Located in a residential neighborhood with grassy lawns, Pathways College Preparatory School calls itself “a small school with big dreams.” It is linked with the College Board, the not-for-profit group best known as the developer and administrator of the SAT and Advanced Placement courses. All high school seniors are required to take two AP courses; choices are economics, literature and composition. Pathways does an adequate job of helping kids graduate from high school on time, and the majority go on to two-year colleges.

The school opened in 2005 on two floors of a building shared with I.S. 192 the Renaissance Middle School. Students wear uniforms. To provide students with social, academic and emotional support, advisory groups of 20-25 students meet for eight minutes a day, mostly to check in about homework, and for a full period on Monday to address other concerns. “We have a dedicated staff,” said Principal Kim Mitchell. “We really know each kid, and we know their needs.”

Boys in need of extra support receive mentoring through a community-based program called Joseph’s Dreams. The equivalent program for girls is The Me Nobody Knows. Interested students can learn about areas of law enforcement with the police department. Tutoring, homework help, sports and art are offered free Monday through Thursday until 6:00 p.m. through the Sports and Arts in School Foundation (SASF).

Teachers reward good behavior through a system called Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS). Students redeem points or tickets for prizes and trips. To attend a dance, for example, a teen must accumulate a certain number of tickets. Middle school teachers use the system more than the high school teachers, according to Mitchell.

Juniors and seniors can take college courses in mythology and black studies through a partnership with Adelphi University. About a dozen seniors chose to take a variety of other subjects on the Adelphi campus in the first year of the program.

Principal Kim Mitchell joined Pathways in 2010. She is a former gym teacher and swim coach from the James Monroe campus who attended the Leadership Academy, the city’s training ground for principals. “I’m from the community, and it’s great to come back and work with my community,” she said. She wants to build more college partnerships and boost academics, particularly science and math. She hopes to create internships and add more sports, such as swimming. Current extra-curriculars include double-dutch, soccer, cheerleading, choir, chess, robotics, band and theater. The school boasts a championship B division basketball team. “Kids who leave 8th grade want a bigger experience,” Mitchell said. “That’s why we’ve added dance and band.”

Although some areas have marginally improved since Mitchell arrived, engagement and communication are still rated below average, as reported on the 2010-11 Learning Environment Survey. Eighty-four percent of teachers reported that they do not think the principal is an effective manager.

The school could use more space; it’s in a small building with narrow hallways built for younger children.

Special Education: Special needs and general education students are mixed in one class with two teachers, one of whom is trained in special education. There is also a small class with only special needs children.

College Admissions: While the college enrollment rate is higher than the city average, only a very small number of students are considered college-ready, based on their scores on state exams. Most go to two-year colleges, and a smaller number enroll in four-year colleges.

Admissions: Priority goes to Queens students who attend an information session. Students who attend the middle school are automatically admitted to the high school. (Lydie Raschka, interviews at the high school fair, November 2011.)