Forte Prep is a tuition-free middle school open to students in grades 5 through 8 in Queens, New York. We are driven by a philosophy of achieving excellence in all facets of life and learning. We believe in the power of education to transform the lives of students from diverse, often disadvantaged, backgrounds. Through rigorous academics, creative & technological enrichment and leadership development, we prepare our students to excel at college preparatory high schools and beyond.
Why Forte Prep?
We seek hungry minds, creative hearts and future leaders to join us at Forte Prep. Our school is committed to changing the game for students in Northwest Queens, and helping our students pursue positive futures through rigorous academic and enrichment programs.
Our programs maintain a strong focus on achieving excellence across all learning areas; our college preparatory curriculum is designed to quickly close achievement gaps and accelerate learning for our low-income and English Language Learner (ELL) students.
We support our students to close the gaps, fundamentally redirecting their academic and personal trajectories towards successful careers and lives that enrich their communities through leadership and creativity.
Our graduates go on to enroll in top-quality independent, charter and public high schools, embodying the Forte Prep values of excellence and achievement wherever they go. But our work isn’t done until our graduates complete high school, college, and are firmly on the path of a lifetime of opportunity.
What does your name mean?
forte, pronounced for-tay
The word is derived from the French word fort, meaning “strong.”
We think about forte as having several meanings for our school:
strength of an individual
strength of a community
expertise
loud, and with force (often in our performing arts classes!)
Why Queens?
Queens is the most diverse borough in our great city. Our community, which includes Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and Corona, speaks 160+ languages, comes from dozens of countries, and embodies the best of what New York has to offer. The families here have big dreams for their children.
While there are some strong public schools in our community, there is also tremendous overcrowding in our school districts. Research from the Make the Road NY highlights that areas where immigrant families are located are less likely to have the right amount of resources dedicated to support their learning.
Forte Prep provides an academically rigorous, college preparatory middle school option for students that reflects the great diversity of our borough and unlocks students’ potential.
We love the tenacity and pride of our fellow Queens residents, and aim to create a school that our community is proud of.