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Brooklyn Institute for Liberal Arts (BILA)

Grades: 9-12
Staff Pick for Special Ed Noteworthy

Our Insights

What’s Special

Strong social and academic student support

The Downside

Students must pass through metal detectors

Brooklyn Institute for Liberal Arts (BILA) is a small high school that helps children catch up and graduate on time, even if they come in with low skills. The majority of students finish the bulk of their high school credits and exams by the end of 10th grade, leaving time for advanced coursework. A recent graduate won a scholarship to Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Most students at BILA are immigrants, or children of immigrants, from the English-speaking Caribbean islands.

Ann-Marie Henry-Stephens is the school's founding principal. A teacher for more than 25 years, Henry-Stephens has taught in both the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago and in New York City schools, most recently as an English teacher and assistant principal at the now-closed Paul Robeson High School.

Attendance is high and school surveys show children feel safe. Students meet in groups of 12 with a faculty advisor first thing almost every day and stay together all four years. Advisors help teens work through the tough transition from middle school to high school and make sure they do not fall behind. Students receive weekly progress reports, and advisors keep in touch with parents about attendance, tardiness and academic progress.

The strong on-time graduation and college-readiness rates are significant given that the majority of students enter school reading at or below a 6th grade level. The school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan says 9th and 10th graders spend extra time in literacy classes to boost reading and writing skills. Teachers use pictures, glossaries, simple worksheets, and oral and written instructions to help kids understand concepts. After school tutoring is available in all subjects four days a week until 5 pm.

The school was founded in partnership with the Institute of Student Achievement (ISA), an organization that provides financial and structural support to small public schools located in areas with historically low graduation rates. ISA helps with college prep including trips to campuses such as to Howard University in Washington D. C. Teachers also receive extra training funded by ISA. They meet together several times a week and two hours on Wednesday afternoons.

The school opened in September 2012 inside the George Wingate Educational Campus. Students must pass through metal detectors.  (Lydie Raschka, web reports and DOE data, August 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?
 
95%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
96%
Average daily attendance
 
86%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
43%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
78%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
88%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

475
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
83%
Students with disabilities
 
24%
Multilingual learners
 
4%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
0%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
83%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
52%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
37%
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?
 
71%
10.2
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
111
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?
 
40%
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

Not offered in 2019-20

Computer Science

 
41%

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

 
27%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
19%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
5%

Music

 
57%
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?
 
56%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
94%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
71%
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?
 
68%
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

Humanities, Arts & STEM (L17A)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

This is an ideal school for students who want the best academic and technological foundation to prepare them for college or career. We have challenging blended-learning and online classes with opportunities for students to succeed in a supportive and friendly community. Students go to college early, and monthly trips are part of a curriculum that allows them to experience the ever-changing world. We use a variety of technology to enhance learning and develop life-changing 21st century skills.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, Arts (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Uncredited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages), World Languages (College Course [Credited])

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Outdoor Track, Rugby, Soccer, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

600 Kingston Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11203

Trains: 2 Line, 5 Line to Winthrop St

Buses: B12, B17, B43, B44, B44-SBS, B49


Contact

Principal: Ann Marie Henry Stephens

Parent Coordinator: Cassandra Drew

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the George Wingate Educational Campus with two other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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