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Our Insights

What’s Special

Unique instructional approach with a strong emphasis on research and writing

The Downside

Attendance and graduation rates have a ways to go

Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School is a well-run school that follows a progressive model. It is part of the New York Performance Standards Consortium, a group of schools exempt from administering all but the English Regents exam. Eleventh- and 12th-graders must complete PBATs (performance based assessment tasks), which involve extensive research and reading as well as writing and presenting papers in English, math, history and science.  

Teachers work hard to engage students in interesting projects—such as testing the quality of the water in the Bronx River. Students and staff agree the school is safe; teachers work together as a team and uniformly recommend the school to prospective parents, according to school surveys.

The National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado gave Fannie Lou Hamer a gold “School of Opportunity” award in 2015 for its work with low-income students.

Most students come in with weak academic skills, and many have special needs. Although attendance and graduation rates are below the citywide average, the school does a better job than schools with similar populations, according to the city’s School Performance Dashboard.  Students get good advice applying for college and financial aid, according to the city’s Quality Review.

The school hosts peace fairs to target neighborhood violence and offers Saturday parent academies to encourage family engagement. A partnership with the Children's Aid Society Bronx Family Center provides students with access to medical and dental services.

The school is in a brick building across the service road of the Sheridan Expressway. All the windows are protected by wire. The building is colorfully bright and clean and features a well-equipped library and technology lab. It is wheelchair accessible and has no metal detectors or cameras. The lunchroom is cheerful, with round burgundy tables and student murals on the walls.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school offers both small "self-contained" classes and integrated co-teaching (ICT) classes. These classes mix students with special needs and general education students in one room, and are headed by two teachers, one a specialist in special education. (Jacquie Wayans, updated with web reports, December 2018; updated August 2020)

 

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School Stats

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

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
83%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
79%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
93%
Average daily attendance
 
76%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
72%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
93%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
87%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

445
Number of students
Citywide Average is 617

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
91%
Students with disabilities
 
33%
Multilingual learners
 
17%
From the 2022-23 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?
 
94%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
32%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
23%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
93%
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
98%
9.1
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
464
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 191
How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
83%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey, 2022-23 School Quality Guide, 2021-22 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2023 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
27%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
36%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
27%
From the 2020-21 and 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many graduates who are eligible received Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funding to attend a NYS college?
 
61%
This shows how well this school supports low-income students to get funding for college.
How many of those TAP recipients made it through college? Learn more
From unpublished, anonymized student-level data for the class of 2016-17 provided by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in coordination with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), brought to you by
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
58%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought to you by Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
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

Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School (X91A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Other (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Softball, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

1021 Jennings Street
Bronx NY 10460

Trains: 2 Line, 5 Line to Freeman St; 6 Line to Whitlock Av

Buses: Bx11, Bx19, Bx21, Bx27, Bx35, Bx36, Bx4, Bx4A


Contact

Principal: Jeffrey Palladino

Parent Coordinator: Yselly Olivo

Phone: 718-861-0521

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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