Pathways College Preparatory School: A Model for College and Career Readiness

Pathways College Preparatory School (PCPS) in Queens, New York, stands as a beacon of educational innovation and a testament to the transformative power of high expectations and equitable practices. With a focus on preparing students for college, careers, and global citizenship, PCPS has garnered recognition for its commitment to academic excellence and student success. This article delves into the key aspects of PCPS, highlighting its leadership, strategic initiatives, academic programs, and overall mission to empower students to achieve their full potential.

Leadership and Vision

At the helm of PCPS is Dr. Sylvan Haseley, the Head of School, whose journey from Jamaica to New York City embodies a deep commitment to equity and educational transformation. Emigrating in 1993 with a decade of public service experience, Dr. Haseley's background in mathematics and his Doctor of Education in Leadership and Organizational Change from Baylor University have equipped him to lead PCPS with a clear vision and strategic direction.

Driven by a profound belief in the potential of all students, particularly students of color, Dr. Haseley's career began as a Special Education mathematics teacher. Witnessing firsthand the impact of low expectations, he resolved to challenge and transform beliefs about student potential. This commitment has been the cornerstone of his leadership journey.

Dr. Haseley's experience includes five years as a mathematics teacher and coach, followed by fourteen years as an assistant principal. At Alfred E. Smith High School in the Bronx, he spearheaded data-driven instructional initiatives that played a crucial role in the school's transition from restructuring status to good standing. His principal preparation at Brooklyn Latin High School further solidified his instructional leadership philosophy, which centers on rigor, relevance, and accountability.

Joining Pathways College Preparatory School in 2014, Dr. Haseley reaffirmed his dedication to students of color. Over four years, he elevated academic standards, enhanced literacy instruction, and expanded professional development opportunities for teachers. These efforts firmly positioned PCPS on a trajectory of college and career readiness. In 2019, while serving as Assistant Principal in Charge during the Principal's medical leave, Dr. Haseley guided the school through the challenging onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. By establishing clear systems, robust instructional structures, and a culture of high expectations, he led PCPS to achieve its highest graduation rate in history: 93 percent, a remarkable turnaround from the 23 percent of seniors on track to graduate at the time.

Appointed Head of School in July 2020, Dr. Haseley strategically prioritized middle school transformation, recognizing it as the bedrock for long-term success. Under his guidance, Pathways has consistently achieved Effective and Highly effective ratings across all MPPR domains for four consecutive years. Graduation rates from 2020 through 2023 reached impressive levels: 93 percent, 96 percent, 99 percent, and 96 percent, respectively, with CCPI metrics reflecting this sustained success. Notably, the middle school has surpassed citywide standards in both ELA and mathematics for the first time in the school's history.

Strategic Initiatives and Academic Programs

Dr. Haseley's five-year strategic plan has fostered six new college partnerships, enabling students to earn college credit while still in high school. A significant 30 percent of the teaching staff have become adjunct professors, facilitating the launch of an innovative associate degree model. PCPS celebrated its first associate degree graduate in 2021, followed by six graduates in 2023. The program's sustained growth is evident in the expansion from 12 to 21 candidates, with 30 students now poised to receive their associate degree in 2026, marking a substantial percentage increase in associate degree candidates. This success has fueled a 22 percent increase in enrollment, and PCPS is now a fully authorized International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) school.

Upper School Highlights:

Thirty percent of students earned an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts in 2025
Full IB MYP school authorization achieved in two years
New Associate Degree track in Data Science
Expanded global study abroad programs, including Spain, Greece, Ghana, and Japan
Future-ready certification pathways in Python, Cloud Computing, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computer Science Principles
Paid internships with Fortune 500 companies, including Google and Microsoft
Paid work-based learning opportunities
Student support programs including PLANTers, LEAPS, and Camp Aschkar

Lower School Highlights:

Eighth-grade students take up to five Regents examinations
Ninety percent of seventh graders passed the Algebra Regents
One hundred percent of eighth graders passed the Trigonometry Regents

Five-Year Strategic Goals:

Ninety percent of students earn an Associate Degree within five years
Ninety percent of students earn an IB Diploma within five years
Full implementation of Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices within three years

Dr. Haseley is a staunch advocate for equity, the arts, and future-ready learning. He established the school's first Computer Science department, enabling students to earn college credits and industry certifications in high-demand fields. Under his leadership, Pathways has received multiple College Board Female Diversity Awards, with 80% of students enrolled in computer science courses. He also launched robust performance-based arts programs in dance, music, drama, and visual arts.

Commitment to Equity and Future-Ready Learning

PCPS's commitment to equity is evident in its focus on culturally relevant teaching practices and its dedication to providing opportunities for all students to succeed. The school's instructional focus centers on revising the existing curriculum to be culturally competent and culturally conscious, while also pursuing academic success. Through collaboration, teachers explicitly link data, curriculum, and student interest while including technology-based instruction and responding to student’s SEL. Through acceleration and remediation of literacy across the curriculum, teachers cultivate a culture of student ownership, agency, and success.

The school's emphasis on future-ready learning is reflected in its new Associate Degree track in Data Science, expanded global study abroad programs, and future-ready certification pathways in high-demand fields such as Python, Cloud Computing, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computer Science Principles. PCPS also offers paid internships with Fortune 500 companies, providing students with valuable real-world experience.

Read also: Arizona Programs & Opportunities

Community Engagement and Partnerships

PCPS recognizes the importance of community engagement and partnerships in supporting student success. The school's mission is to educate the mind, body, and soul of its students in preparation for college, careers, and the global world. PCPS views college and career opportunities as a "pathway" to excellence and equity in life, and its partnerships support rigorous programs that encourage an intercultural understanding and real-world learning experience.

Beyond Pathways, Dr. Haseley is a recognized expert in instructional and leadership. He has presented to the NYCDOE on best practices for Principal Performance Observations, hosted district- and central-level leadership visits, launched the Queens South My Brother's Keeper initiative, and supports school leaders through professional development, coaching, and leadership summits. His leadership consistently aligns with the Chancellor's Four Pillars of Building Trust by reimagining student experiences, restoring effective practices, prioritizing social-emotional wellness, and engaging families as true partners.

Core Values and Instructional Strategies

PCPS operates on the core tenants of Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience, challenging graduates to become lifelong learners who can think critically about their civic responsibility and impact on their world. The school's vision is to be a pathway for students into college and career, fostering a learning environment where students are empowered with information about their own development. PCPS cultivates a culture that celebrates students’ social, emotional, and academic development while holding them accountable for their contributions to individual and collective achievement.

To achieve its instructional goals, PCPS utilizes a variety of strategies across different subject areas:

Humanities: Emphasizes Cultural Consciousness, Cultural Competence & Academic Success through Flipped Classroom models, Literacy Circles, and the incorporation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Study Skills, Meta-cognition and Memory Devices (Graphic organizers, Mind Mapping, etc.) are integrated, along with Socratic Seminars. Task / Project descriptions, rubrics, and exemplars are available for all weighted assignments, and pre-tests are offered to help students achieve.

Math: Focuses on Cultural Consciousness, Cultural Competence & Academic Success using Flipped Classroom models, Literacy Circles, and the incorporation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Study Skills, Meta-cognition and Memory Devices are employed, along with a Problem of the Day (POD). All subject areas are expected to offer both study skills as well as pre-tests in order to help students achieve.

Science: Integrates Cultural Consciousness, Cultural Competence & Academic Success through Flipped Classroom models, Literacy Circles, and the incorporation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Study Skills, Meta-cognition and Memory Devices are used, along with Phenomenon-based learning. Task / Project descriptions, rubrics, and exemplars must be made available for all weighted assignments. All subject areas are expected to offer both study skills as well as pre-tests in order to help students achieve.

Arts: Promotes Cultural Consciousness, Cultural Competence & Academic Success using Flipped Classroom models, Literacy Circles, and the incorporation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Study Skills, Meta-cognition and Memory Devices are integrated, along with Declamation (Real Life Application with a literacy component). All subject areas are expected to offer both study skills as well as pre-tests in order to help students achieve.

Physical Education: Emphasizes Cultural Consciousness, Cultural Competence & Academic Success through Flipped Classroom models, Literacy Circles, and the incorporation of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Study Skills, Meta-cognition and Memory Devices are employed, along with Predict, Observe, and Explain (POE) activities and Claim Evidence and Reason (CER) tasks. Task / Project descriptions, rubrics, and exemplars must be made available for all weighted assignments. All subject areas are expected to offer both study skills as well as pre-tests in order to help students achieve.

Nearby Schools

While PCPS distinguishes itself through its unique programs and leadership, it exists within a broader educational landscape. Several other high schools are located in the vicinity, each with its own strengths and focus. These include:

Benjamin Franklin High School-Finance-Info
Institute for Health Professionals at Cambria Heights
Math/Science Research and Technology Magnet High School
Health Arts Robotics And Technology High School
Cambria Heights Academy
Eagle Academy for Young Men Iii
York Early College Academy
Martin Van Buren High School
Business Technology Early College High School
High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
New Dawn Charter High School Ii
Queens Collegiate - A College Board School
Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences
Hillside Arts and Letters Academy
High School for Community Leadership
Queens Satellite High School for Opportunity
Thomas A Edison Career and Technical High School
Excelsior Preparatorty High School
George Washington Carver High School for the Scien
Queens Preparatory Academy
Preparatory Academy for Writers
Hillcrest High School
August Martin High School
Voyages Prep-South Queens
New Visions Charter High School-Adv Ma/Sci Iv
Young Women's Leadership School of Queens
Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School
Queens High School of Teaching, Liberal Arts and S
Queens School of Inquiry
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School
Francis Lewis High School
Robert F. Kennedy Community High School
North Queens Community High School
Epic High School-South
Epic High School - North
Townsend Harris High School
Richmond Hill High School
John Bowne High School
World Journalism Preparatory: A College Board School
East-West School of International Studies
High School for Construction Trades Engineering & Architecture
Bayside High School
John Adams High School
Flushing International High School
Forest Hills High School
Queens Metropolitan High School
Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School
Robert H. Goddard High School
Queens High School for Language Studies
Veritas Academy
Flushing High School
High School for Arts and Business
Queens Academy High School
Multicultural High School
Brooklyn Lab School
Academy of Innovative Technology
Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School
Urban Assembly School for Collaborative Healthcare
Transit Tech CTE High School
Voyages Preparatory
Pan American International High School
Civic Leadership Academy
Newtown High School
International High School for Health Sciences
School for Classics High School
Academy for Young Writers
Spring Creek Community School
Frederick Douglass Academy VI High School
Queens High School for Information, Research and T
Academy of Medical Technology - A College Board School
Maspeth High School
Renaissance Charter School
East New York Arts And Civics High School (The)
East New York Family Academy
W H Maxwell Career and Technical Education High School
Bushwick Leaders High School for Academic Excellence
Achievement First East New York Charter School
Captain Vernon A Richards High School-Fire
High School for Civil Rights
Performing Arts and Technology High School
World Academy for Total Community Health
Grover Cleveland High School
Academy of Urban Planning
Brooklyn School for Social Justice
Academy for Environmental Leadership
Brooklyn School for Math and Research
Leadership Preparatory Ocean Hill Charter School
All City Leadership Secondary School
Bushwick Community High School
Math, Engineering and Science Academy Charter High School
Olympus Academy
Brooklyn Collegiate-A College Board School
Achievement First Brownsville Charter School
Eagle Academy for Young Men II
Brooklyn Democracy Academy
Metropolitan Diploma Plus High School
Teachers Preparatory High School
Frederick Douglass Academy VII High School
High School for Medical Professions
Urban Action Academy
High School for Innovation In Advertising and Medi
Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology
William Cullen Bryant High School
Channel View School for Research
Rockaway Park High for Environmental Sustainability
Rockaway Collegiate High School
New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities Iv
Excellence Girls Charter School
Scholars' Academy
Ebc High School for Public Service-Bushwick
Women's Academy of Excellence
Archimedes Academy-Math, Science, Technology
Brooklyn Ascend Charter School
East Brooklyn Community High School
Brownsville Academy High School
Aspirations Diploma Plus High School
New Visions AIM Charter High School I
The Brooklyn Academy of Global Finance
Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy Charter School
Queens Vocational and Technical High School
Boys and Girls High School
Research and Service High School
Nelson Mandela High School
Williamsburg Charter High School
Aviation Career and Technical High School
Ember Charter School
Gotham Collaborative High School
Millenium Art Academy
Bronx Community High School
Bronx Bridges High School
Bronx Compass High School
Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School
Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School
It Takes A Village Academy
Cultural Academy for the Arts and Sciences
Baccalaureate School for Global Education

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