Our Insights
What’s Special
International Baccalaureate program; Arabic language instruction
The Downside
Low enrollment
Khalil Gibran International Academy was founded to foster cultural understanding and offers instruction in Arabic and English. Located near Atlantic Avenue’s Arab-American neighborhood, the small school serves many Arabic-speaking students. About half the students are native English speakers. In addition to Arabic and English, the most common languages spoken are Spanish, Bengali, and French.
The school offers International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, and students may earn the rigorous IB diploma, recognized in over 100 countries. However, not all students take the IB courses—it’s optional within the broader humanities curriculum. Teachers continue to train in IB practices and work to enroll more students in these courses each year, according to the yearly plan.
IB courses emphasize critical thinking, practical problem-solving, and understanding global issues. Students work on projects that help them understand real issues. For example, in math applications, teens may analyze housing price trends across different NYC boroughs. In history, they might investigate the impact of global conflicts on local communities. Other IB courses include English, French, Arabic, history of the Americas, chemistry, dance, and sports and health science.
The arts focus is centered on dance, with courses in dance history, choreography, and movement. Students may also take visual arts classes in folk art and photography, and a playwriting course.
Just one-third of the student population is female. A partnership with Girls Inc. aims to help girls build community, learn new skills, and explore opportunities. All students may participate in activities with the Arab American Family Support Center. Teens attend annual college trips, and have access to SAT prep courses. The school offers after school tutoring.
The school was founded as a middle school in 2007, eventually growing to serve grades 6-12. In 2013, the middle school closed due to low enrollment. Enollment continues to be a challenge for the high school. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, January 2025)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Not offered in 2021-21Computer Science
Not offered in 2021-21Physics
Advanced Foreign Language
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
Not offered in 2021-21College Readiness
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Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLiberal Arts Track (L61A)
Program Description:
Khalil Gibran International Academy's (KGIA) offers a teaching and learning environment where all students develop, maintain, and graduate as life-long learners with a deep understanding of different cultural perspectives, a love of learning and a desire for academic authenticity. We promote holistic student development by supporting learners to grow socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. The heart of our curriculum focuses on academically-rigorous, standards-based instruction.
International Baccalaureate Program (IB) (L61B)
Program Description:
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. KGIA works with the IBO to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment and encourages students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. The heart of our curriculum focuses on academically-rigorous, standards-based, data-driven, universal design that prepares students for higher education and fulfilling college experience and careers. KGIA is dedicated to providing a diverse, supportive, student-centered, and collaborative learning environment where students embody the 10 IB learner profiles and become Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-Minded, Caring, Balanced, Reflective, Risk-Takers. Our current IB course offerings include, English Language and Literature, French ab Initio, Arabic, History of the Americas, Chemistry, Sports, Exercise and Health Science, Mathematics Applications and Interpretations and Dance.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Arabic
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Econ/Gov (International Baccalaureate), IB Chemistry HL, IB Dance HL, IB English HL, IB French HL, IB History SL, IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretation HL, IB Mathematics Applications and Interpretation SL, IB Mathematics SL, IB Theory of Knowledge, Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (International Baccalaureate)
Girls PSAL teams
Indoor Track
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
362 Schermerhorn Street
Brooklyn
NY
11217
Trains:
,
,
,
to Nevins St;
to Hoyt & Schermerhorn;
,
,
,
,
to Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr;
to Lafayette Av;
to Fulton St
Buses: B103, B25, B26, B37, B38, B41, B45, B52, B63, B65, B67
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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