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2009: Outstanding Public High School

Community-Minded Academics
ElRo’s focus on service builds strong students who want to give back

Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s approach to education can be summed up in just one acronym: W.H.O.A. Created by Principal Dimitri Saliani during last year’s graduation ceremony, W.H.O.A. stands for the traits that he hopes to instill in students—work hard and smart, have honor and integrity, be optimistic and stay aware.

“The faculty, myself, the supporting staff and the students are on the same page about the mission of the school, which is to prepare kids for where they’re going to go next, and while they’re here, to instill values, character, honesty and trust for themselves,” Saliani said.

When the school opened in 2002, it had just 105 students, eight staff members and no building of its own. But in just six years, Eleanor Roosevelt, a screened school founded for families in District 2, has become one of the city’s best public academic institutions, with more than 480 students and a staff of 31. For the second year in a row, Eleanor Roosevelt boasted a 100 percent graduation rate, outranking all other Manhattan schools.

“One of our key components is that we ask all our students to have four years of the core classes,” Saliani said. “They get four years of English, history, math and science.”

In addition, Eleanor Roosevelt offers 11 Advanced Placement classes and a variety of upper level electives, which are often integrated. For example, two of the most popular electives are forensics and videography, and students use the skills they learn in both classes to create their own CSI episodes at the end of the semester.

“That’s part of what makes the school really great. Kids take what they learn in their other courses and bring it in,” Saliani said. “You’re accessing your knowledge base throughout the day.”

ElRo, as the school is affectionately nicknamed by students, also prides itself on being able to provide lots of individual attention. While the school receives upwards of 4,500 applications each year, it only accepts 120 to 125 students per class. Applicants are screened by test scores, middle school grades and attendance.

Freshmen are placed in advisory groups of 25 students, which they stay in for all four years. Unlike normal high school homerooms, where students often finish up homework or socialize, ElRo’s advisory class is a time for students to catch up on individual reading and work on community service projects. Senior advisory classes also work together on the college application process.

“During that time they grow and bond together as a group,” Saliani said. “Kids go out into the community and they work with our neighbors and places that need help. The idea of building that service is really tantamount to what we do.”

Susan Carr-Malatzky, president of the Parent Teacher Association, appreciates the school’s emphasis on volunteerism.

“Students do a huge amount of community service,” said Malatzky, whose daughter Gabriella is a sophomore. “Community-wise and social conscious-wise, they’re learning a lot.”

The staff understands that expectations are high and students are often extremely stressed, which is why Saliani has tried innovative new ways to keep the community comfortable. In addition to ending detention and playing music over the public announcement system before and after school, Saliani and his teachers make sure to listen to students’ opinions and problems.

According to Carr-Malatzky, administrators also do a great job at keeping parents informed and involved.

“I think one of the strongest aspects of the school is their ability to communicate with parents,” Carr-Malatzky said. “Every Monday morning when you wake up, there is an extensive newsletter in your email from the principal that tells you everything that is going on in the school.”

Ultimately, Saliani and his staff hope that students will leave Eleanor Roosevelt with not just a strong academic foundation, but also a keen awareness of what is happening around the world.

“I like to look at our students and have them be students who know what’s happening citywide, statewide, nationally and globally,” Saliani said.

Not surprisingly, many extracurricular activities have an international twist. Last year, more than 50 students participated in the Model U.N. team and received a visit from students living in Catania, Sicily. Now, the same teacher who leads the Model U.N. program plans to take a small group of students to Italy.

Another group of teens is working with a partner school in Kenya on an art project. Students on both sides of the Atlantic are painting masks and exchanging the final results. In
the meanwhile, students have been communicating via the Internet-
calling program Skype.

Saliani hopes that by the time teens graduate, they will enter college both as committed students and caring individuals.

“It’s not just about numbers and academics, it’s about being a good person and being somebody who’s going to help another person and do so not because you have to, but because you feel like it’s the right thing to.”

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Eleanor Roosevelt High School
411 E. 76th St.
New York, N.Y. 10021
212-772-1220
www.erhsnyc.org
Dimitri Saliani, Principal
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— Patty Lee

Above: Top Left: Students measure drops during a chemistry lab. Right: Using laptops, students work on photo projects. Bottom Left: Dimitri Saliani, Principal. Photos by Andrew Schwartz