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Our Insights

What’s Special

A focus on law and opportunities for travel

The Downside

Concerns about discipline and order

Bronx Leadership Academy (BLA) was founded in 1993 through the efforts of South Bronx Churches and parents. In recent years, the school has suffered from high teacher turnover, poor student attendance and a declining graduation rate, but staff are working to tighten structures so students feel safe and teachers feel supported.

The school has some nice features. Students take field trips to law firms and courtrooms, and compete in mock trial tournaments. Lawyers at O’Melveny and Myers law firm provide mentors. Some children attend law courses on Saturdays as part of a New York University program.

Each year, four students travel to places like Mali, Nepal, Haiti and Nicaragua to help build houses, said parent coordinator Mohamed Kamara. A 2010 BLA graduate, Kamala returned to join the staff of BLA because he “loved the culture of the school,” where “everyone was so caring, like a family.”

Unfortunately school surveys show there has been a downslide in safety, order and discipline in recent years. Surveys show friction between the principal and the teachers, with fewer than half the teachers saying they trust the principal. In 2018 about half the staff left.

To turn things around, the school has partnered with Phipps Neighborhoods. “They help us with attendance and putting programs together for the kids after school,” Kamara said. Cell phones are no longer allowed in class, teens must adhere to the dress code and those falling behind must stay after school for help. To improve instruction, the school hired an academic coach

“It is much better this year,” Kamala said. “Everyone is working together as a team.”

BLA is two blocks south of the Cross Bronx Expressway amid the auto repair shops of Webster Avenue. The two-story building, originally a warehouse, has narrow halls and lacks an auditorium but, happily, it also lacks a metal detector. Instead, children are greeted at the front door by the principal and members of the staff, Kamala said.

One recent graduate was awarded a full scholarship to Cornell University. Others have been accepted to Binghamton and Borough of Manhattan Community College, while some go on to join their family’s restaurant business or work in retail.

The school has a small gym but no outdoor space. Softball and soccer teams play at local ball fields, and softball is sometimes practiced after hours in hallways. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, interview, October 2018)

 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
93%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
97%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
100%
Average daily attendance
 
83%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
54%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

370
Number of students
Citywide Average is 615

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
94%
Students with disabilities
 
34%
Multilingual learners
 
15%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
0%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
79%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
66%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
44%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
68%
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
79%
2.0
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
88
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 191
How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
89%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey, 2022-23 School Quality Guide, 2021-22 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2023 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Advanced Courses

Which students have access to advanced courses at this school? Learn more

Calculus

 
7%

Computer Science

Not offered in 2021-21

Physics

Not offered in 2021-21

Advanced Foreign Language

Not offered in 2021-21

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
9%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
14%

Music

 
55%
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2021-22 school year provided by the New York State Education Department, brought to you by

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
23%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
95%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
27%
From the 2020-21 and 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many graduates who are eligible received Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funding to attend a NYS college?
 
56%
This shows how well this school supports low-income students to get funding for college.
How many of those TAP recipients made it through college? Learn more
From unpublished, anonymized student-level data for the class of 2016-17 provided by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in coordination with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), brought to you by
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
54%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought to you by Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Bronx Leadership Academy (X73A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

This program seeks to develop the critical-thinking skills of our students and expose them to issues involving ethics, justice and morality. We partner with the Justice Resource Center and law firms around the city to expand opportunities for our students to gain exposure to the legal profession (e.g., Moot Court competitions, Mock Trial competitions, law firm and court visits), and for scholarship opportunities.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Seminar, AP Statistics, AP United States History, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science)

Boys PSAL teams

Basketball, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Softball, Volleyball

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

1710 Webster Avenue
Bronx NY 10457

Trains: B Line, D Line to 174-175th Sts

Buses: Bx1, Bx11, Bx15, Bx17, Bx2, Bx32, Bx36, Bx41, Bx41-SBS, BxM4


Contact

Principal: Courtnei Davis

Phone: 718-299-4274

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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