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Our Insights

What’s Special

High graduation rate, robotics, swimming

The Downside

Kids complain about safety in the locker rooms.

It Takes A Village Academy has a high graduation rate and is particularly known for helping new immigrants graduate on time, even if they had limited schooling in their home country. Many children speak Haitian or French at home; others speak Arabic and Spanish.

The school, housed in the Samuel J. Tilden Educational Campus, gets good marks for its high expectations, its positive culture and its success in preparing students for college, according to the city’s Quality Review. However, some students complain about safety in the bathrooms and locker rooms, according to school surveys. 

In one troubling incident in the fall of 2017, four students complained that older students touched them inappropriately in the boys' locker room, police said. Principal Marina Vinitskaya was removed for failing to report the incident to authorities, and three students were suspended. 

Sybil Girard took over as principal in November 2017. She was formerly assistant principal at Academy for Conservation and the Environment, a tiny school in the South Shore Educational Campus.

It Takes A Village offers French- and Spanish-language instruction and several Advanced Placement courses. The school day is longer than usual, lasting from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Newcomers may choose from three programs: It Takes a Village Academy is the largest, with a science and math focus; Engineering Academy has a computer and technology theme; and Science Institute prepares students for careers in health professions.

Students are encouraged to participate in campus-wide Tilden athletics. Students in the Robotics Program at Brooklyn College participate in U.S. National competitions. There is a swimming pool on site. Teens may learn to swim and earn a Red Cross lifeguard certification. Other perks of the large campus include a renovated playing field, well-kept gymnasiums and a refurbished auditorium. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and DOE data, January 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?
 
88%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
88%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
71%
Average daily attendance
 
86%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
41%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

265
Number of students
Citywide Average is 615

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
80%
Students with disabilities
 
19%
Multilingual learners
 
23%
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?
 
83%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
43%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
33%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
38%
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?
 
60%
3.1
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
186
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

 
21%

Physics

 
19%

Advanced Foreign Language

 
4%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
30%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
10%

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?
 
62%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
59%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
43%
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?
 
29%
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?
 
33%
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

It Takes A Village Academy (L36A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Students are exposed to variety of math and science programs. Most programs are technology based. All students take technology classes starting with grade 9 through grade 12. Students use variety of programs to study mathematics, sciences, art (visual arts), literature, social studies, and foreign languages.

Engineering Academy (L36B)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

This program equips students interested in Engineering and Technology with career-ready skills such as computer literacy, computer science programming, engineering design, maintenance skills, knowledge of programming language and the ability to create computer programs. Through our partnership with the Amazon Future Engineer Program, we have a comprehensive student-to-career program to inspire, educate and train students to pursue careers in engineering.

Medical Professions & Science Academy (L36C)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

This Program prepares students for college and careers in Medicine, Dentistry, Ophthalmology, Pharmacy, Nursing, Allied Health Professions, Science and Math. Through our partnership with Long Island University (LIU), Department of Medical Professions, students will take college credit-bearing courses at LIU and get hands-on training through internships at local hospitals, medical facilities and Science Laboratories.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

French, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, AP United States History, Arts (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Math (College Course [Uncredited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

5800 Tilden Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11203

Buses: B17, B35, B46, B47, B7, B8


Contact

Principal: Victor Frias

Parent Coordinator: Charmaine Dixon

Phone: 718-629-2307

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Samuel J. Tilden Educational Campus with two other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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