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Young Women's Leadership School of the Bronx (TYWLS)

Grades: 6-12
Noteworthy

Our Insights

What’s Special

Teachers encourage girls to enter fields like technology and engineering

The Downside

Limited arts and sports, some concerns about neighborhood

The Young Women's Leadership School of the Bronx is designed to give girls the self-confidence and skills they need to explore fields, such as computer programming and engineering, traditionally dominated by men. The school accepts girls with a range of abilities--including many with weak academic skills--and pushes them to succeed.

"It builds a sense of sisterhood," said a girl who gave us our tour. "Our teachers make us feel we are capable of so much."

High school students have unusual opportunities to spend the summer on campuses such as Smith College or New York University. One girl even won the chance to travel to Ireland for 3 weeks. Adult volunteers offer girls the chance to shadow them at jobs in science, technology, engineering and math. The non-profit organization Girls, Inc., organizes activities such as a field day in Central Park and a chance to row boats on the Bronx River during school vacations. Girls take classes in software engineering.

Opened with a 6th grade in 2012, TYWLS Bronx, as it is known, is part of the Young Women's Leadership network of schools. It will add a grade each year until it serves grades 6-12.

Housed on the top floors of IS 117, a clean but drab 1930s era building, Young Women's Leadership has a newly renovated gym and science lab. Class size is small--about 20 in the middle school and 25 in the high school. Some girls wear T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Girl Power." Others sport white shirts, gray pleated skirts or pants, and navy sweaters. There's a pleasant, relaxed vibe during class changes.

The style of instruction is fairly traditional. There's an emphasis on correct grammar and spelling. Writing exercises focus on a 5-paragraph structure. Girls learn to speak clearly and with proper diction. Many start 6th grade with reading and math skills that are below grade level--a function, teachers say, of poor instruction at too many elementary schools in the Bronx. Indeed, we saw a few 6th graders reading books from the Junie B. Jones series more typically read by much younger children. But, with small classes and double periods of "literacy" and math, many girls make huge gains. By 8th grade, some are ready to take high school level Regents exams in algebra, Living Environment, U.S. history and Spanish.

A full-time college counselor, part of the College Bound Initiative, works with girls as early as 10th grade to set their sights high. Nearly all are the first in their families to consider college and few are familiar with the application process.

Two experienced middle school educators, LeMarie Laureano and Devon Eisenberg, who both taught at Mott Hall V, work together as co-directors. Laureano, who grew up in the Bronx and attended all-girls Roman Catholic schools, is particularly focused on helping girls in single-parent households succeed.

The school has a sense of community, thanks to its small size, with between 80 and 90 girls in each grade. However, like most small schools, it has limited course offerings. There is a creative and resourceful music teacher, and girls may take art classes after school, but there are few electives and very limited sports.

Some girls responding to the annual school survey said they don't feel safe in the area outside the school. Laureano and Eisenberg said they stand outside at dismissal to ensure children get on buses and the subway safely. In addition, they help younger girls find older girls to travel with them and "organize girls by zip code" to travel together.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school offers team teaching classes with two teachers, one of whom is certified in special education. In addition, girls who need extra help may work in a small group with a teacher.

(Clara Hemphill, February 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?
83%
81% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
51%
52% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
88%
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?
79%
80% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
3.2

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?
29%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
43%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
84%
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
529
Asian
4%
Black
24%
Hispanic
67%
White
2%
Other
3%
Free or reduced priced lunch
89%
Students with disabilities
19%
English language learners
9%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
87%
86% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
46%
45% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No

How does this school serve special populations?

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

Young Womens Leadership School, Bronx (Y73A)

Admissions Method: Screened With Assessment

Requirements:

  • Average Course Grades - 80%
  • Interview - 20%

Program Description:

We partner with Software Engineering for All and offer Software Engineering for grades 6-12 as well as AP Computer Science to 10th -12th grade students. Sign up to attend an open house at tinyurl.com/openhouse568, where interviews will be conducted.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Computer Science Principles, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Girls PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

1865 Morris Avenue
Bronx NY 10453

Trains: 4 Line to 176th St; B Line, D Line to 174-175th Sts

Buses: Bx1, Bx18, Bx2, Bx3, Bx32, Bx36, Bx40, Bx41, Bx41-SBS, Bx42, BxM4


Contact

Principal: Devon Eisenberg

Parent Coordinator: Sohanny Fermin

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares a building with IS 117

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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