Kingsborough Early College School

Kingsborough Early College Secondary School, serving grades 6-12, is part of an ambitious experiment to better prepare students for college by exposing them to more challenging academics starting in middle school. Even though there are no admissions requirements for 6th grade, almost everyone graduates from high school on time and some even earn two years of college credit from Kingsborough Community College.

The small school shares the Lafayette Educational Campus with several other small schools. The building is both an advantage and a disadvantage: Students may take part in a wide array of building-wide sports, including football. But they must pass through metal detectors at the entrance and many complain that the building is dirty.

Students may take classes at Kingsborough Community College, 3 miles away, beginning in 9th grade. High schools students have access to the college’s theater, playing fields, science labs, computer labs, aquarium, and art studios. The school has an advisory program in place to help students keep up with the academic and behavioral expectations that come with college coursework, according to the school’s 2018 Comprehensive Education Plan.

Extracurricular activities include the school newspaper, music, knitting, studio art, chess, fashion design, yoga, theater, and robotics.

Tracee Murren has been principal of the school since 2016. Teachers give her high marks on the NYC School survey, saying she encourages communication and collaboration.

Teachers consistently challenge and engage high-achieving students as well as those with disabilities and English language learners, according to the Quality Review. Students learning English take part in activities such as games, skits, and songs to create a low-stress environment where they can develop academically and socially, according to the school’s yearly plan.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school offers integrated co-teaching classes and services such as speech, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

ADMISSIONS: Children from districts 20 and 21 and from Staten Island may apply to the middle school, which has no admissions requirements. Current 8th-graders get priority for high school. High school admission is based on middle school grades, attendance, state test scores, and an interview. (Isabel Corpus, web reports, May 2018)