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Our Insights

What’s Special

Art, music, dance and drama

The Downside

Poor attendance, declining enrollment

Tucked behind the Navy Yard in Fort Greene, Susan S. McKinney Secondary School of the Arts is a small audition school with programs in drama, chorus, dance, visual arts and instrumental music. Unfortunately the 6th to 12th grade school has seen a decline in enrollment, safety, attendance and academic in recent years, and is now a city-designated “focus” school in need of improvement. 

The school faces challenges. More than a third of the students miss a month or more of school. An attendance team meets weekly to address the problem, according to the CEP (comprehensive educational plan). Bullying, especially cyber-bullying, has been of special concern, according to the CEP. One strategy involves assigning teacher mentors.

On the positive side, the depth and range of arts classes at this tiny school is unusual. There is a marching and a jazz band. Students in the vocal music program also study piano and music history. Dancers sample modern, ballet, jazz and hip hop, in addition to anatomy and dance history. Visual artists explore 2-D and 3-D design.

McKinney students may participate in internships at Brooklyn Academy of Music. The school partners with Theater Development Fund and Cooper Hewitt, according to the website. Some students take part in Girl Be Heard, a theater program for girls. 

Special education: The school has team-teaching classes that incorporate students with special needs on every grade level, but finding qualified teachers who are knowledgeable in the academic content areas has been a “quite a challenge,” according to the CEP. A District 75 school in the building accepts 6th and 7th graders who have autism.  (Lydie Raschka, DOE data and reports, November 2018)

 

 

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School Stats

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

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
71%
81% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
64%
52% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
62%
78% Citywide Average
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
46%
77% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
2%
1% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
76%
79% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
0.1

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
18%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
30%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
72%
92% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
77%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
189
Asian
1%
Black
69%
Hispanic
29%
White
0%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
89%
Students with disabilities
38%
English language learners
2%

From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
75%
88% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
65%
39% Citywide Average

How does this school serve special populations?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
63%
85% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
7% Citywide Average
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

Visual Arts (K42A)

Admissions Method: Audition

Program Description:

Painting, drawing, art of advertisement and design, dimensional design, art history, textile, photography, product promotion, cartoon design illustration, and sculpture.

Vocal Music (K42B)

Admissions Method: Audition

Program Description:

Theory, history, ear and vocal training, performance and beginning keyboard, songwriting, Mass Chorus, Gospel Choir, and Quartet Ensembles.

Dance (K42C)

Admissions Method: Audition

Program Description:

Foundations of ballet, jazz, and modern dance techniques, dance history, choreography, costume design, and African dance.

Drama (K42D)

Admissions Method: Audition

Program Description:

Acting, voice and diction, theater history, dramatic literature, set design, and improvisation.

Instrumental Music (K42E)

Admissions Method: Audition

Program Description:

Music theory and history, techniques and performance, music composition, music analysis, conducting, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band, and small ensembles.

Dr. Susan S. McKinney Secondary School of the Arts D75 Inclusion Program (K42U)

Admissions Method: D75 Special Education Inclusive Services

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Studio Art - 2D, AP United States History, Chemistry (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Cross Country

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country

Coed PSAL teams

Double Dutch

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

101 Park Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11205

Buses: B54, B57, B62, B67, B69


Contact

Principal: Nicole Sledge

Parent Coordinator: Carmen Vargas

Phone: 718-834-6760

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares a building with Success Academy Fort Greene Charter

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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