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Our Insights

What’s Special

Social justice theme

The Downside

Poor attendance

Opened in 2014, Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice is one of four city high schools founded with grants from the Open Society Foundations to help improve college and career-readiness rates for black and Latino students, particularly males.

The school, housed in the Boys and Girls High School building, aims not only to prepare students academically, but also to form adults who are “committed to social justice and improving their communities and this nation,” according to the school website.

Like three other schools in the Epic network, Nelson Mandela works to give students a voice and to ensure their education “honors and embraces” their cultures and community, according to the school’s website.

Most students enter with poor academic skills and attendance is poor. Nonetheless, more than three-quarters of the first class graduated on time.

The other Epic New York City schools are: Epic High School North and Epic High School South, both in Queens, and South Bronx Community Charter School.  (Clara Hemphill, DOE stats, December 2018)

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School Stats

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

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
80%
Average daily attendance
 
79%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
63%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
80%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
80%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

133
Number of students
Citywide Average is 615

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
85%
Students with disabilities
 
34%
Multilingual learners
 
6%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
1%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
81%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
53%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
38%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
62%
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
31%
1.2
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
77
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 191
How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
88%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey, 2022-23 School Quality Guide, 2021-22 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2023 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Advanced Courses

Which students have access to advanced courses at this school? Learn more

Calculus

Not offered in 2021-21

Computer Science

Not offered in 2021-21

Physics

Not offered in 2021-21

Advanced Foreign Language

Not offered in 2021-21

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
64%

AP/IB Math or Science

Not offered in 2021-21

Music

Not offered in 2021-21
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2021-22 school year provided by the New York State Education Department, brought to you by

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
44%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
51%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
31%
From the 2020-21 and 2022-23 School Quality Guide
Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
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

Social Media, Journalism, and Social Justice (K15A)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

This program introduces students to the vast history of journalism as it has evolved into a social media while examining critical issues and events locally and internationally as it applies to the African Diaspora. We aim to prepare students for careers in print and digital journalism. Students will contribute to the school newspaper and literary magazine, social media outlets, take part in literary activism, and engage in real application of journalism skills through trips to media outlets and internships.

The Elements of Spilling Tea, Mass Media, and Social Justice (K15E)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

While introducing students to the vast history of the different presentations of media that fuel the communications industry: graphic arts, advertising, film and television, podcasting, the program examines critical issues and events locally and internationally as it applies to the African Diaspora. The program looks to prepare students for interests in fields of broadcast media and its public relations. Students will contribute to and participate in a school podcast, visual media shows/ productions trips to organizations that support the mass media industry, and participate in internships.

Nelson Mandela High School ASD Nest Program (K15Y)

Admissions Method: ASD/ACES Program

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP English Literature and Composition, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

1700 Fulton Street
Brooklyn NY 11213

Trains: A Line, C Line to Utica Av

Buses: B15, B25, B26, B43, B45, B46, B46-SBS, B65


Contact

Principal: Matthew Anderson

Parent Coordinator: Shani Amory Claxton

Phone: 718-804-6805

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Boys and Girls HS Building wth two other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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