Bronx Academy for Software Engineering (BASE)

The Bronx Academy for Software Engineering (BASE) opened in 2013 with the goal of teaching students computer programming at a high level. Students learn programming languages like Java and Python, and related skills such as web and game design.

All BASE students complete a 4-year computer science sequence. In 9th grade students take an introductory course where they learn basic coding and front-end web-based design. In 10th grade, they take a semester each of web design and coding languages such as Python and Java.

In the 11th and 12th grades, students choose between two tracks: Computer programming or web and game design. The CTE sequence in computer programming is the more academically challenging of the two tracks, requiring students to take Advanced Placement computer programming and higher level math.

While computer programming is the school’s specialty, design-thinking goes to the core of its mission. “We see the school as a design challenge”, said founding principal, Ben Grossman. A former transfer high school teacher and schools network director of achievement, Grossman believes that design methodology bolsters academic stamina in students who may have the ability but lack motivation or tolerance for frustration. “It pushes kids very hard to fail well and fail often.”

Students complete design challenges in each of their classes. For example, after reading Night by Elie Wiesel in their English classes, 10th-graders researched and designed a strategy for Holocaust survivors, taking into account what resources they’d need in the aftermath given the socio-political-economic climate at the end of World War II.

These regular design challenges culminate in a capstone project in senior year where students complete a lengthy project using design-thinking methodology such as looking at green spaces in the Bronx and engaging politicians to develop more of them or examining disparities among the boroughs by looking the spending on infrastructure in each one. All seniors take statistics, which gives them the foundation to conduct their capstone research.

In addition to Advanced Placement classes, student may take free college courses at nearby Lehman College.

The school offers two years of Spanish and art instruction.

Teachers lead small group advisories called seminars, which helps them keep tabs on students and discuss a range of topic. Through a partnership with iMentor each student is matched with a mentor from the tech or related industries. Students develop strong relationships with their mentors through email correspondence and monthly mentor/mentee events at the school.

BASE embraces a program they call “transformative justice” (TJ). It expands on the restorative justice model, which aims to minimize suspensions through conversation, reflection and corrective action. A fulltime social worker leads the TJ program, which encourages students to take political action and become mentors in addition to resolving conflict without suspensions. There are dedicated TJ classes to training older students to become peer mediators and to serve as mentors to freshman.

The school is predominantly male, though this gender imbalance reflects similar trends in the male-dominated technology industry—something Grossman wants to change. In addition to focusing recruitment efforts on girds, BASE matches them with female mentors and offers them access to girls-only events, trips and activities.

The school is located in the Grace Dodge Educational Campus along with Crotona International High School and  The High School for Energy and Technology. Campus schools share access to an onsite medical clinic, auditorium, gym, cafeteria as well as fitness and dance rooms. Students must pass through metal detectors to enter the building.

There are campus-wide PSAL sports, intramural sports run by the school and well as a range of activities and clubs. Many students also intern at businesses and organizations.

BASE is transitioning to an early college model serving grades 9 to 14. Beginning with the incoming freshman class in September 2018, students will be able the stay at BASE for six years and graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree from a CUNY college.

College advisory is built into to the seminar program and includes trips to colleges. Graduates attend a range of schools including CUNY, SUNY and a range of private and out-of-state colleges such as Drexel, Fordham, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and New York University.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school has integrated co-teaching (ICT) across all subjects and grades and self-contained classes in English and math, primarily for 9th and 10th-graders

ADMISSIONS: Priority to Bronx students and residents. The admits students according to the educational option formula designed to ensure a mix of low-, average- and high-achieving students. (Ella Colley and Laura Zingmond, October 2014; updated via interview, July 2018)