About Friends of HSES

Friends of the High School for Environmental Studies is committed to providing environmental programs and private resources to support the students and faculty of the High School for Environmental Studies. Located on Manhattan’s West Side, the High School for Environmental Studies (HSES) is public high school that draws students from all of New York City’s five boroughs.  HSES is an exceptional academic enterprise, created 15 years ago to give city kids—many of whom have never ventured out of New York City—the opportunity to learn about the environment and environmental careers while pursuing a rigorous college preparatory program.  Since 1996 the Friends has raised more than $2.5 million to provide extra resources for hands-on learning experiences for the school’s students and teachers. The Friends’ programs are designed to help students become leaders in the conservation movement and environmental stewards in their own neighborhoods.
 


School at a Glance

  • over 1,500 students

  • over 85 faculty members

  • 80% of student body is young people of color

  • 45% of students receive free and reduced lunch

Visit the HSES website

View our Staff, Board of Directors, Advisory Committee, and Corporate and Professional Advisory Council

  
 

Field Education
Students take part in outdoor activities and fieldwork such as exploring national parks, taking weekend and summer hiking trips, cleaning out streambeds and joining after-school recycling activities to broaden their knowledge of the environment.

Career Development
Students learn about a wide range of careers in the environmental field by volunteering in internships at local nonprofits. More than 15,000 hours of service are donated by students every year.

Professional Development
HSES teachers participate in workshops, lectures and conferences to gain more in-depth understanding of environmental issues and how to relate them to the classroom.