Our Insights
What’s Special
French dual-language instruction; International Baccalaureate program
The Downside
High school International Baccalaureate program still too new to tell
Boerum Hill School for International Studies has steady leadership, dual-language French instruction and the challenging International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Students enjoy a lot of arts offerings, field trips and a culinary program where they work in a professionally equipped kitchen and intern at restaurants and caterers.
The vibe throughout the school is relaxed and friendly. Parents told us they’re impressed with how quickly their children are learning French and by the creative and collaborative class work.
Principal Nicole Lanzillotto, who headed Boerum Hill’s middle grades before taking the helm in 2017, encourages kids to have a say in their school. For instance, a group of students successfully argued to allow hats to be worn at school after studying the behavior code, reading and discussing the book, For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood with staff and then drafting a thoughtful petition.
Students have French language instruction every day. In addition, science is taught in both French and English. Students participate in an after-school French immersion program where they develop their conversational fluency.
The IB program offers rich class discussions, thoughtful research papers and imaginative courses. For instance, instead of traditional English and social studies classes, students take courses such as “Individual and Societies,” “Language Acquisition” and “Language and Literature.”
Lessons in all grades emphasize skills such as communication, social and self-management as well as research and analytical thinking. In a high school math class we observed, students were discussing the importance of using graphs and charts to explain findings. Among their conclusions, visual representations transcend language barriers. In a senior English class, students were writing blog posts on topics they researched. “I like this kind of writing because I can express myself,” said a student writing about Eric Gardner, the Staten Island man who was killed in 2014 during an arrest by police for selling loose cigarettes.
In the “middle years program” (grades 6-10) each year focuses on a theme that’s reinforced across subjects. For instance in 6th grade, students focus on identities and exploration, studying topics such as globalization, sustainability and relationships across the humanities classes; in 8th grade math, a survey in functions is part of the grade-wide theme of how an idea becomes a movement. Tenth grade is a year of reflecting on how all themes connect, with studies on constitutional foundations, three-dimensional math modeling and writing for different audiences.
The IB diploma program is a challenging two years beginning in 11th grade culminating in completion of a year-long service project, a lengthy research paper and series of exams. Since the curriculum was rolled out in the middle school first and then expanded to the high school, the graduation class of 2019 (11th-graders when we visited) will be the first group to be eligible for an IB diploma.
Culinary arts is offered in high school, though 8th-graders are given an introduction to it. Students get hands-on training in the school’s professionally equipped kitchen as well as through internships shadowing chefs and catering events for the Department of Education and at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
Students enjoy day and overnight trips as well as a nice range of arts, elective classes and after-school activities including sports. arts, chess, music, dance, theater and technology. Partnerships with an impressive range of organizations, such as the French Embassy, 92nd Street Y Unterberg Poetry Center, Brooklyn Historical Society and Urban Advantage help expand learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
The school is housed in a large building it shares with the Digital Arts and Cinema Technology High School and Success Academy Cobble Hill Charter School. Students may leave the building for lunch or enjoy recess in the expansive schoolyard with teen size climbing equipment, multiple fields and a basketball court.
There is a busy college office lead by a fulltime college counselor. Juniors and seniors get additional support from a guidance counselor dedicated for those grades. Most graduates go on to CUNY and SUNY schools and some attend private and out-of-state colleges.
SPECIAL EDUCATION: There are ICT (Integrated collaborative teaching) classes on all grades plus SETSS. (Laura Zingmond, October 2017; updated June 2019)
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School Stats
Is this school safe and well-run?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey
From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card
From this school's most recent Quality Review Report
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide
How do students perform academically?
From the New York State 2021 -22 Assessment Database
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide
Who does this school serve?
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide
From the 2020 School Directories
How does this school serve special populations?
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide
From the New York State 2021 -22 Assessment Database
Programs & Admissions
From the 2021 High School DirectoryInternational Baccalaureate
Program Description:
All students experience IB coursework that emphasize problem-solving and collaboration through project-based learning. Students complete capstone projects: Personal Project, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service Learning project, and IB Internal Assessments. Students meet in advisory groups for social-emotional and academic support, and community building.
College, Career & Culinary
Program Description:
Our Culinary Arts and Career program is a four-year, rigorous sequence of courses designed to prepare students in food and industry careers. The program explores and prepares students through topics such as world cultures through food, climate and the global society, food politics, sustainability and identity. All students entering are still required to fulfill IB requirements and coursework. We have intern partnerships with C-CAP, and local restaurants and NYC companies.
Offerings
From the 2021 High School DirectoryContact & Location
Location
284 Baltic Street
Brooklyn
NY
11201
Trains:
,
to Hoyt & Schermerhorn;
,
to Bergen St
Buses: B103, B41, B45, B57, B61, B62, B63, B65, B67
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the building with the Digital Arts and Cinema Technology High School and Success Academy Cobble Hill Charter School
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