Our Insights
What’s Special
Project-based school for new immigrants learning English
The Downside
Limited clubs and activities
The International Community High School (ICHS) serves new immigrants, including many who cannot read or write in their native language. Founded in 2006, it opened in partnership with Internationals Network for Public Schools, an organization with long experience preparing new immigrants for college, including those who have had little schooling in their home country. Students come from more than 30 different countries and speak about 14 different home languages.
Academics & Instruction: Like the other schools in the Internationals Network, ICHS classes are taught mostly in English. Teachers help students in their native languages, including Spanish, French, Bengali and Arabic, but expect tests and projects to be done in English. Classes combine students of different levels, so those who are stronger in English can help new arrivals.
The school is a member of the New York Performance Standards Consortium. Most high schools require students to take five Regents exams to graduate, but Consortium schools only require the NY State Regents ELA (English language arts) exam. In order to graduate students must present a portfolio of projects in every subject area. All 11th-graders participate in internships at some 30 locations throughout New York City.
Students can graduate with more than 12 college credits by taking classes such as chemistry or English composition through SUNY Potsdam, math courses through Monroe College, and College Now courses through Hostos Community College. The French Embassy offers Advanced Placement French at the school.
Culture & Environment: Each new student and family attend an orientation session during the last week of August. The students face significant challenges. Some live in temporary housing; some have children of their own or are expected to earn income to help their family, according to the Comprehensive Education Plan. Nonetheless, most students graduate within four years.
The school offers small group and one-to-one counseling and instruction to those who need it. Each grade has its own guidance counselor. Staff provide extra support for students in temporary housing including clothing, food and Metro cards for families to visit the school. The school uses the Restorative Practice model to train students to prevent and work through conflict.
Themes & Programs: While all the schools in the Internationals Network cater to newcomers, ICHS has a special challenge with students who may never have attended school before they arrived in the United States. These students have unusual skills as well as unusual challenges. For example, they might speak five languages but not be able to read or write in any of them.
To serve these students, the staff has developed an intensive one-year program called Bridges to Academic Success where 10 students are taken out of regular high school classes to work on basic skills with their teachers for one year. In one class depicted in a video produced for the New York State Education Department, students read a picture book called Nasreen’s Secret School, about an Afghan girl’s struggle to have an education. The text was simple, but the themes of social justice were complex enough to engage older teenagers.
When students finish the Bridges program, they enter the 9th grade.
Building & Facilities: ICHS shares a building with two middle schools, PS/IS 224 and the Academy of Applied Mathematics and Technology. The school is small and enrollment has declined over many years. This limits clubs and after school activities.
College & Career: A separate college and career counselor for each grade works with a small part-time college enrollment team for 9-12th grades. Seniors take a college and career support class. (Lydie Raschka, Web reports and interview, October 2023)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Not offered in 2021-21Computer Science
Not offered in 2021-21Physics
Not offered in 2021-21Advanced Foreign Language
AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Math or Science
Not offered in 2021-21Music
Not offered in 2021-21College Readiness
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Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryInternational Community High School (Y23A)
Program Description:
Each new student and family attends a comprehensive orientation session during the last week of August.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryAdvanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Chemistry (College Course [Credited]), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited])
Boys PSAL teams
Basketball, Soccer
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Table Tennis
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
345 Brook Avenue
Bronx
NY
10454
Trains: , to 149th St-3rd Av; to Brook Av
Buses: Bx1, Bx15, Bx17, Bx19, Bx2, Bx21, Bx32, Bx33, Bx4, Bx41, Bx41-SBS, M125
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the building with PS/IS 224 and the Academy of Applied Mathematics and Technology
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