David A. Boody is a large neighborhood school with a good multi-ethnic mix of students that offers both a zoned and magnet program.

Principal Domenick D'Angelo is a former businessman with 16 years of business acumen and a strong focus on mathematics and technology. He has been a force for change at the school since his arrival in 2007, working to make the school safer and more technologically advanced.

Boody's Magnet Program draws students from all over Brooklyn and boasts an especially strong music program. There are nine magnets: computer, art, athletics, dance, science, music, vocal musical theater, creative writing, and chess. Music has a jazz band, a concert band, a string orchestra and a winds ensemble. In 2008 and 2010, they performed at Carnegie Hall.

The entire school takes part in the innovative School of One program for mathematics. Launched in 2010, the School of One seeks to customize learning to each child. Housed in its own dedicated section of the school, School of One instruction takes place in large, interconnected classrooms renovated especially for this purpose. The program features 96 minute classes four times a week that combine working online and with teachers. The lessons they take are followed by a brief, computerized assessment to check each student's progress that are calibrated to each student's mathematical ability. The aim of School of One, the principal explained, is not only to move students forward but to fill in any holes that may be present in their mathematical knowledge. Students in the math classes we visited seemed focused, and D'Angelo is considering expanding the School of One idea to history instruction.

The school is rich in technology in other ways. There are Smart Boards in every classroom and two computer labs. In 2011, Boody became a part of the Connected Learning Initiative, offering a free computer and a discounted broadband connection to entering sixth grade students.

While some technology is used in most classes, instruction is mostly done in a more conventional manner. We saw desks and seats arranged to form small groups, encouraging the students to work together. In one of the social studies classes, students worked in teams on creating their own version of the Mayflower compact. Students at every level are encouraged to read 25 books a year at home, every classroom is stocked with a library, and brightly colored posters hang in English classes charting students' progress toward that goal. Still, there is not always enough attention paid to what - and whether – students are reading .

Science classes are stocked with interesting animals and natural objects for the students to study. Students seemed highly engaged in the lab we visited, working together to identify rocks and minerals.

Spanish and Mandarin are offered in the school. For native Mandarin speaking ESL students, a bilingual Mandarin class is available.

Honors students follow an accelerated math program culminating in the Integrated Algebra Regents. The school also offers the Living Environment Regents to science Magnet students, and the Earth Science Regents to all qualifying students.

Special education: The school has two classes combining general and special education students per grade and several self-contained classrooms.

Sports and after school: Basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag baseball, a cheerleading club, a chess club, and Mousepad (a technical club). Partnership program with 21st Century After School Arts, SHSAT prep for qualifying sixth graders.

High school: About 25% of graduates are offered seats at Specialized High Schools. Other schools students often are accepted into include: Midwood, Murrow, Madison, Goldstein and Fort Hamilton.

Admissions: To be accepted into the Magnet Program, zoned and unzoned students must audition or take the District 21 talent tests. Zoned students are automatically admitted into the zoned program.(Eliana Mascio, January 2012.)