Curtis has a total enrollment of about 3,006 and is open to residents of New York City entering either ninth or tenth grade. Enrollment requirements vary depending on which of the ten "houses" the student is going to be enrolled. There are zoned programs where enrollment is based mostly on geography, with Staten Island residents having priority over all other boroughs. Within Staten Island, geographical areas closer to the school have priority over all other areas of Staten Island. Most other programs rely either on the prospective student's grades and city standardized tests or specialized enrollment tests. The school's population is 38% African American, 31% Hispanic, 22.9% White and 7.5% Asian. Feeder patterns and admissions All New York City students entering high school must apply to schools, as there are no zoning boundaries for high schools in New York City. Only special zoned programs have geographical restrictions whereby certain areas of Staten Island have priority over all of the rest of New York City. Notable alumni Vincent Robert Capodanno, US Navy chaplain, received the Medal of Honor after dying under fire in Vietnam. Father Capodanno Boulevard is named for him, as is the Joseph F. Merrell Jr. (1926–1945), posthumously awarded United States Medal of Honor for combat in World War II. A ferry is named for him. Jeb Stuart Magruder, lawyer, advisor to President Nixon, Watergate conspirator Ralph J. Lamberti, Staten Island borough president Alfred E. Santangelo, United States Congressman Loring McMillen, Official Staten Island historian, and one of the founders of the Richmondtown Museum Arts and music Florina Kaja, reality TV star Lois Lowry, children's author, two-time Newbery Medal winner Amy Vanderbilt (1908–1974), author of the best-selling Complete Book of Etiquette (1952). A native of Staten Island Emily Genauer, art critic, won a Pulitzer Prize for newspaper reporting. Mario Buatta, famous interior designer Betty Aberlin, children's television actress known for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, poet, activist Selita Ebanks, Victoria's Secret Model The RZA, hip-hop recording artist, and producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. In his song "Sunshower", he raps, "Old Earth got nervous, walked me to Shaolin, sent me to Curtis" Richie Castellano, singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist and keyboard player for the Blue Oyster Cult David O. Stewart '69, historian and author Michael Henry Heim (1943–2012), literary translator, inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Robert F. Gleckner (1925–2001), English professor, author and editor;