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Our Insights

What’s Special

Social justice theme

The Downside

Poor attendance

At the Bushwick School for Social Justice, students learn about ways to overcome “inequities, biases, and oppression” in society. For example, an English teacher might have students answer the question “Does power corrupt?” by reading texts such as Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, and Macbeth.  Students in a history class might put Christopher Columbus on trial to learn about genocide, colonization, disease, and the exploitation of the New World, according to the school website.

The school shares the Bushwick Educational Campus with other small schools. Students must pass through metal detectors to enter.

The school gets high marks on the Quality Review for its positive culture and the teamwork of the staff. However, student attendance is poor.  (Clara Hemphill, school website, DOE statistics, August 2018)

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School Stats

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
84%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
67%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
89%
Average daily attendance
 
82%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
56%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
84%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
87%
From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide and 2024-25 NYC School Survey

Students

268
Number of students
Citywide Average is 608

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
90%
Students with disabilities
 
18%
Multilingual learners
 
38%
From the 2024-25 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
1%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
84%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
56%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
43%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
67%
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey and 2023-24 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
57%
3.0
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 8
92
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 119

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
84%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey, 2023-24 School Quality Guide, 2022-23 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2025 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

College and Career Readiness

School
Citywide
How well are students prepared for college and careers after four years at this school? What is a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Score?
 
29
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
48%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
21%
From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide
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

Social Justice and Leadership for Collegiate Scholars (K54A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

The Brooklyn School for Social Justice (BSSJ) offers scholars the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and transferable college credits simultaneously. Our Scholars can enroll in the University in the High School Program (UHS) through SUNY-Albany. BSSJ students will take courses that explore and discuss issues that have a direct impact on their community such as racism, gentrification, food scarcity and economic inequities. They will engage in social justice by participating in, but not limited to, voter registration drives, demonstrations against gun violence or unfair policing and other issues. Students will embrace social justice concepts to be in service to their community.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP English Language and Composition, AP Human Geography, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Studio Art - 2D, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited])

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Softball, Swimming, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

400 Irving Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11237

Buses: B13, B20, B26, B38, B52, B54, B60, Q55, Q58


Contact

Principal: Patrick Cooper

Parent Coordinator: Alejandra Uribe Ortiz

Phone: 718-381-7100

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Bushwick Educational Campus with three other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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