Our Insights
What’s Special
Pioneer in “inclusion” of students with special needs
The Downside
Drab building with narrow halls and small gymnasium
Brooklyn Studio Secondary School, a combined middle and high school in the heart of Bensonhurst, has arts programs and a strong sense of community that attract many students from the surrounding area. The school has long been known for its commitment to mixing students with special needs and their general education peers in classes with two teachers. Its biggest drawback may be its somewhat dingy, outdated facility.
Brooklyn Studio offers opportunities in the arts for students who may not want to audition or attend one of the city's more high-intensity arts schools.
Middle school students pick a concentration, called a “talent,” in dance, instrumental music, visual arts or theater. High school students concentrate on music or art. Art includes traditional studio art as well as computer graphics, digital photography, animation and web design. Budding musicians study woodwind, brass or percussion instruments and participate in concert bands. The dance program is open to boys and girls in grades 6 through 12.
The school is proudly ethnically diverse, according to the CEP (Comprehensive Educational Plan). The numbers of students learning English has grown in recent years. Each month students celebrate a different culture represented among the student body; events may focus on Russian or African American cultures, for example.
Brooklyn Studio is small enough to offer personal attention yet large enough to offer some variety. High school students who do not want to take a full arts sequence may take individual courses as electives. And Brooklyn Studio's many sports teams have traditionally been fairly accessible. The high school offers a full academic program with four years of math and science, as well as three years of Spanish and Italian. Students may take college courses in affiliation with St. Francis College and CUNY College Now.
The building is old, with few frills and tending toward drab. Hallways are narrow. The gymnasium is small. Middle and high schools are fairly separate. Students in each eat lunch at their own times and use different floors of the building.
Students keep the same guidance counselor for their four years of high school, and that counselor also handles college counseling. Students go on to two- and four-year CUNY and SUNY schools as well as private colleges.
Special education: Brooklyn Studio has a long history of serving children with special needs using the ICT (Integrated co-Teaching) model. In this approach, children with special needs are placed in classrooms with their general ed peers, and two teachers, one of whom is trained to teach special education. (Lydie Raschka, DOE data and reports, November 2018)
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School Stats
Is this school safe and well-run?
From the 2022-2023 NYC School Survey
From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card
From this school's most recent Quality Review Report
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
How do students perform academically?
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
Who does this school serve?
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide
How does this school serve special populations?
From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report
From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryInstrumental Music (K90H)
Program Description:
Small group instruction on band instruments. Participation in concert bands. Electives in Music Theory, Music History, Sight-Singing. Preparation for outside performances. Evaluations of solo and ensemble work.
Digital Communications and Media (K90J)
Program Description:
A career-based, interactive technology program with an emphasis on fine arts, computer graphics, digital photography/filmmaking, web design, and internships.
Brooklyn Studio Secondary School D75 Inclusion Program (K90U)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Italian, Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Macroeconomics, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, Calculus (Advanced Math), Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Other (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Handball, Soccer
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Bowling, Handball, Soccer, Softball
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
8310 21St Avenue
Brooklyn
NY
11214
Trains: to 20th Av
Buses: B1, B4, B6, B64, B8, B82, B82-SBS
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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