Corona Arts & Sciences Academy

With a high attendance rate, a nice array of arts and enrichment activities and a friendly vibe, Corona Arts and Sciences Academy (CASA) is a welcome addition to overcrowded District 24. Opened in 2013, the school is very attuned to the needs of its students, most of whom speak Spanish at home. The school has a Spanish-English dual-language program and provides lots of support to it many English Language learners.

In designing the school, founding principal Beth Hert tapped into her prior experience as an assistant principal at IS 61, Leonardo da Vinci School, where she oversaw English instruction and the school's talent program. Sixth-graders rotate through talent classes in several areas: theater, music, visual arts, web design and Latin American culture. In 7th grade, students focus on two talents for the year; in 8th grade they concentrate in one.

Teachers collaborate to create their own English curriculum rather than relying on a scripted lessons. Writing is emphasized throughout the subjects. In English, they outline and write multiple drafts of essays before achieving a polished piece. In social studies they may tackle creative assignments such as creating a mock newspaper from the Revolutionary War period, complete with articles and editorials opposing or supporting Englands rule of the colonies.

The tone throughout the school is calm and supportive. Many teachers also open their rooms during lunchtime for students who need a quiet place to hangout. In an art class we visited, soft music played as students painted self portraits in the style of artists such as Van Gogh and Monet.

To make a large school feel smaller, students are divided into small learning communities (SLC), each housed on its own floor and led by an assistant principal. The core academics and offerings are the same in all SLCs, though the dual language program is concentrated in one.

All students study Spanish, either as a second language or as part of the dual language program. Dual language students study all subjects in both languages on alternating days in addition to taking a dedicated English class daily.

Group work is a staple of instruction in all classes, and teachers weave in time for independent work and class-wide discussions too. Students work together to solve math problems, discuss readings and complete projects. In several classes we visited, we observed students critiquing each others work, pointing out low areas that need improvement and glow areas, where students excelled.

To bolster math achievement, which lags behind performance in English, the school adopted the Big Ideas program, which encourages children to understand concepts while gaining computational accuracy. For added practice, teachers supplement with online assignments via Khan Academy, tailored to each students skill levels. All students study algebra in the 8th grade, though not everyone takes the Regents exam.

High performing students take up to three Regents exams by the end of 8th grade: algebra, living environment and United States history.

There are plenty of opportunities for students to participate in sports and clubs. The Child Center of New York sponsors onsite activities after school and during school breaks. School clubs include home-grown options such as guitar, art, sports, math, and newcomers (for recent immigrants) as well activities through outside organizations such as Broadway Juniors, Row NYC and animation taught at the Museum of the Moving Image.

In 2016 the school moved into the Gabriela Mistral Campus, a new, airy building named in honor of the Chilean author who was the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize in literature.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: In addition to SETSS there are ICT (team-taught) and self-contained classes for special needs students only. Several, full-time English-as-new-language teachers work with English language learners on an individual basis and in small-groups.

ADMISSIONS: Zoned program. (Laura Zingmond, January 2017)