Bergtraum offers business-oriented courses to prepare students for careers in marketing, tourism, finance, human resources, information systems, economics, computer science, law, and secretarial fields.

The school also combines its business curriculum with an academic program that gears towards preparation for college.

[citation needed] It remains as one of the few large high schools in New York City as a result of Michael Bloomberg's small-school restructuring projects.

[citation needed] The school was established in 1975, in memory of Murry Bergtraum, a former President of the New York City Board of Education who died in 1973.

The logo is used on letter heads, notebooks, T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, team uniforms, and other school-branded items.

[citation needed] Bergtraum was the first academic comprehensive high school with business majors in New York City and one of the first in the United States.

It was supported by the Downtown Lower Manhattan Association to prepare young people to enter the world of work and college.

Although Bergtraum is located in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan, the school administration ordered an immediate evacuation of the building.

The Bergtraum administration were unhappy with the relocation and appealed it, and their building was re-opened and students resumed their studies within a few days.

[citation needed] Bergtraum began to face new ideas of reform during the Spring Term of the 2005–2006 academic school year.

[11] Bergtraum offers majors in business that attracts students from all boroughs; receiving an average of 15,000 to 20,000 applications every year, making it one of the most popular schools in the city of New York.

Despite the design of the building, it stays very warm in the winter and very cool during the summer because of its centralized air-conditioning system.

[3] Historically, Bergtraum's programs have catered to minority students, and the trend has not changed much since the school's opening.

The building hosts students with special needs such as mental or physical disabilities, or hearing impairment.

Students are required to study:[18][19][20] Courses include: Advanced Placement courses, which are eligible for college credit, include Calculus AB, English language and English literature, environmental science, accounting, United States history, and world history.