Gilder Lehrman Flagship Schools are high-performing high schools that offer students a rigorous four-year curriculum in American history. These schools provide a unique, American history and literacy-focused education that emphasizes interdisciplinary and document-based learning. In addition to studying American history all four years of high school, students go on field trips to historic sites, engage in discussions with eminent historians and guest speakers, and participate in history clubs and competitions. Flagship School classrooms are enriched with Gilder Lehrman educational materials such as posters, digital resources, and lesson plans based on primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. Flagship Schools serve a diverse body of students who consistently outperform their peers in exam scores, graduation rates, and college attendance.
The first Gilder Lehrman Flagship School, the Academy of American Studies, was formed in 1996 by the Gilder Lehrman Institute in collaboration with the Queens high school superintendent. Other Gilder Lehrman Flagship Schools include the following:
- Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York
- All Hallows High School in the Bronx, New York
- High School of American Studies at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York
- New Dorp High School in Staten Island, New York
- Notre Dame High School in Manhattan, New York
- Patchogue - Medford High School in Patchogue, New York
- Salesian High School in New Rochelle, New York