Our Insights
What’s Special
All-girls college prep school
The Downside
Limited sports
The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Brooklyn is one of New York City’s few single-gender public schools. Serving grades 6-12, the school aims to help young women become strong and caring leaders who believe in themselves. Girls from a range of personal identities and perspectives, including those from traditional religious homes and those who identify as lesbian or transgender, learn together. The school’s graduation rate outpaces the citywide average; many students tackle college level coursework in math and science by their senior year. Students go on to graduate from college at a rate three times their peers citywide.
Academics & Instruction: Teachers work to build a strong academic foundation over all seven years instead of rushing lessons before students may be ready. The school does not offer most high school-level (Regents) classes in middle school like some schools do, except for a math course in 8th grade. All students are required to take four years of math and science in high school.
Lessons may take the form of lectures, group work, or game-based activities. For example, 11th graders have used their knowledge of the U.S. Revolution to play a game about the famous battles. Students may act out roles—a king, a member of parliament, a tax collector—in Colonial America.
Students receive up to three years of Spanish language and literature classes. In the 11th and 12th grades, students have opportunities to take career preparation, Advanced Placement, and college-level classes.
Music, dance and travel are a special focus here. Students learn to play guitar in 7th grade and take classes taught by Alvin Ailey teaching artists. They may participate in the dance ensemble and the school band. Roughly a dozen students take international trips to destinations such as Japan, China, Italy, France or London—an option not available to all because of cost. Field trips closer to home are open to everyone, for example, a trip to the New York Aquarium. Due to the small size team sports are limited.
After school programs include tutoring, homework help, test prep, STEM and more.
Culture & Environment: The school is tiny with fewer than 300 students. All girls receive academic, social and emotional support. Each one attends small group advisory classes to discuss their achievements, setbacks, values, feelings and needs.
Students are encouraged to celebrate their differences and share their backgrounds and cultures. The school has a Black and Latinx student union, a gender and sexuality alliance, a Muslim student association, and a youth restorative justice club for working out conflicts through discussion and accountability. A school psychologist offers workshops on topics such as improving family communication, social media safety and sex education.
Special Education & English as a New Language (ENL): Students learning English attend separate classes where they work on reading, writing and speaking skills. Their teacher visits them as needed in math, reading, science and other classes to provide further support. Students with Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) study in classrooms with a second teacher.
Building & Facilities & Commute: The school occupies the third and the fourth floors of a building shared with PS 147. Teachers greet the girls as they arrive and keep an eye out for their safety.
College & Career: The school has a full-time college counselor who assists students with registering and preparing for the PSAT and SAT exams, college selection, essay writing, recommendation letters, resumes, college trips, and financial aid planning. (Lydie Raschka, interview and web reports, August 2023)
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School Stats
Is this school safe and well-run?
From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey
From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card
From this school's most recent Quality Review Report
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
How do students perform academically?
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
Who does this school serve?
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
From the 2020 School Directories
How does this school serve special populations?
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryThe Young Women's Leadership School of Brooklyn (L66A)
Program Description:
TYWLS offers an academically rigorous college prep program to all of our students.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Girls PSAL teams
Outdoor Track
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
325 Bushwick Avenue
Brooklyn
NY
11206
Trains: , to Flushing Av; to Montrose Av
Buses: B15, B43, B46, B47, B48, B57, B60, Q54, Q59
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the building with PS 147
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