[8] In the 1940s it was the only public school catering specifically to the deaf in New York City.

[12] Despite its name at the time stating "junior high school", it actually served pre-kindergarten to the 10th grade.

This caused controversy over community members who feared this would disrupt the deaf environment.

Previously the school had students use lip-reading, sign language, and whatever hearing abilities they had, which Jeff Archer of Education Week described as "an inconsistent mix".

[10] He stated that therefore the deaf students fell behind relative to hearing peers.