Our Insights
What’s Special
A broad range of electives, activities, and advanced courses
The Downside
Many students miss a month or more of school
Frederick Douglas Academy is a combined middle and high school offering a variety of electives and college-level courses. Students can study Japanese and Latin, work with flight simulators in an aviation class, and take Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Special features include Harlem Samba, a Brazilian percussion ensemble, and Taekwondo classes.
The school has many technology and science courses. Middle school electives include computer programming, gaming, and web design. High school students can take AP courses in statistics, calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, microeconomics, U.S. and European history, English, Spanish, French, and Latin. Middle school students study French and can pursue other languages in high school, completing high school language requirements in their first year and taking advanced classes in Japanese, Italian, French, or Spanish.
Starting in 9th grade, students in the FDA Dual Enrollment/Advanced Placement Program can take college courses through partnerships with SUNY Old Westbury and Syracuse University, such as Human Geography, Computer Science, Gender Studies, and Black Studies.
Middle school test scores in English and math fall well below the citywide averages, but students improve by high school. The college readiness rate, meaning how many students graduate prepared to tackle college level work, approaches the citywide average. Attendance is an on-going challenge; more than half miss a month or more of school. Students can expect a couple hours of homework daily.
All students learn to play a musical instrument and can participate in Harlem Samba, performing on New York stages and internationally. They can also take Taekwondo, developing discipline and confidence. FDA has excellent facilities including a gymnasium, fitness center, dojo for martial arts, auditorium, and digital music studio.Sports and clubs include lacrosse, tennis, basketball, chess, aviation, robotics, and yearbook. The school provides shuttle service to practices and games for athletes.
FDA shares space with Mickey Mantle, a District 75 school that serves students with disabilities. Following an inclusion model, Micky Mantle students may join classes at FDA. A dedicated college office arranges college tours and hosts classes for juniors and seniors. Students have been admitted to schools like West Point; most attend CUNY and SUNY schools, with some earning Posse Scholarships. Some attend private and out-of-state colleges like Vanderbilt University. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, June 2024)
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School Stats
Is this school safe and well-run?
From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey
From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card
From this school's most recent Quality Review Report
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
How do students perform academically?
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
Who does this school serve?
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
How does this school serve special populations?
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryFrederick Douglass Academy for the Humanities (FDAH) (M75A)
Program Description:
This program will prepare students for their choice of college studies and careers. Students are expected to take a minimum of two AP or CUNY College Now courses for which they are eligible which may include AP United States History, AP Microeconomics, AP European History, AP English, AP Spanish, AP Biology, AP Statistics, AP Calculus, AP Physics, and AP French. SUNY Old Westbury English Composition, College Algebra.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) (M75B)
Program Description:
This program will prepare students for college studies and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine. Students will have access to elective courses such as Robotics, Aeronautics/Aviation, Anatomy & Physiology, and Forensic Science. Students are expected to take a minimum of two AP or CUNY College Now courses for which they are eligible and may include AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics.
Frederick Douglass Academy D75 Inclusion Program (M75U)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Computer Science Principles, AP French Language and Culture, AP Microeconomics, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Psychology, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages), World Languages (College Course [Credited])
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Fencing, Football, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Fencing, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Double Dutch
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
2581 7Th Avenue
Manhattan
NY
10039
Trains: to Harlem-148th St; , to 155th St
Buses: Bx13, Bx19, Bx6, M1, M10, M102, M2, M3, M7
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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