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Our Insights

What’s Special

Attractive facility; supportive community

The Downside

Far from nearest subway

The Academy for Young Writers is a small, nurturing 6-12 school in an attractive new facility. Students and teachers are on a first-name basis. Each grade has fewer than 100 students, reflecting the administration’s belief that personal relationships play a key role in learning.

Students write in all subject areas as a way to better understand material, retain knowledge and become critical thinkers, according to the school website. Most students enter 6th grade with weak academic skills and middle school test scores, particularly in math, are low. However, most students graduate from high school on time.

The school has stepped up efforts to prepare student for college, according to a Department of Education report called the Quality Review. The school has added more Advanced Placement classes and college trips and visits. It offers financial awareness and college classes that students say help them understand and prepare for the college process.

Teachers and other staff use culturally relevant topics and texts in all subject areas, the report said. For example, 6th-grade math teachers required students to use information from the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., to create a model of a coordinate plane. 


Students are encouraged to speak out and be involved in issues within the school and beyond. Young Writers has been commended for welcoming and supporting LGBT students, and extracurricular activities include a Black Lives Matter Movement as well as more traditional clubs and a few sports.

Young Writers shares its impressive building with another 6-12 school, Spring Creek Community  A downside: It is far from the nearest subway.

Special education: There are integrated co-teaching classes and some students are in small self-contained classes for part of the day. The building is wheelchair accessible. (Gail Robinson, from DOE reports, November 2018)

 

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School Stats

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

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
79%
81% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
52%
52% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
96%
78% Citywide Average
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
54%
77% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
1%
1% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
84%
79% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
1.3

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
26%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
47%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
94%
92% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
95%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
452
Asian
4%
Black
63%
Hispanic
29%
White
2%
Other
3%
Free or reduced priced lunch
92%
Students with disabilities
23%
English language learners
3%

From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
79%
88% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
65%
39% Citywide Average

How does this school serve special populations?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
91%
85% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
7% Citywide Average
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

Academy for Young Writers (L22A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

College preparatory curriculum. Four years of math, science, English and history. Selective courses including writing, computer science, robotics, coding, arts, music, in-school SAT prep, and college counseling.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP United States History, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Uncredited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Outdoor Track

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

1065 Elton Street
Brooklyn NY 11208

Buses: B13, B20, B6, B83, B84, BM5, Q8


Contact

Principal: Tanisha Brown

Parent Coordinator: Tara Mann

Phone: 718-688-7230

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Spring Street Educational Campus with one other school

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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