Quest To Learn: A Unique Educational Experience in New York City

Quest To Learn (Q2L) is a public school located in New York City that serves students in grades 6-12. Situated in a large city setting, Q2L offers a distinctive approach to education, drawing inspiration from the engaging principles of video games. This innovative model aims to create a learning environment where students are actively involved in their education, fostering a deeper understanding of traditional subjects through unconventional methods.

General Information

Quest To Learn has a student population of 489. The school's minority student enrollment is 82%, and 65% of students are considered economically disadvantaged. The student body consists of 39% female students and 61% male students. With 51 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 10:1, which is better than that of the district.

Academic Performance

Quest To Learn demonstrates solid academic performance, with 52% of students scoring at or above the proficient level in math and 62% scoring at or above that level in reading. These figures indicate that the school performs better than the district average in both math and reading. In comparison, New York City Public Schools have 47% of students testing at or above the proficient level for reading and 38% for math. Furthermore, Quest To Learn outperforms the state average, where 46% of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading and 41% for math.

The school's performance is reflected in its statewide rankings, with Quest To Learn achieving a Reading Proficiency Rank of #351 and a Math Proficiency Rank of #557 out of 1389 schools in New York. The school's reading performance is considered somewhat above expectations, while its math performance meets expectations.

A Novel Approach to Learning

Quest To Learn distinguishes itself through its unique, game-based learning model. Rather than passively receiving information, students actively participate in "quests" that integrate traditional subjects like history, algebra, and chemistry. For instance, students might simulate the Peloponnesian War as spies in ancient Greece, learning about Athens and Sparta while exploring the concepts of oligarchy and democracy. Alternatively, they might design a game to address an environmental disaster, applying scientific principles to solve real-world problems or plan a food truck business using math skills.

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The school utilizes unique terminology to reflect its game-based approach. "Codeworlds" refers to math classes, while "Mission Lab" is where teachers collaborate to plan lessons. The concept of "systems thinking" is also emphasized, although its precise definition may vary. While the middle school employs these distinctive names, the high school uses traditional course names to facilitate college applications.

Despite its innovative approach, Quest To Learn shares similarities with other schools that incorporate group work and projects. Students collaborate on laptops, discussing their "quests" and engaging in science experiments. Traditional elements such as textbooks and student essays displayed on bulletin boards are also present.

Students have a significant amount of choice in their activities, with history assignments offering a "menu" of options, such as creating a 30-card quiz on the Boston Tea Party. Class time is generally divided between teacher-led discussions and project work.

Addressing Challenges and Ensuring Support

Quest To Learn students take the same standardized tests as other schools, including Earth Science and algebra Regents exams for all 8th graders. This presents a challenge, as one-third of the students have special needs. Assistant Principal Devin Fitzgibbons noted the diverse range of student abilities, with some students analyzing college texts while others are learning basic decoding skills.

To address these challenges, most classes have two teachers, and New York University provides student volunteers. The guidance counselor facilitates support groups focusing on social interaction, girls' leadership, and foster care. The school fosters a supportive environment where students are encouraged to help each other.

Leadership and Improvement

Quest To Learn opened in 2009, with Nicholas Jurman taking over as head of school in 2016. Under his leadership, along with Assistant Principal Tim Jones, the school has focused on strengthening its systems and addressing issues such as bullying, boredom, and excessive test preparation in the high school.

Jurman implemented Regents classes for all 8th graders and increased the number of Advanced Placement classes. The Institute of Play, the school's founding partner, collaborates with high school teachers to design game-based lessons. Peer mediation and mentoring programs have been implemented to reduce bullying. These efforts have led to improvements in NYC School Surveys.

Opportunities and Partnerships

Quest To Learn attracts highly educated teachers from prestigious universities such as Brown, Harvard, and Columbia. Twice a year, students participate in teacher-designed "boss-level" challenges, replacing regular classes for a week. These challenges provide opportunities for self-starters to excel. Examples include a 10th-grade transfer student giving a TED talk on feminine hygiene products and a 7th grader designing a foster dog adoption agency. Another challenge involves creating a World War II museum based on visits to historical sites and docudramas.

Approximately 20 students each year gain admission to specialized and sought-after schools such as Bronx Science, LaGuardia, Stuyvesant, and Beacon. These students showcase their work and investigations, impressing admissions officers.

The school receives support from Parsons The New School and the Institute of Play, which has secured funding from organizations like the Gates Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation.

Location and Facilities

Quest To Learn is located in a wing of the Bayard Rustin Educational Complex, which houses several small high schools. The schools share a cafeteria and a renovated library.

Special Education

Quest To Learn is committed to integrating students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) into the general student body. Many of the special education teachers have extensive experience.

Nearby Schools

Quest To Learn is located near numerous other schools, including:

Landmark High School
Humanities Preparatory Academy
James Baldwin School-A School for Expeditionary Learning
Manhattan Business Academy
Hudson High School of Learning Technologies
NYC Lab High School for Collaborative Studies
NYC Museum School
Liberty High School Academy for Newcomers
High School of Fashion Industries
Manhattan Village Academy
Harvest Collegiate High School
Satellite Academy High School
The Clinton School
Baruch College Campus High School
School of the Future High School
Gramercy Arts High School
High School for Language and Diplomacy
International High School at Union Square
Union Square Academy for Health Sciences
Academy for Software Engineering
High School M560 - City As School
Harvey Milk High School
Unity Center for Urban Technologies
Manhattan Academy for Arts and Languages
Murray Hill Academy
American Sign Language & English Secondary School
Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School
High School for Health Professions and Human Service
Institute for Collaborative Education
Beacon High School
Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts
Chelsea Career and Technical Education High School
NYC iSchool
Broome Street Academy Charter High School
Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis High School
East Side Community School
Professional Performing Arts High School
Business of Sports School
Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology
Stephen T Mather Building Arts and Craftmanship High School
Cascades High School
Forsythe Satellite Academy
Manhattan Bridges High School
Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction
Food and Finance High School
High School of Hospitality Management
Facing History School
Lower East Side Preparatory High School
Independence High School
High School for Environmental Studies
Stuyvesant High School
New Design High School
High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies
Essex Street Academy
Urban Assembly Academy of Government and Law
Lower Manhattan Arts Academy
Pace High School
New Explorations Into Science, Tech and Math High School
West End Secondary School
Art and Design High School
Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management
Urban Assembly Maker Academy
Manhattan Early College School for Advertising
Bard High School Early College
Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers
Orchard Collegiate Academy
Academy for Careers In Television and Film
Fiorello H Laguardia High School
University Neighborhood High School
High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice
High School of Arts and Technology
Manhattan/Hunter Science High School
Urban Assembly School for Media Studies
Maxine Greene High School for Imaginative Inquiry
High School of Economics and Finance
Leadership and Public Service High School
Special Music School
Richard R Green High School of Teaching
Urban Assembly School of Business for Young Women
Millennium High School
Talent Unlimited High School
John V Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School
Vanguard High School
Manhattan International High School
Urban Academy Laboratory High School
Information Technology High School
A-Tech High School
Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School
Brooklyn Preparatory High School
Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design
Williamsburg Preparatory School
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Northside Charter High School
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Global Learning Collaborative
Urban Assembly School for Green Careers
Frank Mccourt High School
Science Skills Center High School
Brooklyn International High School at Waters Edge
Urban Assembly School for Music and Art
Academy of Finance and Enterprise
High School of Applied Communications
Bard High School Early College Queens
George Westinghouse Career and Technical Ed High School
City Polytechnic High School
Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice
Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women
Robert F Wagner Junior Secondary School-Arts and Technology
Newcomers High School
Dr. Susan S Mckinney Secondary School of the Arts
Academy of American Studies
El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice
Middle College High School at Laguardia Community
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Urban Assembly New York Harbor School
Benjamin Banneker Academy
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Brooklyn Frontiers High School
Energy Tech High School
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Williamsburg High School Of Art And Technology (The)
Brooklyn Latin School
Lyons Community School
Queens Vocational and Technical High School
Long Island City High School
Progress High School for Professional Careers
East Williamsburg Scholars Academy
High School of Enterprise, Business and Technology
Brooklyn Technical High School
Baccalaureate School for Global Education
Digital Arts and Cinema Technology High School
Boerum Hill School For International Studies
High School For Climate Justice (The)
Cobble Hill School of American Studies
Young Women's Leadership School of Brooklyn
Judith S Kaye High School
Khalil Gibran International Academy
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School
Young Women's Leadership School
Brooklyn Community Arts and Media High School (BCAM)
Brooklyn High School for Leadership and Community
New Dawn Charter High School
Brooklyn High School of the Arts
Innovation Charter High School
Dream Charter School

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