Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology

The Brooklyn School for Law and Technology has a television studio, a moot courtroom and a curriculum designed to teach students to work for social justice. It is housed in the renovated RKO Bushwick Theater, a former vaudeville house first opened in 1911, and the building still has some of the original architectural details (although no full-size gym.)

Despite its small size and tiny gymnasium, the school boasts a powerhouse basketball team that has sent some graduates to play for Division 1 colleges, according to a story in the Glen Falls Post Star.

Parents are encouraged to use school computers to apply for student aid and attend workshops on the college admissions process. Workshops are offered in various languages such as English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.

The school encourages graduates to go to college and offers Advanced Placement courses, as well as college trips to places like Howard University, Morgan State and Georgetown University. However, many must take remedial courses at CUNY because of low scores on Regents exams.

Founded in 1999 as ACORN High School for Social Justice, the school has had ups and downs. It has moved three times, changed its name and experienced a revolving door of principals. Vernon Johnson took the helm in 2016 and most teachers say he is a good manager.

Special education: Law and Technology has a large number of students receiving special education services. All are educated alongside their non-disabled peers for the majority of the school day.

Admissions: Students in the Academy for Social Justice, which offers law classes, internships and community service, must have grades of at least 60 in math and 65 in English. Students in the computer technology program are admitted according to the educational option formula,  designed to ensure a mix of students of different abilities. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, and statistics, October 2018)