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Our Insights

What’s Special

Hydroponic gardening, college trips

The Downside

Poor attendance

Brooklyn Democracy Academy, a transfer school, caters to students over the age of 16 who have struggled in traditional high schools but still want a high school diploma. Classes are small, between 20 to 25 students, and the school day runs a little longer than at most schools.

Students plant lettuce, cabbage and bok choy in water in the school’s hydroponics lab, according to the yearly plan. They learn chemistry, life science and math as they garden. Teachers try to make classes interesting to keep teens engaged so they finish school, according to the mission statement on the New Visions website. New Visions has created more than 100 schools for the city’s highest-needs students.

Students face many challenges. Some come in without any high school credits, while others arrive with just a few credits needed to graduate. Counselors from the JCCA (Jewish Child Care Association) work one-on-one with students, monitoring attendance, making home visits and arranging for college guidance and visits. Many students get paid internships at local businesses and organizations.

Despite these efforts to engage students, attendance is well below the citywide average. Some students work online from home if they find getting to school difficult because of illness, a family member’s illness, or if they have given birth, according to the yearly plan.

Students practice for college tests three hours a week during the school day. They go on college trips to St. John’s University, Hofstra, Delaware State University and Nassau Community College, among others. Some go to two- or four-year colleges and some find jobs after graduation. 

In addition to core academics, activities include boys’ and girls’ basketball, chess club, cheerleading, step team, annual talent and fashion shows, choir and theater, according to the yearly plan.

A center for parents and guardians opened in the school building in 2017. It offers financial, immigration, education, health and wellness services.

Brooklyn Democracy shares a building with another transfer school, Metropolitan Diploma Plus; a middle school, Kappa V; and an elementary school, Leadership Prep Brownsville Charter.

[photo of a college trip from the school's Facebook page] (Lydie Raschka, web reports, March 2018)

 

 

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School Stats

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

Academics

School
Citywide
Transfer school graduation rate
 
59%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
48%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
100%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
100%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

161
Number of students
Citywide Average is 599

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
86%
Students with disabilities
 
35%
Multilingual learners
 
7%
From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
0%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
90%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
27%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
17%
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey and 2019-20 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
100%
2.5
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
65
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 157

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
73%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey, 2021-22 School Quality Guide, 2019-20 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2021 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 2019-20

Computer Science

 
36%

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

Not offered in 2019-20

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
100%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
37%

Music

 
2%
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?
 
8%
From the 2020-21 and 2021-22 School Quality Guide
How many students filled out a FAFSA form by the end of their senior year?
 
33%
From the 2022-23 FAFSA data released by Federal Student Aid, brought you by
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

Brooklyn Democracy Academy (L79A)

Admissions Method: Transfer

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Statistics, AP United States History, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Basketball

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

985 Rockaway Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11212

Trains: 3 Line to Rockaway Av; L Line to New Lots Av

Buses: B15, B35, B60, B8


Contact

Principal: Yesenia Peralta

Parent Coordinator: Glen James

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with three other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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