# New Utrecht High School

New Utrecht High School is a public high school located in Bensonhurst, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The school is operated by the New York City Department of Education under District 20 and serves students of grades 9 to 12.
A total of 40.5% of students are Asian-American, constituting a plurality of the student population. The school was ranked 12th out of 542 high schools in New York City for number of students in the 2022–23 academic year.

## History

New Utrecht High School was established in 1915 as an offshoot of the nearby coeducational Bay Ridge High School. New Utrecht High School became an all-boys school, while Bay Ridge High School became an all-girls school.
The school's first location was a wooden building on 86th Street and 18th Avenue, with a population of 350 students. Irving Hazen was the founding principal, and he adopted the green and white colors of his alma mater, Dartmouth College, as the school's colors.
In November 1924, the school moved to its present location on 80th Street and 16th Avenue, with 2,300 students. In February of the following year, girls were admitted, resulting in the school becoming coeducational. Over the next few years, the school continued to grow, consisting of a main building and four annexes, with a student population of nearly 11,000. It was the largest student body in the world at the time. In 1930, with a student population of 9,000, it was reported that 10 communists attacked the student government while they were debating.
New Utrecht High School was the scene of several racial conflicts between blacks and whites within the community in the 1970s to 1990s. In 1974, 300 black students stormed the school after a fight between a black student and a white student ended up with the former being injured, spurring rumors that it was a racial attack. In 1990, a black student was shot by a group of white students stemming from an incident in the locker room.
In the 2000s, New Utrecht High School underwent a major overhaul. It added a new, two-story cafeteria building, which replaced the old cafeteria located in the main building. The old cafeteria was subsequently turned into classroom space. A new entrance was also created, accompanied by a corridor connecting the cafeteria building with the main building.
Today, New Utrecht High School functions as a zoned school primarily serving students living in the neighborhoods of Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, New York.
As of 2024, the principal of the school is Svetlana Litvin.
| Name | Service began | Service ended | Years |
| Svetlana Litvin | 2021 | Active | 3 |
| Maureen Goldfarb | 2006 | 2021 | 15 |
| Howard J. Lucks | 1997 | 2006 | 9 |
| Allen Leibowitz | 1985 | 1997 | 12 |
| Michael A. Russo | 1971 | 1985 | 14 |
| Isaac Hersh | 1957 | 1971 | 14 |
| Francis J. Griffith | 1946–1950, 1955 | 1957 | 6 |
| Abraham H. Lass | 1950 | 1955 | 5 |
| Leo R. Ryan | 1942 | 1946 | 4 |
| Maurice E. Rogalin | 1936 | 1942 | 6 |
| Harry A. Potter | 1917 | 1936 | 19 |
| Irving A. Hazen | 1915 | 1917 | 2 |

## Demographics

A plurality of New Utrecht's student body is Asian-American, reflecting the high Asian population of Bensonhurst and the surrounding neighborhoods. A significant portion of the student population is Hispanic. Both the Asian and Hispanic percentages have increased and continue to do so, while percentages for White and Black students have consistently decreased over the past decade.
There is a large gender gap among the student body. In the 2023-24 school year, 55.0%, or 1,720 students, were male; only 45.0%, or 1,405 students, were female. In addition, 16.4% of students have disabilities, 18.3% are English Language Learners, 79.4% are in poverty, and 79.9% are considered to be part of the Economic Needs Index.
Student demographics :
| Race | Students, 2003 | Percentage, 2003 | Students, 2013 | Percentage, 2013 | Students, 2023 | Percentage, 2023 | Change |
| Asian | 738 | 26.1% | 1,253 | 38.0% | 1,265 | 40.5% | 14.4% |
| Hispanic | 666 | 23.5% | 947 | 28.7% | 1,117 | 35.7% | 12.2% |
| White | 1,124 | 39.7% | 933 | 28.3% | 626 | 20.0% | 19.7% |
| Black | 302 | 10.7% | 144 | 4.4% | 69 | 2.2% | 8.5% |
| Other | 3 | 0.1% | 17 | 0.5% | 48 | 1.5% | 1.4% |
| Total | 2,833 | 100% | 3,294 | 100% | 3,125 | 100% | – |

### Enrollment

Total number of students :
| Year | Students | Change |
| 1997–1998 | 2,734 | N/A |
| 1998–1999 | 2,594 | 140 |
| 1999–2000 | 2,580 | 14 |
| 2000–2001 | 2,643 | 63 |
| 2001–2002 | 2,728 | 85 |
| 2002–2003 | 2,602 | 126 |
| 2003–2004 | 2,833 | 231 |
| 2004–2005 | 2,934 | 101 |
| 2005–2006 | 3,067 | 133 |
| 2006–2007 | 2,989 | 78 |
| 2007–2008 | 3,007 | 18 |
| 2008–2009 | 2,821 | 186 |
| 2009–2010 | 2,937 | 116 |
| 2010–2011 | 3,228 | 291 |
| 2011–2012 | 3,259 | 31 |
| 2012–2013 | 3,262 | 3 |
| 2013–2014 | 3,294 | 32 |
| 2014–2015 | 3,469 | 175 |
| 2015–2016 | 3,545 | 76 |
| 2016–2017 | 3,613 | 68 |
| 2017–2018 | 3,547 | 66 |
| 2018–2019 | 3,427 | 120 |
| 2019–2020 | 3,480 | 53 |
| 2020–2021 | 3,572 | 92 |
| 2021–2022 | 3,336 | 236 |
| 2022–2023 | 3,118 | 218 |
| 2023–2024 | 3,125 | 7 |

## Curriculum

New Utrecht High School offers a variety of classes to fulfill the credit requirements for New York City students, including electives such as art and music classes, the student government, and math team. Most academic classes are available at the Honors level for higher-achieving students, and the school offers many Advanced Placement courses.

### Academies

There are several academies at New Utrecht High School, some of which offer employment-oriented training in specialized fields, which include:
* Academy of Business and Technology
* Academy of Medical Professions and Health Careers
* Academy of Legal Studies
* Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
* Academy of Art and Design
* Academy of Asian Studies
* Academy of Computer Science
* Honors Academy
Some of the academies are associated with NAF, a non-profit organization originally known as the National Academy Foundation.

## Proficiency

The graduation rate in June 2022 was 73.8%, a decline from 81.2% in June 2021 and 85.1% in June 2020.
During the 2021–22 school year, 44% of students were classified as chronically absent by the New York State Department of Education, including over 57% of Hispanic students and almost 79% of black students. In comparison, around 54% of white students were chronically absent and just under 24% of Asian students, suggesting strong inequities in school attendance.

### Regents scores

The following table lists a report of Regents scores from June 2023.
| Examination | Students tested | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Proficient (Levels 3–5) | Proficiency compared to state |
| English Language Arts | 29% | 17% | 15% | 25% | 16% | 28% | 68% | 9% |
| Algebra I | 25% | 20% | 21% | 37% | 12% | 11% | 59% | 6% |
| Geometry | 24% | 36% | 16% | 27% | 8% | 14% | 49% | 4% |
| Algebra II | 12% | 33% | 13% | 32% | 12% | 10% | 54% | 10% |
| Living Environment | 20% | 26% | 14% | 43% | 17% | | 60% | 6% |
| Earth Science | 10% | 37% | 16% | 34% | 13% | | 47% | 18% |
| Chemistry | 16% | 28% | 21% | 40% | 12% | | 51% | 14% |
| Physics | 4% | 21% | 20% | 44% | 15% | | 59% | 9% |
| Global History and Geography II | 26% | 13% | 18% | 39% | 16% | 14% | 69% | 5% |
| United States History and Government | 21% | 11% | 17% | 37% | 31% | 4% | 72% | 8% |

### SAT scores

The mean SAT score among New Utrecht students in Spring 2024 was a 966, with a 472 in English and a 495 in Mathematics. This is below the national average of 1028.

## Extracurricular activities
### Clubs

Several clubs are available for the students of New Utrecht High School, such as the Green Team, Newspaper, the Photography Club, and the Science Olympiad Team. Many after-school activities are coordinated by the Chinese-American Planning Council, which offers programs to students with the goal of advancing the Asian-American community of New Utrecht.

### Events

A few special events and productions are held at New Utrecht High School:
* AAPI Club Fair
* Anime Event
* AP/College Now Fair
* Art and Music Night
* Chinese New Year Show
* Club Fair
* Fashion Show
* International Show

### Student government

New Utrecht High School has a student government class which functions as an elective credit for students. Members are responsible for approving funds for clubs and organizing a School Spirit Week, Thanksgiving Dinner, Toy Drive, and other annual school-wide events.
For nearly a century, the student government positions were mayor, deputy mayor, secretary, treasurer, and student representatives from each grade. The mayoral theme was a longstanding tradition that stemmed from the fact that the neighborhood of New Utrecht was named by Dutch settlers after the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands.
In 2015, the student government changed the name of the two significant positions of mayor and deputy mayor to student body president and vice president. Beginning in Fall 2023, the roles of student president and vice president were abolished and replaced with a council, or group of students. Each member holds an equal role in the student government.

## Notable alumni

* Walter Adams (1922–1998): economist, university president
* Koby Altman (born 1982): professional basketball general manager
* Carmine Appice (born 1946): musician, drummer
* Steve Augeri (born 1959): singer
* Troy Ave (born 1985): rapper
* Lord Have Mercy (born 1973): rapper
* Gene Barry (born Eugene Klass; 1919–2009): actor
* Seymour Benzer (1921–2007): biologist
* Barbara Aronstein Black (born 1933): academic dean
* Abe Burrows (1910–1985): playwright
* Pat Capri (1918–1989): professional baseball player
* Jack Carter: comedian
* Ronald Castorina: politician
* Phyllis Chesler: feminist author, psychologist
* Joseph Colombo (1923–1978): criminal
* Louis "Louie Bagels" Daidone (born 1946): criminal
* Billy DeMars (1925–2020): professional baseball player, coach
* Max Desfor (1913–2018): photographer
* Victor Dorman (1915–1995): packaging process inventor
* Amram Ducovny (1927–2003): writer
* Stanley Ellin: author
* Jerry Ferrara: actor
* Cy Feuer: playwright, stage director, producer
* Stanley Fink (1936–1997): politician
* Eli Friedman (born 1933): nephrologist
* Leo Friedman: Broadway photographer
* Allen Funt (1914–1999): TV personality
* GASHI (born 1989): rapper
* David Geffen (born 1943): media mogul
* Ralph Ginzburg (1929–2006): author, editor, publisher, photojournalist
* Bernice Gottlieb (née Bernice Friedman; born 1931): pioneer in the transracial adoption movement, real estate executive
* Philip Habib (1920–1992): diplomat
* Buddy Hackett (born Leonard Hacker; 1924–2003): comedian
* Barbara Grizzuti Harrison: writer
* Sal Iacono: television comedian
* David Ignatow: poet, author
* Gabe Kaplan (born 1945): comic, actor, poker player
* Michael Kidd (1915–2007): choreographer
* Harvey Lembeck (1923–1982): actor
* Howard Levy: dermatologist, Vietnam War resister
* Steve Lombardi: professional wrestler
* Paulie Malignaggi: professional boxer
* Harold Martin (1918–2010): politician
* Patty McCormack: actress
* Robert Merrill (1917–2004): opera singer
* Walter Mischel (1930–2018): psychologist famous for the Marshmallow Test and contributions to personality and social psychology
* Art Modell (1925–2012): businessman, entrepreneur, professional sports team owner
* Doretta Morrow: actress
* Sam Nahem (1915–2004): professional baseball player
* Angela "Big Ang" Raiola: TV personality
* Anthony Ramos: actor, singer
* Teddy Reig (1918–1984): jazz record producer, promoter, artist manager
* Daniel Rodriguez: singer
* Stan Rosen (1906–1984): professional football player
* Spencer Ross: sportscaster
* Herschel Savage: pornographic actor
* John Saxon (1935–2020): actor
* Ralph Snyderman (born 1940): physician, scientist, administrator
* Arnold Stang: comedian, actor
* Martha Stewart (1922–2021): film and TV actress, singer
* Tony Visconti (born 1944): music producer

## In popular culture

New Utrecht High School is the venue for key scenes in the 1947 movie It Happened in Brooklyn, starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante, and Peter Lawford.
The front and rear views of the school building were used in the opening and closing scenes of the TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, which starred alumnus Gabe Kaplan.

## Gallery

* Main entrance, 2023
* View from 81st St. and 16th Ave., 2023
* 79th St. student entrance, 2023
* View of the field from 80th St., 2023
* Rear of the building, 2021
* View of the train from the field, 2021
* The entranceway of the school, 2021
* 79th St. student entrance, 2021
* The side of the school, 2013
* The entranceway of the school, 2013
* The rear of the school, 2013
* The school in 2003