NEST+m

New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math High School
Location
111 Columbia Street New York City , New York 10002 United States
40°43′11″N 73°58′45″W / 40.719762°N 73.979107°W / 40.719762; -73.979107
Information
School type	Public school
Mottoes	Love and respect for knowledge
Established	2001
School board	NYCDOE
School district	1
Authority	NYCDOE
School number	01M539
Principal	Celenia Chévere (2001-2006) Olga Livanis (2006-2015) Mark Berkowitz (2015-2020) Meaghan Lynch (2020-)
Grades	K-12
Enrollment	1,805 (2020)
Average class size	25-34, depending on grade level and programming
Language	English
Hours in school day	8:15 - 2:35
Classrooms	70
Campus type	Urban
Colors	Purple and Silver
Slogan	Don't Forget to SOAR, caw-caw!
Athletics	Fencing (girls/boys PSAL), Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Track and Field, Cross Country, Math Teams A & B, Flag Football
Sports	Fencing, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Track and Field, Cross Country, Chess, Volleyball
Mascot	Eagle
Newspaper	The Eagle
Yearbook	The Journey
Communities served	NYC
Website	www.nestmk12.net

New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math, abbreviated NEST+M, is a selective public school located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, New York, and is under the supervision of the New York City Department of Education, serving grades kindergarten through 12th grade.¹

The school exclusively enrolls New York City resident K–3 children scoring within at least the 97th percentile of the gifted and talented test. NEST+m also admits sixth-graders scoring in the 97th percentile of standardized tests administered by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) for their Gifted & Talented Program.² Students from any part of the city may apply to the school. NEST+m is the only Gifted & Talented program with a dedicated school building (the other four programs share schools with the general education student population) and the only program serving grades K through 12.

Prospective 9th and 10th-grade students apply through the NYC High School Application Process as well as their entrance exam. As of September 2017, Principal Mark Berkowitz eliminated the NEST+m entrance exam and published the new rubric on the NEST+m website. Current admissions process requires the combination of the average course grades from 7th and 8th- worth 50% total -and two essays- also worth 50% - for a total rated score out of 400. This year the cutoff for admission was a 390. The current acceptance rate for NEST+m Upper Grades is 1.3%, receiving approximately 6700 applications and 88 seats. The acceptance rate for transfer students is even lower due to the limited number of seats, this year the acceptance rate was less than 1%, for a total of 5 seats offered.

NEST+m is one of the five gifted and talented schools in New York City. These five G&T schools were originally established as a gifted and talented school league. There are no gifted and talented high schools (that serve only 9-12), and instead they are called Specialized High Schools. The general movement for accelerated students: attend one of the five gifted and talented schools then attend a specialized high school or Hunter College High School. In 2025, nearly 30% of NEST+m 8th graders were accepted to Stuyvesant High School and another 10% were accepted to Brooklyn Technical High School. Another 25% were accepted to Bronx Science, HSMSE, and other specialized high schools.

NEST+m was founded in 2002. It took over the building of Junior High School 22, which at the time of closure had only about a couple hundred students. To refurbish the building, parents raised $600,000 dollars.³ The first principal of NEST+m was Celena Chévere, who had a tumultuous tenure. Chévere was accused of racial profiling by several parents and making admissions decisions partially influenced by socio-economic status of parents. Other parents praised her commitment to the school and care for students. ⁴⁵

In 2006, the NYCDOE attempted to compel NEST+m to share its building with a new charter school being created, Ross Global Academy. Schools chancellor Joel Klein cited an excess of space in the building where NEST+m was housed. In a letter sent to parents by the NYCDOE, it was stated only half of the building's capacity was being used. Opposition was raised by NEST+m parents due to concerns over dividing space and resources with another school, while also saying the NYCDOE was underestimating the amount of space.⁶ When the NYCDOE conducted an audit of the school to assess how much space there was, Chévere was accused of moving classes around to give the impression of a crowded building.³ The NEST+m PTA also filed a lawsuit to prevent Ross Global Academy from moving in. The resulting court hearings were filled with parents from both sides. The NEST+m community also organized a demonstration outside a ball keynoted by Joel Klein.⁴⁵

In April 2020, Principal Mark Berkowitz resigned and accepted a position as Principal at Pelham Memorial High School located in Pelham, NY. Meaghan Lynch became the interim acting principal on July 1, 2020.⁷

Chess 2025 Summer And 2026 Winter Manhattan Cup

2023 Elementary Nationals 2nd place K-3 U1000

2019 US Chess National Champions

Math 2023 MathCon 2nd place

• Hudson Yang⁸—actor