History of the School

HSMSE is a relatively young school, yet it's set on the campus of our nation's oldest public institution of higher education, the City College of New York. At the time of its founding in 2002, New York City needed more opportunities for its most promising students, and a joint program with the City University of New York offered three new specialized schools affiliated with local colleges: Queens High School for the Sciences at York College, the High School of American Studies at Lehman College, and HSMSE.

In its earliest years, HSMSE did not yet have its now-iconic home in CCNY's Baskerville Hall; it had a humble start, operating out of trailers near the campus while its permanent space was being prepared. In 2006, HSMSE moved into its new location at the northern edge of CCNY's campus. The college setting is central to HSMSE's identity: Our students spend their days surrounded by the neo-Gothic architecture of CCNY's storied campus, and they take advantage of college-level coursework, partnerships, and resources.

Our school was designed from the start to offer a specialized, academically rigorous, STEM-forward education, but the idea went beyond that. The founders set out to create an environment that would combine deep math, science and engineering instruction with strong humanities and a commitment to community. Students are expected to develop habits of inquiry, research, presentation, and critical thinking, not just rote achievement.

HSMSE leadership began with founding principal Randy Asher, who helped establish the culture and mission. William Dugan took over in 2006, followed by Crystal Bonds from 2011 to 2022. Sean Dolcy, the current principal, has been leading the school since July 2022 and has reinforced the school's founding vision, preserving its rigorous standards while fostering a culture where students feel understood, challenged, and inspired.

Read more about HSMSE history in the student newspaper, The Echo.