Our Insights
What’s Special
Engaging project-based learning and strong college advisory
The Downside
Limited course offerings
Leaders High School values learning through projects, team work, field trips and meaningful assessments rather than standardized exams. It is an innovative school with a diverse student body and a dedicated staff. The school’s graduation and college-readiness rates are above the citywide average. Many Leaders’ graduates are the first in their families to attend college.
Academics & Instruction: In all classes, lessons emphasize depth over breadth—teachers spend more time on fewer topics and students do lots of reading, writing and research in all classes, often in small groups. Leaders is part of the New York Performance Standards Consortium, a network of schools exempt from administering all but the English Regents exam. Eleventh- and 12th-graders must complete PBATs (performance-based assessment tasks) in English, math, history and science on topics of their choosing. This might be a lab report based on an original experiment in science or a literary analysis of a novel in English. Students prepare papers and oral presentations to show their knowledge; outside Consortium experts assess their performance.
Leaders is also an NYC Outward Bound school that emphasizes learning through field trips, projects and team work—an approach that complements the Consortium model of instruction. Twice a year classes are paused for a week for students to complete “intensives,” in-depth studies on topics of personal interest such as the “science of ice cream,” circus arts, world religions, backcountry camping, photography and Mexican culture. Ninth-graders spend a week at a free outdoor adventure camp run by Outward Bound.
Like all small schools, there are limits to what Leaders can offer. All students study Spanish or Chinese some years. The school offers elective classes that may vary by semester. Recent options included psychology, makerspace, theater, constitutional law, visual art, business and economics, school newspaper and sewing.
There are campus-wide Advanced Placement courses open to students attending all schools in the building. Some are taught by teachers from Leaders High School.
Leaders runs an intervention program to help struggling readers.
Students have the opportunity to take college courses at St. Francis College and Kingsborough Community College.
Culture & Environment: Four days a week students meet with their “Crew” a small group that stays together and is led by the same teacher for all four years. Students from different backgrounds get to know each other through frank discussions and team-building exercises. Academic help, independent reading and college guidance also take place in Crew.
Guidance counselors focus their efforts on providing social, emotional and mental health support for students, while an assistant principal closely monitors academic progress to make sure students stay on track for graduation.
The school uses Restorative Justice, a program that addresses discipline through mechanisms such as peer mediation and conversation circles.
Special Education & English as a New Language (ENL): The school offers dedicated ENL classes for beginning speakers. ENL teachers also visit classes to provide extra support for students learning English. Roughly half of all classes are taught by two teachers, one certified in the subject taught and the other certified in special education. ENL and special education teachers work closely together to plan lessons.
Building & Facilities: Leaders is one of five schools in the Lafayette Educational Campus. All schools share use of the building’s two gymnasiums, outdoor athletic fields and renovated auditorium. Students may participate in campus-wide sports teams.
College & Career: As a FutureReadyNYC school, students may choose career paths like technology or healthcare, giving them hands-on internships, certifications, and mentorship to prepare for college or work after graduation. There is a fulltime college counselor who meets with each student and family multiple times before graduation. Students visit colleges and get support throughout the college admissions process in Crew. Eleventh-graders take a college essay writing class and explore career options through paid internships. (Laura Zingmond, web reports and interview, August 2024)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Physics
Advanced Foreign Language
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
Not offered in 2021-21College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLeaders High School (L34A)
Program Description:
Leaders High School is a NYC Outward Bound School implementing the EL Education model (see www.nycoutwardbound.org and eleducation.org). Leaders uses hands-on learning that has real-world application to ignite a joy for learning and discovery in our students. At our school, leadership, active citizenship, and character development go hand in hand with academic rigor and challenge.
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL teams
Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Table Tennis, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Cricket
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
2630 Benson Avenue
Brooklyn
NY
11214
Trains: to Bay 50th St; to 86th St
Buses: B1, B3, B4, B6, B64, B82, B82-SBS, X28, X38
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the Lafayette Educational Campus with four other schools
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