Briarcliff High School
Pocantico Hills Report
October 20th, 2008
James Kaishian, Principal
Briarcliff High School
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654 students currently enrolled
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77 students from Pocantico Hills (12%)
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9 to 1 - student/faculty ratio
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98% of all teachers have earned a Master
Degree or higher
Notable Resources
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State of the Art Language Lab
Comprehensive Writing Lab to support students
at all writing levels
Wireless computer access throughout the high
school, 3 computer labs, 1 wireless mobile
computer lab for classroom use and 25
workstations in the Library Media Center
available for student use.
Graduating Class of 2008
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98% graduated with a Regents diploma
43% Advanced Designation with Honors
29% Advanced Designation
26% Regents Diploma
2% Local Diploma
98% of the Class attending college.
Students were awarded $67,000 in academic and need based
scholarships through BHS Awards and Scholarships.
In the Class of 2008, there were 6 National Merit Scholars and
an additional 10 students were Commended Scholars.
Academics at Briarcliff High School
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Advanced Courses
20 Advanced Placement courses
16 Honors Level courses
Briarcliff Manor Science Research Course
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Special Education
6 Collaborative courses (English and History)
22 Resource Rooms
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Extended courses are offered in Math, Science, and World
Languages
Academics at Briarcliff High School
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World Languages offered – Spanish, Latin
French, Conversational Italian, and Mandarin
Chinese
65% of upper classmen take a 4th or 5th year of
language
97% of students take at least 4 years of Math and
Science
Electives
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English – Drama, TV Production, Creative Writing, Public Speaking, Short
Fiction
World Languages – Conversational Italian I and II, Mandarin Chinese
Math – Statistics, Computer Applications, Business and Finance, Finite Math,
Calculus
Science – Marine Biology, Forensics, Environmental Science, Topics in
Chemistry
Social Studies – Law in America, Psychology, Sociology, Global Interactions
Performing Arts – Band, Choral Music, Orchestra, Dance, Music Theory
Visual Arts – Photo I, II, and III, Digital Photography, Ceramics, Sculpture
Technology – Introduction to Java I and II, Principles of Engineering
Physical Education – Fitness through Cardiovascular & Strength Training
Co-curricular Clubs
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Academic Challenge
Amnesty International
National Art Honor Society
Asian Club
Black Latino Student Union
Briarcliff Singers
Briars and Ivy
Chess Club
Dance Club
Debate Club
Drama Club
Environmental (Treehugger) Club
Engineering Club
Film Club
French Club
Gay Straight Alliance
Habitat for Humanity
Interact Club
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Interior Design Club
Intramurals
Latin Club
Mathletes
Mock Trial
Model Congress
Model UN
Multicultural Club
National Honor Society
Newspaper – The Bulletin
NYS Math Honor Society
Poetry Club
Spanish Club
Student Council
Tri-M Honor Society
World of Difference
Writers’ Circle
Yearbook
Performing Arts Programs
Fall Drama
 Spring Musical
 Jazz Band
 Pep Band
 Camerata
 Clifftones
 Overtones
 Chamber Orchestra
 Garage Orchestra
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Athletic Teams
Freshmen , Junior Varsity, & Varsity levels
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FALL
Varsity Girls Soccer
JV Girls Soccer
Modified Girls Soccer
Varsity Boys Soccer
JV Boys Soccer
Modified Boys Soccer
Varsity Field Hockey
JV Field Hockey
Modified Field Hockey
Varsity Volleyball
JV Volleyball
Modified Volleyball
Varsity Cheerleading
Varsity Girls Swimming
Varsity Girls Tennis
JV Girls Tennis
Co-Ed Varsity Cross Country
Modified Cross Country
Varsity Football
JV Football
Modified Football
WINTER
Varsity Ice Hockey
Varsity Girls Basketball
JV Girls Basketball
Varsity Boys Basketball
JV Boys Basketball
9 Boys Basketball
Varsity Girls Track
Varsity Boys Track
V Boys Swimming
V Boys Swimming
V Wrestling
V Cheerleading
SPRING
Varsity Softball
JV Softball
Modified Softball
V Boys Tennis
JV Boys Tennis
V Girls Track
V Boys Track
Modified Track
V Baseball
JV Baseball
9 Baseball
Modified Baseball
V Boys Lacrosse
JV Boys Lacrosse
Mod. Boys Lacrosse
V Girls Lacrosse
JV Girls Lacrosse
Mod. Girls Lacrosse
V Golf
Programs of Interest
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Senior Internship Program – students spend 6
weeks of the school year interning in an area
of interest.
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Foreign Exchange Program – China and
Singapore
Pocantico Hills Student Awards
2007-2008 School Year
Valedictorian of the Class of 2008 - William Cember
Athletic Director’s Award - Shelby Coon, Kimberly Tracey
Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award - Christopher Cruz-Guzman
BHS Graduate Art Collection Award for Excellence in Visual Art - Taylor Reno
Principal’s Book Award - Zehui He
Harvard University Book Award - Elizabeth Cai
Exceptional Musicianship Award - Christian Contreras
Outstanding Musicianship Award - William Cember
Excellence in Musicianship Award - Matthew Cember, Zehui He, Brett Lupi
Pocantico Hills Student Awards
2007-2008 School Year (continued)
Briarcliff/Scarborough Historical Society/Eileen Weber Scholarship - Samuel Castro
New York State Math Honor Society – William Cember
Carl Hansen Award – Gabriel Bender
American Legion Award – Joshua Marrero
The Award for Excellence in Latin - William Cember
New York State Lottery Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship – Brett Lupi
Norma P. Fey Scholarship Award - Kyle Beechum
Stephen Lelewer Award – William Cember
George Washington Medal for Excellence in Math & Science – Elizabeth Cai
English Department Book Award for Excellence in English in Grade 12 – William Cember
Elliot Award – Kyle Beechum
Colleges Attended by Pocantico Students
Class of 2008
Binghamton University
Duke University
Dutchess Community College
Emerson College
Fairfield University
Harvard University
Hellenic College
Indiana University at Bloomington
Iona College
Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus
Loyola College in Maryland
Manhattanville College
Maryland Institute College of Art
Mercy College
Mohawk Valley Community College
New England Conservatory of Music
Northeastern University
Nyack College
Quinnipiac University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Springfield College
State University of New York at Albany
SUNY College at Potsdam
University of Hartford
University of Pittsburgh
Westchester Community College
Wheaton College
Distinguished Students of the Month
2007-2008
November: Matthew Cember, Grade 10
January:
Michele Greco, Grade 12
February:
Steven Montana, Grade 11
April:
Mkondo Chimimba, Grade 12
2008-2009
September: Allante Phillips, Grade 10
National Honor Society Students
2008-2009
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44 Seniors currently in NHS
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Pocantico Students (18%)
 36 Briarlciff students
Analysis of Standardized Assessments for
the 2007-2008 School Year
Enrollment Figures: 2008-2009
Pocantico Hills and Briarcliff
Grade 9
 Grade 10
 Grade 11
 Grade 12
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Total
Pocantico
20
8
25
24
77
Total Enrollment
150
152
161
181
654
Spanish III Regents
French III Regents
Latin III Regents
Global History and Geography
200
180
162
160
140
120
99
100
91
81
91
83
All BHS
Pocantico
80
52
60
40
23
20
0
Number in
Class
% Passed
with
Distinction
(85)
% Passed
Average
Score
Note: 99% of all BHS students who sat for the 2007 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
100% of all Pocantico students who sat for the 2007 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
US History
Math A
Note: 100% of all BHS students who sat for the 2008 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
100% of all Pocantico students who sat for the 2008 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
Math B
Note: 98% of all BHS students who sat for the 2008 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
Living Environment
Note: 100% of all BHS students who sat for the 2008 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
100% of all Pocantico students who sat for the 2008 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
Chemistry
Note: 100% of all BHS students who sat for the 2008 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
Physics
English
Note: 99% of all BHS students who sat for the 2008 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher.
100% of all Pocantico students who sat for the 2008 administrations of this examination met the local graduation requirement of 55% or higher
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
AP English Language/Composition
AP English Literature/Composition
AP Environmental Science
AP European History
AP French Language
AP US Government and Politics
AP Human Geography
AP Latin Vergil
AP Physics B
AP Spanish Language
AP Studio Art
AP US History
AP World History
AP Music Theory
AP Statistics
AP Macro-Economics
AP Computer Science A
SAT I Scores – Critical Reading
Class of 2008
Sat Scores – Math
Class of 2008
SAT Scores – Writing
Class of 2008
*98% of this cohort sat for the SAT exam
ACT Scores
Class of 2008
Questions/Discussion