A Message from InsideSchools: The data below is the most up-to-date data available from City and State systems. We are working hard to update the narratives for all schools. We welcome your insights in the Comments section. Questions? Ask us!

Our Insights

What’s Special

Pioneer in “inclusion” of students with special needs

The Downside

Drab building with narrow halls and small gymnasium

Brooklyn Studio Secondary School, a combined middle and high school in the heart of Bensonhurst, has arts programs and a strong sense of community that attract many students from the surrounding area. The school has long been known for its commitment to mixing students with special needs and their general education peers in classes with two teachers. Its biggest drawback may be its somewhat dingy, outdated facility. 

Brooklyn Studio offers opportunities in the arts for students who may not want to audition or attend one of the city's more high-intensity arts schools. 

Middle school students pick a concentration, called a “talent,” in dance, instrumental music, visual arts or theater. High school students concentrate on music or art. Art includes traditional studio art as well as computer graphics, digital photography, animation and web design. Budding musicians study woodwind, brass or percussion instruments and participate in concert bands. The dance program is open to boys and girls in grades 6 through 12. 

The school is proudly ethnically diverse, according to the CEP (Comprehensive Educational Plan). The numbers of students learning English has grown in recent years. Each month students celebrate a different culture represented among the student body; events may focus on Russian or African American cultures, for example.

Brooklyn Studio is small enough to offer personal attention yet large enough to offer some variety. High school students who do not want to take a full arts sequence may take individual courses as electives. And Brooklyn Studio's many sports teams have traditionally been fairly accessible. The high school offers a full academic program with four years of math and science, as well as three years of Spanish and Italian. Students may take college courses in affiliation with St. Francis College and CUNY College Now.

The building is old, with few frills and tending toward drab. Hallways are narrow. The gymnasium is small. Middle and high schools are fairly separate. Students in each eat lunch at their own times and use different floors of the building. 

Students keep the same guidance counselor for their four years of high school, and that counselor also handles college counseling. Students go on to two- and four-year CUNY and SUNY schools as well as private colleges.

Special education: Brooklyn Studio has a long history of serving children with special needs using the ICT (Integrated co-Teaching) model. In this approach, children with special needs are placed in classrooms with their general ed peers, and two teachers, one of whom is trained to teach special education.  (Lydie Raschka, DOE data and reports, November 2018) 

 

 

 

Get more from InsideSchools

School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average
Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
80%
81% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
51%
52% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
54%
78% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
2% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
86%
80% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
11.8

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
38%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
47%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
58%
60% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
92%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
889
Asian
18%
Black
3%
Hispanic
35%
White
42%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
76%
Students with disabilities
20%
English language learners
21%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
90%
86% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
33%
45% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No

How does this school serve special populations?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
90%
85% Citywide Average
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
78%
80% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
14%
7% Citywide Average
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

Instrumental Music (K90H)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Small group instruction on band instruments. Participation in concert bands. Electives in Music Theory, Music History, Sight-Singing. Preparation for outside performances. Evaluations of solo and ensemble work.

Digital Communications and Media (K90J)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

A career-based, interactive technology program with an emphasis on fine arts, computer graphics, digital photography/filmmaking, web design, and internships.

Brooklyn Studio Secondary School D75 Inclusion Program (K90U)

Admissions Method: D75 Special Education Inclusive Services

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Italian, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Macroeconomics, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Handball, Soccer

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Handball, Soccer, Softball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

8310 21St Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11214

Trains: D Line to 20th Av

Buses: B1, B4, B6, B64, B8, B82, B82-SBS


Contact

Principal: Andrea Ciliotta

Parent Coordinator: Tracy Fallon

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

Was this information helpful?

Get more from InsideSchools

You may also like …

Kingsborough Early College School

2630 Benson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11214

Comments

  • Is this your school? Please post any news, updates, events, changes, or other information!
  • We welcome questions, open discussions, and disagreements but comments with personal attacks, rude language, or those with seemingly malicious intent will be deleted.
  • Very long comments, those that contain links, or repeat comments may be blocked by our spam filter.
  • Problems? email us at contact@insideschools.org.
  • Users must comply with our Terms of Use.

×