Our Insights
What’s Special
Individual support and an opportunity for paid internships
The Downside
Limited course selection
Brooklyn Frontiers is designed to help students who have been held back at least twice in elementary or middle school, as well as current high schoolers with a minimum of one year at another school who want to transfer. This school offers students a second chance by providing lots of individualized support, small classes, and the opportunity for paid internships. The school welcomes new immigrants throughout the year.
Academics & Instruction: Class sizes range from 16 to 20 students, ensuring lots of individual attention. Many classes are co-taught, with both a special education and general education teacher in the room. Instead of lecturing from the front, teachers group tables to foster discussion. Students have the opportunity to meet with teachers during lunch or afterschool in a small group setting, to receive homework help or finish classwork. Advanced placement courses in computer science are popular for students who want more challenges although not all enrolled students go on to take the AP test. Other AP courses have included psychology and environmental science. Course selection is limited due to the school's small size.
The school uses competency-based grading, which tracks when a student has mastered a topic, rather than assigning a letter grade on individual assignments. A progress report is labeled “O” for on-track, “B” for border (partially on-track), and “C” for concern. Students receive weekly progress reports, and participate in meetings at least once a trimester to ensure they are on track for graduation.
Culture & Environment: The school is tiny. Students are on a first-name basis with their teachers. There is a strong emphasis placed on building community and personal relationships between students, teachers and staff. Good Shepherd Services, a social services organization, provides students with coaches who meet with them individually to talk about academics, personal concerns, and future plans. Coaches reach out to students that are absent or late to school. Teens meet in group settings with an adult once a week for advisory sessions.
Special Education & English as a New Language: Roughly half the students enrolled receive special education services. The school has SETSS (special education teacher support services) and ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes. Faculty develop individualized learning plans for all students, regardless of whether they have an IEP (individualized education plan). Many special education techniques, such as scaffolding–which involves breaking learning into manageable steps and providing support at each stage–are applied to all students that demonstrate need.
Since 2023, the school has welcomed a growing number of newcomer students from countries such as Guinea in West Africa, and from South America. It is actively building its services for newcomers, including providing toiletries, food, and connecting students with counseling services in their home language.
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Building & Facilities: The red-brick building is compact and comprises several floors. A banner displaying a multicolored wheel of emotions hangs outside the main office, encouraging students to articulate their feelings. Next to it is a bulletin board of clubs, including video game club, anime club, and backyard craft club. Students eat lunch in an open-air courtyard, where they also grow plants. The building is not ADA accessible–it has stairs at the entrance.
College & Career: Students participate in paid work internships to help them explore their interests and prepare for careers after high school. College-bound students typically attend CUNY or SUNY schools. Like many transfer schools, only a small percentage graduate from high school with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help. Brooklyn Frontiers participates in FutureReadyNYC, which connects students with workforce training and career pathways in medical fields. (Dashiell Allen, school visit, July 2024)
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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
Not offered in 2021-21Advanced Foreign Language
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Math or Science
Music
College Readiness
Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryBrooklyn Frontiers High School (L69A)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryContact & Location
Location
112 Schermerhorn Street
Brooklyn
NY
11201
Trains: , , , , to Borough Hall; , , to Jay St - Borough Hall; , to DeKalb Av; to Hoyt & Schermerhorn
Buses: B103, B25, B26, B38, B41, B45, B52, B54, B57, B61, B62, B63, B65, B67
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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