Robert H. Goddard High School of Communication Arts and Technology

Robert H. Goddard High School of Communication Arts and Technology is a nicely integrated, mid-sized school that offers a good array of arts and technology classes but also a strong foundation in math, science, reading, writing and research.

The school, founded in 2008, offers other perks, too, such as fish farming and hydroponics, theater and museum visits, and trips to science laboratories.

Classrooms are equipped with enough computers for every student, thanks to a partnership with Apple Computers. Children get to know Apple MacBook Pros, 3-D printers, digital Elmo computers and Photoshop. In the digital art studio and science lab teens build and operate robots and develop projects for the science fair.

The day starts early, at 7 a.m. and yet despite the early start the attendance rate is good. Teachers mix up class lectures with videos, audio clips and web-based activities to keep kids interested and engaged, according to the comprehensive educational plan (CEP).

Principal Joseph Birgeles, who taught social studies in the middle school, is respected by staff and no-nonsense when it comes to academics. In his letter to parents on the school website he said children must pass their classes in order to attend a school dance or senior event, and do lunchtime detention if they are late to school.

Every child must take four years of math and science. A selection of courses listed on the website includes Greek mythology, health in film, the history of Latin America, coding and journalism. Studio art and digital art are among the offerings. The art department has its own website with samples of student work.

Teachers, most of whom have more than three years of teaching experience, keep close tabs on children’s academic progress. They frequently assess students’ reading levels to make sure they are reading books they can understand. Extra help is offered during lunch and after school in a credit recovery program. Ninth grade teachers meet weekly to make sure incoming students are on-track.

The high school shares a building with a middle school of the same name, the Robert H. Goddard School. There are sports teams, and clubs, including chess, cheerleading and drama, but it is not the exhaustive list of clubs a larger school would be able to offer.

Three guidance counselors help with college admissions. Most children attend City University of New York two-year and four-year colleges.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: Goddard is proud of how it serves children with special needs and teens learning to speak English, most of whom graduate on time. Teachers tailor class assignment and homework to individual abilities. They offer summer tutoring for exam prep, vocabulary instruction, reading fluency, comprehension and writing instruction.

ADMISSIONS: Educational option. The school seeks a range of low-, middle- and high-performers. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and DOE data, August 2018)

[Photo: Tdorante10, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]