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Our Insights

What’s Special

Popular leader is raising academic expectations

The Downside

Below average attendance and graduation rates

Kingsbridge International High School serves students are new to this country and learning to speak English, including many who have had their educations interrupted because of poverty or war. Most speak Spanish, Arabic or Russian.

Principal William Gagstetter, who took the helm in 2017, has a friendly rapport with students and has worked to improve the school’s culture and tone. He has quickly earned the staff’s respect, according to school surveys.

He hired new guidance counselors, a social worker and a staffer to lead “Restorative Justice,” a procedure to help kids work out problems peacefully, without yelling or suspension.

“We strategically share cultures,” Gagstetter said mentioning a Ramadan celebration, in which kids invite a friend who does not celebrate Ramadan. After one such event, a non-Muslim boy fasted in solidarity with his Muslim friend.

Children get to know New York City through trips to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and many other locations. They may take college classes at Lehman College and Monroe whether they are documented or undocumented immigrants.

The school offers Advanced Placement classes in psychology, statistics and English language arts, and kids may take AP Spanish and other AP classes by walking to other schools in the building. “It’s a struggle but kids are excited,” the principal said, of the harder classes.

Teens practice the English language in front of their friends, by discussing events in the newspaper or sharing a recipe from their home country. The school has adopted the Teaching Excellence in Adult Literacy (TEAL) program to provide more guidance and structure for writing.

The principal acknowledged the school still has a long way to go. “We have an immigrant high-risk population,” he said. Some children face enormous challenges, living with friends or relatives while families live far away, he said, or being the only child to speak their language at school. Some are illiterate in their home language; about a dozen have reading levels below 2nd grade.

The school population fluctuates a lot (two new students were admitted the day before our visit in May). About half the children graduate on time and go to college but few are ready for college-level work. Many children miss more than 18 days of school.

Still, the principal was pleased with progress in his short time there. “There is a sense of pride, a sense of resurgence,” he said. “The kids want to learn, to be engaged.”

Kingsbridge has a five-week long summer program focused on boosting math and reading skills, in addition to activities like softball and swimming. After school clubs include robotics, swimming, baseball and academics.

Kingsbridge shares the Walton Educational Campus with Celia Cruz Bronx High School of MusicDiscovery High School (where Gagstetter was formerly assistant principal), High School for Teaching and the Professions, and International School of Liberal Arts. All students must pass through metal detectors at the entrance. (Lydie Raschka, May 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?
 
69%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
69%
Average daily attendance
 
80%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
60%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
0%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
0%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

230
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
100%
Students with disabilities
 
3%
Multilingual learners
 
90%
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?
 
88%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
49%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
38%
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?
 
100%
0.1
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
109
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?
 
89%
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

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
14%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
67%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
33%
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?
 
53%
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

Kingsbridge International High School (X86R)

Admissions Method: Screened: Language

Program Description:

New arrivals to the United States (within the last four years) will receive a well-rounded education with English Language development as the focus in all classes. Coursework will prepare students to be successful in college and beyond, training students to work collaboratively with their peers in a hands-on approach to learning.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

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

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Outdoor Track, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

2780 Reservoir Avenue
Bronx NY 10468

Trains: 4 Line to Kingsbridge Rd

Buses: Bx1, Bx10, Bx12, Bx12-SBS, Bx2, Bx22, Bx25, Bx26, Bx28, Bx3, Bx32, Bx34, Bx38, Bx9, BxM3, BxM4


Contact

Principal: Elisia Downing

Parent Coordinator: Elisia Downing

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Walton Educational Campus with four other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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