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Our Insights

What’s Special

Good advice on college admissions

The Downside

Shrinking enrollment, poor academic performance

Modeled on the original Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem, FDA VII is a tiny high school dedicated to preparing children from low-income neighborhoods for higher education. However, academic achievement is low, and the school’s enrollment has shrunk from more than 400 students to about 150 over the past decade.

Students arrive with poor academic skills, and attendance is poor. Barely half of the students graduate on time. On the positive side, students feel safe. Those who are on track to graduate say they get good advice on college admissions, according to the city’s Quality Review.

Housed in a former elementary school building, FDA VII shares space with Teachers Prep. The two schools also share sports teams. (Clara Hemphill, web reports, December 2018)

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School Stats

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

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
94%
Average daily attendance
 
91%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
32%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
92%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
92%
From the 2022-23 School Quality Guide and 2022-23 NYC School Survey

Students

244
Number of students
Citywide Average is 617

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
93%
Students with disabilities
 
30%
Multilingual learners
 
9%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
1%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
83%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
50%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
39%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
78%
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
94%
16.7
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
85
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 191
How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
50%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2022-23 NYC School Survey, 2022-23 School Quality Guide, 2021-22 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2023 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Advanced Courses

Which students have access to advanced courses at this school? Learn more

Calculus

Not offered in 2021-21

Computer Science

 
2%

Physics

Not offered in 2021-21

Advanced Foreign Language

Not offered in 2021-21

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
8%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
37%

Music

 
100%
From unpublished, anonymized data from the 2021-22 school year provided by the New York State Education Department, brought to you by

College Readiness

School
Citywide
How many students graduate with test scores high enough to enroll at CUNY without remedial help?
 
44%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
66%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
42%
From the 2020-21 and 2022-23 School Quality Guide

How many graduates who are eligible received Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funding to attend a NYS college?
 
41%
This shows how well this school supports low-income students to get funding for college.
How many of those TAP recipients made it through college? Learn more
From unpublished, anonymized student-level data for the class of 2016-17 provided by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in coordination with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), brought to you by
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
100%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought to you by Visit Understanding FAFSA for help with the FAFSA and financial aid.
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

College Preparation Program (K80X)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Intensive academic program focused on English language arts, communications, mathematics, journalism, public speaking, dance, and art. College preparatory advisory in grade 10.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Art History, AP Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography, Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Uncredited])

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Double Dutch

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

226 Bristol Street
Brooklyn NY 11212

Trains: 3 Line to Rockaway Av

Buses: B12, B14, B15, B60, B7


Contact

Principal: Tamika Matheson

Parent Coordinator: Michelle Armstrong

Phone: 718-485-3789

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with Teachers Prep HS

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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