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Our Insights

What’s Special

Brooklyn Botanic Garden partnership

The Downside

Limited course selection

Founded in 2003, the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment (BASE) offers a unique partnership with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where students explore urban ecology and native plants, ideal for teens who like science, nature, and making a positive impact. 

Ninth-graders visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden weekly with their science teacher, engaging in activities such as biodiversity surveys and endangered species research. They address climate change and solutions like the role of tree roots in soil erosion and carbon dioxide absorption. Lessons at BASE integrate science and environmental issues through a social justice perspective, with the school actively participating in community initiatives, such as advocacy against a proposed high-rise near the Brooklyn Botanic Garden that threatens sun-dependent plants.

Students research and write extensively, with freshmen working together on assigned topics like social justice, and seniors researching their own topics, such as reproductive rights or carbon capture technology, culminating in a 10-page paper. BASE uses competency-based grading, providing feedback on skill progression rather than traditional grades.

Practical experience is gained through internships at venues like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park’s Youth Representative Program, or the Air Company, which converts carbon dioxide into sustainable products. BASE students assist in science labs, mentor new students, provide feedback on lessons, and receive job application and interview assistance. They complete 100 hours of community service, contributing to events like the biannual Harvest Lunch, managing cellphone collections, or participating in civic leadership classes.

While BASE offers limited courses and clubs due to its size, it provides opportunities in studio art and an after-school cooking club using garden harvests for dishes like veggie tacos, gazpacho and empanadas. Students can take Advanced Placement courses at BASE, and College Now classes at Medgar Evers.

BASE uses restorative justice for discipline, holding bimonthly meetings to address challenges and promote positive behavior. Margaret’s Place is a dedicated safe room in school where students can talk or hang out in a comfortable, confidential, and respectful environment, with staff offer counseling and leadership opportunities during lunch and free periods.

Students receive college application assistance from guidance counselors, a faculty advisor, and programs like Upward Bound and New Visions. 

BASE is located on the 5th floor of the Prospect Heights Educational Complex, sharing space with four other schools. The building features an indoor pool and campus-wide sports teams. Students must pass through metal detectors. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, June 2024)
 

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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?
 
93%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
73%
Average daily attendance
 
87%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
45%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
89%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
89%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

234
Number of students
Citywide Average is 617

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
83%
Students with disabilities
 
22%
Multilingual learners
 
8%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
0%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
78%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
50%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
37%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
94%
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?
 
100%
6.2
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
156
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?
 
79%
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

 
7%

Computer Science

Not offered in 2021-21

Physics

Not offered in 2021-21

Advanced Foreign Language

 
9%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
29%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
12%

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?
 
60%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
40%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
36%
From the 2020-21 and 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many graduates who are eligible received Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funding to attend a NYS college?
 
48%
This shows how well this school supports low-income students to get funding for college.
How many of those TAP recipients made it through college? Learn more
From unpublished, anonymized student-level data for the class of 2016-17 provided by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in coordination with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), brought to you by
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
45%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought to you by 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

Science Exploration Program (K41A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Integrated curriculum includes lab-based learning and hands-on experiences. Our program exposes students to a wide-range of science pathways including computer science, environmental justice, urban ecology, and anatomy and physiology. Includes real-world experiences such as job shadowing, mentoring, internships and paid job opportunities through our many partnerships. Selection criteria: Attendance (100-85%), Science grades (100-70), State ELA and Math exam scores (4-2).

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Art History, AP Calculus AB, AP English Language and Composition, AP Seminar, AP United States History, Science (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming

Girls PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Cricket, Double Dutch

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

883 Classon Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11225

Trains: 2 Line, 3 Line, 4 Line, 5 Line, FS to Botanic Gardens

Buses: B41, B43, B44-SBS, B45, B48, B49


Contact

Principal: Gail Lambert

Parent Coordinator: Jawara Johnson

Phone: 718-230-6363

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Prospect Heights Educational Campus with three other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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