Williamsburg Preparatory School

Hard work is a virtue at Williamsburg Prep, but so is participation in sports and clubs. Founded in 2004, this well-run school has a reputation in the neighborhood for its calm hallways, many clubs, strong sports teams and well-behaved teens, says the parent coordinator, Lisa Staszewski. It boasts a good track record of taking students whose performance was average in middle school and getting them ready for college.

The staff is committed to mixing students of all abilities together, including students with special needs, who do well here according to tests and surveys. A strong team of special education teachers has a reputation for helping low scorers pass Regents exams, says Staszewski.

Freshmen take two periods of math, and freshmen and sophomores take double periods of English, one of which includes 20 minutes of quiet reading time. Teachers assign reading outside of class too, and provide worksheets that break long writing assignments into manageable chunks.

Students seem pleased with the many ways they can develop talent outside of academics, according to school surveys. These include working on the literary magazine, or joining drama, dance, chess or engineering clubs. Sports are campus-wide.

College visits begin in 9th grade and continue throughout all four years. Students also visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Aquarium and other venues, sometimes in mixed-age groups, the parent coordinator says.

Teachers report that Principal Michael Shadrick is trustworthy and an effective manager. Ninety-eight percent of them would recommend the school to other families.

Williamsburg Prep is located in the Harry Van Arsdale building, shared with Brooklyn Prep and Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design. Because there are no lockers, teens carry backpacks and coats from room to room.

Students must pass through metal detectors, which were in place before the school was founded. While it is a downside for some, Staszewski says, it makes others feel safe.

Two full-time college counselors help students apply to college. Parents meet with staff one-on-one for assistance with financial aid forms. Students attend colleges such as Cornell, Brandeis, CUNY Hunter, Gettysburg and SUNY Albany. Occasionally a graduate gets into very competitive schools like Middlebury or the University of Wisconsin.

ADMISSIONS: About 2,000 students apply for fewer than 200 seats. The school does not look at grades. (Lydie Raschka, interview and web reports, April 2018)