ðə skˈuːl wʌz dɪzˈaɪnd tə sˈɜːv stˈuːdənts ɪnðə nɔːɹθwˈɛst bɹˈɑːŋks ænd ˌʌpɚ mænhˈæʔn̩, ɹᵻlˈiːvɪŋ ˌoʊvɚkɹˈaʊdɪŋ æt də wˈɪt klˈɪntən hˈaɪ skˈuːl ænd dʒˈɔːɹdʒ wˈɑːʃɪŋtən hˈaɪ skˈuːl.
The school was designed to serve students in the Northwest Bronx and Upper Manhattan, relieving overcrowding at DeWitt Clinton High School and George Washington High School.