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Our Insights

What’s Special

Law and debate team, courtroom on campus

The Downside

Poor attendance

At the High School for Civil Rights, students may take classes on Constitutional law and participate in a real Youth Court in the school's own courtroom. There is an extended day and extra tutoring for the many students who arrive in 9th grade performing below grade level. Most students feel safe in school. Unfortunately, attendance is poor.

Located on the Thomas Jefferson Educational campus, the school seeks to give students a full immersion experience in civil rights and law through lessons, videos, field trips and courtroom experience. It partners with The East New York Youth Court and Red Hook Justice Center. These programs train students to serve as jurors, judges and advocates, handling real-life cases involving their peers in the school courtroom, according to the CEP (comprehensive educational plan). 

High School for Civil Rights also offers arts classes, including choir, studio arts and filmmaking. The building has a new recording studio for those interested in music. 

The school has an extended day, or P.M. school, which runs from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. 

There are also double periods in some core subjects to help struggling students, in addition to lunchtime tutoring and Saturday school. A summer bridge program and a 9th grade coordinator works to capture students' interest when they first arrive. High-achieving students may choose from several AP classes, including calculus, U.S. history and English.

Principal Michael Steele, who has led the school since 2005, believes in a combination of traditional discipline and emotional support. Staff gives special attention to students who struggle the most, keeping in close touch through mentoring. The school offers incentives and rewards for good attendance, such as time in the recording studio. 

There is a college advisor who leads a college prep class every week. A teacher is assigned to help with SAT prep. Students mostly attend CUNY and SUNY schools and colleges such as Ithaca College and University of Connecticut.

The campus hums after school ends. There are numerous sports teams shared with other schools in Jefferson, academic tutoring and clubs such as cheerleading and robotics. Swimming is offered through a partnership with the YMCA. (Lydie Raschka, DOE data and web reports, November 2018)

 

 

 

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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?
 
84%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
91%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
73%
Average daily attendance
 
79%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
61%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
100%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
100%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

140
Number of students
Citywide Average is 615

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
91%
Students with disabilities
 
31%
Multilingual learners
 
16%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
3%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
89%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
48%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
35%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
71%
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
79%
3.2
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
194
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 157

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
81%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey, 2021-22 School Quality Guide, 2019-20 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2021 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Advanced Courses

Which students have access to advanced courses at this school? Learn more

Calculus

 
15%

Computer Science

Not offered in 2019-20

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

Not offered in 2019-20

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
25%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
39%

Music

Not offered in 2019-20
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2021-22 school year provided by the New York State Education Department, brought to you by

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
43%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
60%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
35%
From the 2020-21 and 2021-22 School Quality Guide
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
46%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought you by
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

Law and Government (K63X)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

This program is designed to provide an in-depth look at the American Political System, along with an overview of the American legal system. Students are encouraged to participate in discussion and debate and examine legal documents, political culture and ideology, the role of the media, criminal and civil law, along with many other interesting and relevant topics. Further, students will be exposed to the operation of state and local government with the object of making them more responsible participants in the political process. Students will participate in Mock trials and Moot court competitions around the city.

Social Justice and Civic Leadership (K64S)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

This program is designed to introduce students to social justice issues and assist them in discovering their ability to create positive change in their own world and community. Students will critically analyze various social movements that happens globally and locally. Students will also explore and discuss how civic engagement influence human understanding, relationships, and behavior for centuries. Students will understand how individuals operate within community contexts created through interactions and relationships structured by sociability, belonging, and responsibility.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP English Language and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Spanish Language and Culture, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Other (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Swimming, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Stunt

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

400 Pennsylvania Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11207

Trains: 3 Line to Pennsylvania Av; L Line to Livonia Av

Buses: B14, B15, B20, B83


Contact

Principal: Sheila Tomlin

Parent Coordinator: Jean Etienne

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Thomas Jefferson Educational Campus with three other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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