q17, Q2, Q25, Q3, Q30, Q31, Q34, Q36, Q43, Q65, Q76, Q77, X68.
Other high schools nearby
Sources: NYC DOE Fall 2025 admissions directory, DOE InfoHub demographics 2025-26, SAT 2024-25, NYC School Survey. School Match is not affiliated with NYC Public Schools. How we calculate chances, and how accurate they are