High School & Pre-College Programs

The Adult Learning Center is one of City University of New York’s largest providers of adult basic education, GED preparation instruction and ESL. Instruction is given in basic reading, writing and math skills and high school equivalency (GED) exam preparation in English and Spanish. Classes are held on-campus, at Goodwill Industries in Astoria and in Woodside, Queens.

College Connection is a LaGuardia sponsored program, which makes it possible for junior and senior high school students to take LaGuardia courses on campus.

College for Children offers academic, cultural and creative expressions classes for children and teenagers (pre-kindergarten through high school). These Saturday classes encourage youth to explore a variety of subject matter: math, reading, science, languages, music, computers and theater.

College Now! is a CUNY initiative that enables junior and seniors in 13 Queens high schools to take college credit and non-credit bearing courses and ninth and tenth graders to participate in a range of activities, including specially designed high school courses, on our college campus and at their own high schools.

The College Prep program provides workshops and individual counseling sessions with prospective college students about how college studies can help them meet their personal and professional goals. GED requirements are covered as well as general information about higher education in the U.S.

CUNY Catch works with adolescent inmates and teenagers on probation or at risk in detention and sentencing facilities in NYC. Nationally recognized for its strong case management approach, the program emphasizes entry to academic and vocational training.

Gear Up provides support to disadvantaged middle and high school students in Flushing, John Bowne and Newtown high schools to ensure they’re prepared for, pursue and succeed in post-secondary education. Gear Up offers long term mentoring to students, guidance services for students and parents, academic support in these high schools and a College for Teens program which meets at the college on Saturday mornings.

GED Prep Courses, offered in English and Spanish, prepare students for the test of General Educational Development, the equivalent of a high school diploma. A High School degree (U.S. or foreign) or GED is the admission requirement for LaGuardia.

International High School is a multicultural alternative educational environment for recent immigrants. It serves students with varying degrees of limited English proficiency. Located on the LaGuardia campus, the school offers a high school/college curriculum with intensive study and reinforcement of English.

The Liberty Partnership Program is a high school retention and college preparation program operating within Grover Cleveland, Franklin K. Lane and Newtown High Schools.

Middle College High School is a six-year program that combines grades 9-12 with the first two years of college. Located on the LaGuardia campus, it provides intensive guidance, small classes, career exploration, and an interdisciplinary curriculum to students who might not reach their potential in a traditional school setting.

Regents Prep Courses are geared to New York City high school students who will be taking the Comprehensive Regents Examination in Reading, Writing, Math A, Math B, or Earth Science.

SAT Prep Courses prepare high school students for the new SAT in Math, Critical Reading and Writing. Practice tests are given and test-taking strategies are reviewed. Note: LaGuardia does not require SAT scores for admission, but students who have taken them may be exempt from the ACE placement tests, which are given after a student has been admitted to the college.

Summer Intensive English Language Program (SIELP) – Offered at no cost to the students, including meals and transportation passes which are provided by the NYC Department of Education and CUNY, this program prepares ESL students for the academic demands of high school. Students participate in this program during the summer before they enter ninth grade and must have an intermediate English language proficiency level.

Upward Bound serves low-income students from Aviation, W.C. Bryant, International High School, Middle College, Newtown and Robert F. Wagner high schools. This program prepares low income and first generation students for post-secondary education. In partnership with Vassar College, Upward Bound sends 40 students to Vassar each summer for a six-week academically challenging program of classes and extracurricular activities.

The Center for Veterans, Youth, and Adults provides free evening GED and Basic Skills classes for students who read at the fourth grade level and above. Classes run from September to June.

Robert F. Wagner Jr. Institute for the Arts and Technology provides students in grades 7 through 12 with an interdisciplinary curriculum, small classes and intensive guidance programs, focusing on the arts and technology. It is located one block from the main LaGuardia campus.

Additional programs are offered via our Continuing Education division.