You step out of the time machine and onto a bustling street of the 1960s. You’re immediately struck by the bold confidence of the era. Mini skirts and shift dresses flash by as women embrace daring new fashion trends. Men flaunt sharp suits or casual bell bottoms and leather jackets. A Ford Mustang roars past, its sleek design turning heads, while a group of teenagers gathers around a jukebox playing rising Beatles hits. Newsstands display headlines about the Kennedy presidency and the civil rights movement, capturing a nation on the verge of profound change. In living rooms, families eagerly watch the grainy black-and-white broadcast of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon. Children play with the newest toy on the market, the Barbie doll. The air rings with the rise of a new generation.

Wake up… The 60s are calling.

Zooming into Queens, Forest Hills High School mirrors this vibrant era of change. Teenagers debate politics after volunteering for Kennedy’s campaign, share thoughts on the latest Bob Dylan track, and work at a dress shop in the Lower East Side. Is this the same school?

In 1963, Forest Hills High School held about 3,600 students across just three grades: 10, 11, and 12. The post-World War II baby boom overwhelmed schools leading to triple session scheduling that staggered the school day to accommodate the growing student body. “As a sophomore, I went from twelve to five,” recalls Judith Thurman, an alumni who was the editor-in-chief of The Beacon in the 1960s. “And then as a junior, I went from eight to twelve, or maybe it was eight to one. And finally, as a senior, it was nine to three.”

The accelerated track known as SP (Special Progress) added another layer of intensity. Designed to fast-track gifted students, SP condensed junior high into two years, allowing students to start and graduate high school early. “Classes were kind-of tracked by IQ in those days,” explains Thurman. “You were in a cohort of ‘smart kids’ the whole time, and it was terrible, because the criteria for determining who’s ‘smart’ at the age of 14—it was just so homogeneous.”

For many of the alumni, the rigorous academic environment at Forest Hills High School was life-changing. Janice Volkman, a 1963 graduate, recalls the high caliber of her education. “It really was a remarkably good education, given that it was a super-crowded New York City public school. The teachers were wonderful, inspiring, and caring—not all of them, of course, but the ones who were, made all the difference.”

Volkman fondly remembers teachers like Mr. Sontak, her history teacher, and Mr. Pagel, who headed the English department. “They were fabulous,” she says. “They taught me how to think critically, and their passion for their subjects stayed with me.” Even unexpected classes left a lasting impression. “I remember my physics teacher calling everyone ‘Bosco,’ and to this day, I think of that class as the reason I warmed to physics at all.”

Students were also exposed to a range of subjects that reflected the times. Due to the lack of computers, typing classes were pretty common, as were home economics for girls and shop for boys, though these divisions mimicked the age of rigid gender roles. “We were very docile,” laughs Thurman. “We did what we were told.”

While the school was academically demanding, it also complied with the cultural norms of the time. Just like many depictions of high school life in movies, there were cliques such as the jocks, rebels, the mean girls, the popular kids, and the cool kids. Thurman reminisces about her Beacon crew, who she describes as “nerds, but the cool kind.”

Beyond academics, Forest Hills High was a place of rich tradition and creativity. The student newspaper, The Beacon, served as a hub for budding writers and journalists. Judith Thurman credits her time on The Beacon as foundational for her career. “We wrote, edited, and even took the subway downtown to print the paper ourselves. It was an incredible hands-on experience.”

It was also a place for students to be themselves and escape reality. “Girls really ran it right. And so much of what was going on in 1960 was focused on boys, not on girls,” remembered Volkman. “It was the center of my life at Forest Hills High School.” 

Other traditions brought students together in unique ways. “Sing,” an annual student-written and student-produced musical, allowed students to showcase their creativity.

In the 1960s, the Forest Hills neighborhood was a predominantly white, striving middle-class community. Peters had a friend who got separated from her due to SP. “She was tracked as many of the black students were at the bottom and we never saw each other.”

Many students would come from other places in the city for the same opportunities she had gotten. “The students that were from the poorest neighborhoods got the poorest education,” adds Peters. Today, Forest Hills High reflects a far more diverse Queens, with around 4,000 students of all backgrounds and a wider range of opportunities, including a thriving arts program, advanced placement courses, and modern clubs.

As alumni reflect on their time at Forest Hills High School, one theme resonates: gratitude. “They were my passport to the world,” says Volkman of her teachers. “I felt proud of my high school and the education I got there.”

“They were wonderful, inspiring, caring teachers—not all of them, of course—but I felt like I got a wonderful education. I was very dedicated to my work, and that was really important to me, that the teachers were so serious about it,” reminisces Peters.

For students today, the advice from the 1960s alumni is clear.

Judith Thurman, now a renowned author, with multiple NYT bestsellers, emphasizes the importance of finding your passion and immersing yourself in it. “Whether it’s in journalism, science, or the arts—throw yourself into what you love. The 1960s were about breaking barriers, and you can carry that spirit forward.”

Janice Volkman, a retired federal judge, credits Forest Hills High with giving her a remarkable education. She advises students to find their “kindred spirits” and embrace the opportunities offered by a large, diverse environment. “In a school as big as Forest Hills, it’s up to you to create your own smaller community. Join clubs, participate in activities—those connections will stay with you.”

Joan Peters, a retired English college professor, underscores the power of storytelling and lifelong learning. “Get off your phones and read. Always be reading something. And if you want to be a writer, write every day, even if it’s just a little bit. Stay in touch with language and never stop learning.”