Crotona Academy High School

JUNE 2018 UPDATE: The Panel for Education policy decided to close Crotona Academy for poor performance. 

NOVEMBER 2012 REVIEW: Crotona Academy, housed in light-blue trailers next to South Bronx High School, offers a family-like atmosphere for older students who have who have not been successful at traditional high schools.

Teachers make you want to learn because they truly care about you, one student told an official who visited the school for the Quality Review. They treat us like young adults, another said. Teachers and students agree the school is safe and orderly, according to the Learning Environment Survey.

The program, opened in fall 2004, is part of a network of "Diploma Plus" transfer schools created to re-engage students by giving them work opportunities and internships along with academics.

Like a lot of transfer schools, Crotona has long suffered from poor attendance, and the graduation rate is low. On the positive side, students are enthusiastic about their teachers. Nearly all agreed that teachers look out for students and make them feel welcome, according to the Learning Environment Survey.

Lacking a gym, the school has outfitted a portable building with a few treadmills, a ping pong table, dartboards, and air hockey games. In warm weather, students go outside to the basketball court.

Young parents who go to Crotona can take advantage of free daycare at the LYFE center in University Heights Secondary School, which is right next door.

Admissions: The school is open to students at least 16 years of age who have at least 10 credits. Students are interviewed to gauge their commitment to completing high school. (Clara Hemphill, DOE statistics, updated November 2012)