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Our Insights

What’s Special

Classes in criminal justice and forensics

The Downside

Metal detectors; poor attendance

Bronx High School for Law and Community Service offers classes in forensics, criminal justice, constitutional law and law enforcement. Students may volunteer in their community, helping wrap presents for the needy or working in a soup kitchen.  There is a courtroom for mock trials.

This safe, orderly and challenging school is a popular choice, drawing up to a dozen applicants per seat. Most students graduate on time including those still learning to speak English and students with special needs. Attendance is a struggle, with more than half the students missing a month or more of school, but achievement is good nevertheless.

Principal Michael Barakat took the helm in 2010. He oversees a staff of happy, experienced teachers, who overwhelmingly recommend the school to other families. One innovative way the school sets a peaceful tone, and helps teens focus, is with a school-wide quiet time at the beginning of the day.  

Barakat has raised academic expectations, offering courses such as physics, calculus and advanced algebra. Graduates have been accepted to many CUNY and SUNY schools as well as Boston College, Dartmouth and Duke University according to the school profile. 

The city’s Quality Review praised the school’s ability to find resources and partnerships, which include Hogan-Lovells Law Firm, NYPD, FDNY and The Justice Resource Center.

Law and Community is one of the six small schools in the Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus. Students may take part in sports teams with other schools in the building, which has two gyms, swimming pools and a weight room. Junior ROTC is an option and some teens become interns at a commercial bank branch on the first floor of the building. All students must pass through metal detectors to enter the building.  (Lydie Raschka, web reports, November 2018) 

 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
97%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
96%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
90%
Average daily attendance
 
86%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
49%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

385
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
87%
Students with disabilities
 
30%
Multilingual learners
 
17%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
0%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
90%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
33%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
21%
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
97%
12.1
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
97
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 157

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
88%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey, 2021-22 School Quality Guide, 2019-20 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2021 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Advanced Courses

Which students have access to advanced courses at this school? Learn more

Calculus

 
3%

Computer Science

 
5%

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

 
3%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
26%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
8%

Music

 
4%
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2021-22 school year provided by the New York State Education Department, brought to you by

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
80%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
71%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
79%
From the 2020-21 and 2021-22 School Quality Guide
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
88%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought you by
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Law Enforcement Academy (X53A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Comprehensive four-year program that prepares students for collegiate studies in criminal justice as well as careers in law enforcement and emergency response. The program includes Honors and AP courses. Partnerships include Hogan-Lovells Law Firm, NYPD, FDNY, FBI, and The Justice Resource Center.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Swimming, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Softball, Volleyball

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

500 East Fordham Road
Bronx NY 10458

Trains: B Line, D Line to Fordham Rd

Buses: Bx1, Bx12, Bx12-SBS, Bx15, Bx17, Bx19, Bx2, Bx22, Bx28, Bx34, Bx38, Bx41, Bx41-SBS, Bx9, BxM4


Contact

Principal: Michael Barakat

Parent Coordinator: Nelly Lopez Alvear

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus with five other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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