A School with a Powerful History.

Honoring Harvey Milk’s legacy through equity, inclusion, and a commitment to every student’s growth.

A black-and-white photograph of a man wearing a flower lei and holding a sign saying 'I'm from Woodmere N.Y.', leading a protest march. The crowd behind him holds signs against the Briggs Initiative, displaying messages like 'No! on the Briggs Initiative.' The scene is energetic and crowded with people expressing opposition.

Our Name

Our school is named after Harvey Milk because we believe in building a better world, just like he did.

Native New Yorker Harvey Milk (1930-1978) was California’s first openly gay elected official. He fought for LGBTQ+ rights, supported anti-discrimination bills for marginalized people of all kinds, established day care centers for working mothers, and worked to convert unused military facilities in San Francisco to low-cost housing.

On November 27, 1978, Harvey Milk was assassinated at work. Not long after his death, the chant “Harvey Milk lives!” was heard at Pride marches around the country.

Harvey Milk indeed lives on at our school. We are proud to honor his legacy of equity for all.

Black and white image of a crowd of people holding signs in a city street. One sign reads "God Loves You" and another says "Happy 1st Day of School." The crowd appears to be participating in a parade or demonstration.

Our History

Hetrick-Martin Institute launched a program in 1985 to serve marginalized students in the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2003, it became Harvey Milk High School, a fully accredited New York City Public Schools high school open to all students who want to learn in a safe space.

Today, Harvey Milk High School is a safe and rigorous academic setting open to all students. We’re building a better school for a better world.

Group of students and teachers are posing behind a table with a "Harvey Milk High School" banner in a gymnasium. The table has colorful flyers and small items on it.

Our Mission

The mission of Harvey Milk High School is to support a community of successful, independent learners by creating a safe educational environment for all students.

Harvey Milk welcomes students in grades 9-12. We provide all students with a rigorous academic experience for college and career readiness that emphasizes critical thinking skills and student collaboration.  The nurturing educational environment not only challenges and promotes your academic success, it also supports a diverse, self-respecting, confident community.