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Science, Technology and Research Early College High School at Erasmus (STAR)

Science, Technology and Research Early College High School at Erasmus (STAR)

Grades: 6-12
Staff Pick

Our Insights

What’s Special

Students take courses at Brooklyn College; CTE program in electrical engineering

The Downside

Pace of academics may be too fast for some, though the school offers lots of support for all

The Science, Technology and Research Early College School at Erasmus (STAR) is a combined middle and high school that gives students a leg up on college. Junior and seniors take courses for free at Brooklyn College with many earning at least a years worth of college credits before graduation. The school has a pleasant environment, accelerated academics and a program in electrical engineering that all students participate in beginning in 8th grade.

There’s a nice vibe and sense of community at STAR. Attendance is very high and students are calm and engaged in their classes. Students feel safe and respected, parents say there’s strong communication between staff and families, and teachers collaborate well, based on responses to the NYC School Survey.  

We observed a mix of teaching methods. Some were traditional and highly structured with students sitting in rows and responding to questions posed by the teacher. In others, group work and student-led discussions were more the norm. For instance, in a 7th grade social studies class students worked together reading and discussing a range of topics in European history such as the Renaissance, trade routes and the spread of Christianity. In an Advanced Placement English class, students posed questions to each other and offered insightful comments about a passage from their class-wide reading of Ta-Nehisi Coate’s Between the World and Me.

Instruction is accelerated and the goal is for students to complete all of the required Regents exams by the 10th grade so they are ready to focus on college level work beginning in 11th grade. Many students earn high school credit by the end of 8th grade by taking Regents exams in algebra and living environment.

The early college program starts in earnest in 11th grade, though 9th-graders attend six-week-long seminars at Brooklyn College where they spend their entire Fridays sampling courses. Highly motivated juniors and seniors may end up spending most of their time at Brooklyn College taking courses such as psychology, theater, anthropology, and advanced math and science. The school also offers Advanced Placement courses beginning in the 9th grade.

Two fulltime staffers are located at Brooklyn College to coordinate the early college component and provide support to 11th- and 12th-graders, helping them select classes, communicate with professors and providing tutoring and small group study groups at the college.

All kids are pushed, but not all progress at the same pace. To ensure teachers have time to address the range of skill levels, middle school class sizes in English and math are kept small at roughly 18-20. Struggling students also get extra help on Saturdays. Class assignments are based on student abilities, rather than their age or grade. So, a high school trigonometry class may include some very advanced 8th-graders as well 11th- and 12th-graders who need to shore up their skills.

The electrical engineering program, which starts in 8th grade, is impressive, with two dedicated labs filled with industrial grade equipment. Students enjoy fun, hands-on learning and lots of reinforcement of math, science and coding skills. In an introductory course we observed, 8th-graders seemed engaged and happy as they learned the low-tech skill of stripping wires. “It’s an amazing class,” said one boy. “When I first walked in here I thought I was in an Iron Man movie because of all the technology.“ In high school, students work with the more heavy duty and computerized equipment. 

STAR is housed on few floors in a wing of the Erasmus Hall High School Campus Building. Middle school students have sports teams, band and other after-school activities. High school students may participate in campus-wide PSAL sports and beginning in 9th grade take additional college courses after school in subjects such as culinary arts, engineering and technology through a partnership with Brooklyn STEAM.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school has ICT (Integrated Collaborative Teaching) classes and SETSS. (Laura Zingmond, October 2017)

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School Stats

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

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
82%
81% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
54%
52% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
84%
78% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
2% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
71%
80% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
14.2

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
76%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
82%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
97%
60% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
98%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
612
Asian
5%
Black
73%
Hispanic
12%
White
3%
Other
6%
Free or reduced priced lunch
69%
Students with disabilities
15%
English language learners
1%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
91%
86% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
25%
45% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No

How does this school serve special populations?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
100%
85% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
7% Citywide Average
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

Early College (K14A)

Admissions Method: Screened With Assessment

Requirements:

  • Average Course Grades - 30%
  • Online School Assessment - 30%
  • Interview - 20%
  • Student Work Portfolio - 20%

Program Description:

Imagine a school capable of unleashing your child's full potential setting them on course for the Ivy League. Welcome to STAR Early College, a 6th through 12th grade school, founded on a bold approach and based on the theory of action that academic rigor, combined with the opportunity to save time and money, is a powerful motivator for students to work hard and meet serious intellectual challenges as they simultaneously earn a high school diploma and up to two years of transferable college credit from Brooklyn College, CUNY's, tuition free.After being admitted to STAR, students become eligible to apply to our Brooklyn STEAM Center program which is located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard's cutting-edge facility. These students will pick one CTE Pathway in Information Technology, Media and Design, Engineering, Construction or Culinary Arts to study in the 11th and 12th grade. For more information about how to complete this program's application requirements, please contact the school directly.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

French, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Physics 1, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Arts (College Course [Credited]), Biology (College Course [Credited]), Calculus (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Chemistry (College Course [Credited]), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Econ/Gov (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Placement), Physics (College Course [Credited]), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages), World Languages (College Course [Credited])

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

911 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11226

Trains: B Line, Q Line to Church Av

Buses: B103, B12, B16, B35, B41, B44, B44-SBS, B49, BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4


Contact

Principal: Daniel Holmes

Parent Coordinator: Dorrett Young

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Erasmus Hall Educational Campus with four other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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