Our Insights
What’s Special
Group projects and lots of writing
The Downside
No music, limited art instruction
Frank McCourt High School, founded in 2010, offers a variety of projects and group work, along with classes that integrate math and science. Students choose classes from a college-course-style handbook, some with titles like Economics of Colonialism and Race Studies. Housed in the Brandeis Educational Campus, this small school has a mix of students from different backgrounds and from all parts of the city.
Academics & Instruction: Ninth- and 10th-graders stay with the same group in classes throughout the day, building skills for successful group projects, including how to generate ideas, draft responses and revise their work. All students take four years of math and science, complete at least 20 hours of community service, and have opportunities to earn college credit by taking courses taught by Frank McCourt teachers that are certified by SUNY Albany.
Instead of English, 9th- and 10th-graders take a double period of humanities, blending literature and history. In 9th grade, they explore world religions using diverse texts like the graphic novel Persepolis, the novel Siddhartha, and the play "My Name is Asher Lev." In 10th grade, they analyze Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness to explore European colonialism in Africa. Writing is taught as a separate class.
In 11th and 12th grade, students choose humanities electives that range from the traditional, such as a course in Shakespeare, to the off-beat, like a course in participatory budgeting in which students nominate projects to be funded by the City Council.
Ninth- and 10th-graders take integrated math and science courses called ISM. Ninth grade ISM combines living environment and algebra (with some geometry); 10th grade combines chemistry and algebra II. Three days each week students take separate classes for math and science. Instruction on the remaining two days merges the subjects to focus on the practical applications. For example, in ISM, 9th-graders may pretend they are advising a pharmaceutical company on what type of enzyme would be most marketable to treat lactose intolerance. They test how enzymes break down food at different temperatures and then plot the data on a graph using quadratic equations.
Math and science courses for 11th- and 12th-graders range from the traditional, like calculus, to the unusual, like a course that teaches chemistry through cooking.
Courses in the arts are limited. There is no music instruction but there’s a music club according to a list of clubs on the website.
Culture & Environment: The school uses a competency-based approach, meaning teachers acknowledge that students need chances to revise their thinking, their work, and their behavior in order to grow and improve. Students also get opportunities to share rituals, values and interests in school, and may join clubs aimed to build a healthy self-identity, such as the Black Student Union, Pride Club, Asian Heritage Club, Girls, Inc. Small advisory groups meet daily. A restorative practices team helps students work on skills to prevent and address harm and conflict.
Special Education & English as a New Language: The school offers co-teaching classes and individual support based on student need and family choice.
Building & Facilities: There are four other schools in the Brandeis Education Complex. The site includes a black box theater, dance studio, spin room and auditorium as well as tennis courts, a courtyard and garden. Students may participate in campus-wide PSAL sports teams. All students must pass through metal detectors to enter the building.
College & Career: College and career planning begins in 9th grade as part of advisory and includes a college trip each year. A college counselor works closely with every family to develop a college plan. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and questionnaire responses, January 2024)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Physics
Not offered in 2021-21Advanced Foreign Language
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Not offered in 2021-21Music
Not offered in 2021-21College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryFrank McCourt High School (A21A)
Requirements:
- Average Course Grades - 20%
- Interview/Online Form - 80%
Program Description:
Our school is a member of the Mastery Collaborative and committed to using cooperative groups to teach students skills and content. We focus on developing college and career readiness skills. For more information about how to complete this program's application requirements, please contact the school directly.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryAdvanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Research, AP Seminar, Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Uncredited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Science (College Course [Uncredited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Uncredited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Soccer, Volleyball
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Bowling, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
145 West 84 Street
Manhattan
NY
10024
Trains: to 86th St; , to 81st St - Museum of Natural History
Buses: BxM2, M10, M104, M11, M5, M7, M79-SBS, M86-SBS
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the Louis D. Brandeis Educational Campus with four other schools
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