Broome Street Academy Charter High School opened in August 2011 to serve some of the city’s most “at-risk” students including teens who are homeless or in foster care and those coming from low-performing schools.

The school is partnered with The Door, a long-established haven that provides health care, counseling and arts programming as well as career and legal services to 11,000 young New Yorkers each year. Broome Street Academy students  have daily access to The Door programs while pursuing a Regents diploma.

The school has a longer school day and year than customary.  Students do not wear uniforms. Administrators attempted to create an atmosphere that embodies both the “no excuses” and “progressive” approaches, where no student (or staff member, or caregiver) is allowed to say, “I can’t,” but all are encouraged to seek and accept support to overcome challenges, school leaders told Insideschools.

According to a school press release in April 2012, 110 freshmen "taking courses in literature, earth science, US history, mathematics, and creative writing. Combined with small group instruction, daily academic enrichment opportunities, extended periods for individualized tutoring, and a personal advisor, each student receives highly customized educational support, designed to help them excel."

Founding principal Jeremy Kaplan was director of education services at The Door and previously served as founding leader of Lighthouse Academy Charter Schools and as the first director of instruction at the Bronx Lighthouse, which he replicated in Gary, Indiana. He also co-founded R.A.I.S.E. Academy at M.S. 118. 

The school occupies the fourth floor of The Door building in Soho, with shared access to the cafeteria, half-court gym and dance and art studios below, and will expand to other floors as it grows.

Admissions: Applications due April 1. In its first year, the school accepted only incoming 9th-graders, both those who completed the 8^th grade in 2011 and those who would be repeating 9th grade. In the second year Broome Academy received 370 applications for the 2012-2013 9th grade. When applications exceed available seats, students are admitted by lottery. District 2 students who are homeless or in transitional housing, kids who have been engaged in the child welfare system and those coming from low-performing middle or high schools are given first priority. Next priority goes to students outside of District 2 who fit into the above categories. District 2 students who do not fit into those categories are third priority, followed by students who neither fit those categories nor are in District 2. Administrators say that any student who can benefit from the school’s individualized approach and support system is encouraged to apply.

Special Education: At full capacity, the school’s special team will consist of a coordinator, two teachers and three social workers. In the event that the school’s enrollment of special education or English language learners exceeds the city-wide average, the school intends to staff up or contract out as necessary to provide appropriate services. (Amanda Hass, March 2011 interviews; updated April 2012)