The vision: Teach students to make the world a better place.

The reality: Opened with a 9^th grade class in 2010 in Jamaica High School, the High School for Community Leadership has attendance that’s slightly above the citywide average and a good safety record. Students say their teachers inspire them to learn and encourage them to succeed. Teachers say order and discipline are maintained at the school, according to the Learning Environment Survey.

The school has a program that encourages students who speak Spanish at home to learn to read, write and speak in both English and Spanish, according to the school’s website. 

Principal Carlos Borrero says he wants to develop "well-rounded, progressive-thinking students who understand that individuals have a responsibility to make the world a better place." 

While the school is dedicated to a "progressive theme," Borrero is adamant that it will not sacrifice academic rigor. "It's great to be forward-thinking but our students need to have the skills to function at a higher level as well," he told Insideschools at a new high school fair.

Field trips and hands-on activities in the neighborhood are designed to enhance the school’s curriculum while connecting students with their community. These activities are complemented by extra-curricular college readiness courses, internship and volunteer opportunities, and leadership programs, some in conjunction with the local YMCA. 

Borrero hopes that students will apply what they learn to real-life situations, gaining a strong sense of individuality and social responsibility in the process.

The school had limited special education services its first year. (Dan Fletcher, interviews February 2010, updated with DOE data January 2012)