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Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School
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Brooklyn NY
Our Insights
What’s Special
Theater program that goes beyond acting
The Downside
Metal detectors; some safety concerns in common areas
One of five small schools in the South Shore Educational Complex in Canarsie, Brooklyn Theater Arts High School has a humanities focus along with a Career and Technical Education program in theater. The school partners with Roundabout Theater Co.
Students have the opportunity to perform in two productions—a musical and a drama—every year. The school also offers classes in directing and other behind-the-stage theater skills. Many students take visual art, and the school provides extracurricular arts and theater-related activities including trips to performances. Students have the opportunity to travel to another country over the summer.
The school’s Quality Review report praises the school for its “safe, inclusive culture.” Students told the reviewer that the theater arts, which are used to probe sensitive topics such as race and gentrification, fostered the welcoming climate. School staff have said that theater serves to engage and interest students.
Although many enter with relatively low standardized test scores, Theater Arts has seen strong improvement in its graduation rate, which now is above the city average. Many students, though, graduate without being ready to do college work, a situation the school is focused on remedying. For high-performing students it offers a few Advanced Placement classes.
Theater Arts offers a number of supports, including a summer Bridge program for incoming 9th graders, small-group tutoring and a Saturday academy. To help them acclimate to high school, all 9th graders attend small group sessions led by high performing juniors and seniors.
Attendance, though, remains a problem, and a sizable percentage of students say they do not feel safe in the school’s common areas. That may arise partly from the school’s location at South Shore, which has had a history of safety issues. The campus is not near any subway lines and, to enter the building, students must go through metal detectors.
After several years where principals came and went with regularity, David Ward has been in the post since 2012.
Admissions: Theater Arts accepts student from throughout the city and uses the educational option method. It historically has not filled all of its seats and has some openings for incoming 10th graders. (Gail Robinson, DOE reports and interview, October 2018)
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School Stats
Is this school safe and well-run?
From 2018-19 NYC School Survey
From 2017-18 NY State Report Card
From this school's most recent Quality Review Report
From 2018-19 School Quality Guide
How do students perform academically?
From 2018-19 School Quality Guide
Who does this school serve?
From 2019-20 Demographic Snapshot
From 2018-19 School Quality Guide
Programs & Admissions
From the 2021 High School Directory
Academics
Language Courses
French
Advanced Placement (AP) courses
AP English Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition
Sports
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Softball, Volleyball
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
Contact
Other Details
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