Computer-minded students at the work-in-progress Academy of Innovative Technology have an opportunity to learn marketable technological skills while striving to become what Principal Cynthia Fowlkes calls "global citizens."

"We prepare our students not just to do well academically but also well as a human being in our society, teaching them skills that are necessary to be successful," Fowlkes said. The student body is two-thirds male, and most students arrive reading below grade level. Nonetheless, teachers are committed to making sure they finish high school and even go on to college. Class sizes range from 20 to 28 students.

Teachers are mostly young, and some appeared worn down by their demanding jobs: It seems to be a constant battle to enforce the dress code (which forbids hats and hoodies) and to keep order. On our visit, exhausted students were allowed to nap. Class changes were noisy. Still, assistant principal Jennifer Rygalski said the vibe is positive. "The kids really love coming to school. They really love being here," Rygalski said. Attendance, while far from perfect, is much higher than at Franklin K. Lane, the large school which AOIT and other small schools are replacing.

Near the leafy Cypress Hill Cemetery on the Brooklyn-Queens border, AOIT shares the imposing Franklin K. Lane campus with the Brooklyn Lab School, Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School, and Multicultural High School. Fowlkes, former director of career and technical education (CTE) for New York City schools, was a business teacher and assistant principal at Brooklyn's Paul Robeson High School before she founded AOIT in 2008.

Freshmen are introduced to computer hardware and software. By 10th grade, they choose a specialized course they’ll pursue over the next three years: game design, Web design or computer repair. In their senior year, students are expected to attend classes part time while they work in internships outside school.

Students also may earn certification in the Microsoft Office, Adobe and Dreamweaver computer applications, plus Internet and Computing Core Certification (also called IC3), computer training and A+ computer repair – tangible proof to potential employers that graduates are proficient in these areas. Sixteen-year-old student Kevon told us he was pleased with his school but was concerned that not all the computers were up-to-date. "We need the technology right now,"he said.

College representatives regularly give lectures and tours, and students are taught skills such as how to open savings accounts and use credit cards appropriately. Fowlkes also offers TLC. "Every morning, I stand at the door and hug my kids, and they hug me back," she said.

Special education: AOIT uses the Collaborative Team Teaching (CTT) model. The school has three special education teachers.

Admission: Citywide. Preference is given to students who attend an information session. (Skip Card, October 2010)