Our Insights
What’s Special
A fresh start for students at risk of dropping out
The Downside
Some friction between principal and staff
Bronx Community High School (BCHS) provides a fresh start for students who have faced challenges in their previous schools. BCHS uses trimesters, a schedule that allows students to earn credits twice as quickly as traditional schools. It's linked with New Visions for Public Schools and the New York Mission Society, offering support, career guidance, and paid internships.
Academics & Instruction: Students often collaborate on projects, like managing a "budget" in economics class, or creating a miniature ecosystem in science, using soil, rocks, and grass to study erosion and land formation. Each student receives a laptop to use during their high school years. Some classes allow self-paced learning, using laptops for tasks in Google Classroom to study local history, for example.
Sports, tutoring, dance, music, and fitness clubs take place after school. The school offers a college and career readiness internship program. Students in good standing can work at least 10 hours a week in their chosen field. Teens meet on Saturdays to prepare for Regents in the months leading up to the exam.
Themes & Programs: Students may earn an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) certificate, essential for safe work in construction, healthcare, or manufacturing. It boosts their job prospects post-graduation.
Culture & Environment: Each student has an advisor overseeing no more than 25 students and meets twice weekly for support. Conflicts are resolved through mediation, which may include community service. Mentors from the NY Mission Society help with attendance and academics. On culture day, students share food and wear traditional clothing to honor their heritage, highlighting the school's rich diversity.
While students overwhelmingly say they feel safe in school, there seems to be some friction between teachers and the principal, based on responses to the NYC School Survey.
Special Education & English as a New Language (ENL): The school serves a growing number of students with disabilities and English language learners, who speak Bengali, Spanish, French, Italian, and other languages. Peer-to-peer support is encouraged, and bilingual staff are on hand. English learners meet twice a week after school for support with language and school work.
Building & Facilities: The school is one of six schools in the Adlai E. Stevenson Educational Campus. Montefiore Hospital runs a clinic on-site offering services like dental and eye exams, and counseling. Sports are campus-wide. Cellphones are collected in the morning and returned at the end of the day.
College & Career: With support from the New York City Mission Society, students receive tutoring, Regents exam prep, and attendance outreach. Staff make home visits, arrange college tours, provide financial aid assistance, and train students in leadership skills. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, May 2024)
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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
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
Not offered in 2021-21College Readiness
Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
Contact & Location
Location
1980 Lafayette Avenue
Bronx
NY
10473
Buses: Bx22, Bx27, Bx36, Bx39, Bx5
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the Adlai E. Stevenson Educational Campus with six other schools
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