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Our Insights

What’s Special

Instrumental music, computer science, law enforcement

The Downside

Many graduates need extra help in college

The East Williamsburg Scholars Academy is a small high school where students can play in a band (concert, jazz, marching), or study computer science or law enforcement. St. Nick’s Alliance, a community organization has a important presence in the school, providing academic support and social services to students. Academically the school has a way to go, but it is moving in the right direction. After a period of decline, enrollment is rising again. The four-year graduation rate is inching up. However, most graduates need to take remedial courses in college to catch up. 

Academics & Instruction: Students often work in small groups on hands-on projects and tasks as the teacher circulates to provide support. The school serves many students learning English. Teachers increasingly focus on literacy skills like how to decode words, build vocabulary, and read fluently. Students who struggle may attend after school tutoring sessions and a Saturday academy to recover credits and make up labs. The school strongly encourages students to take four years of math and science. It offers advanced courses and Advanced Placement courses. 

Culture & Environment: Staff strive to incorporate and reflect students’ stories and cultures in their lessons. In our comments section, a student wrote, “As a Muslim student, I feel comfortable asking for a place to do the important religious activities I have to do.” 

The restorative justice program focuses on resolving conflicts in a respectful manner. Students gather in “restorative circles” to connect with each other in a positive way, build relationships, and to better understand the consequences of their actions. In recent years, the school has increased social worker support for students (and staff), offering individual assistance as needed. 

Themes & Programs: The school offers three pathways: the law enforcement program, covering criminal justice, criminology, police science, and offering internship opportunities; the instrumental music program for all skill levels; and the computer science program with a focus on coding, cyber-security, math and logic.

Special Education & English as a New Language: In many classes, a general education teacher and bilingual teacher co-teach, tailoring instruction to students’ IEPs (individual education plans). Teachers modify lesson content to ensure everyone can grasp the material. 

Building & Facilities: East Williamsburg shares the Grand Street Educational Campus with Progress High School for Professional Careers and the High School for Enterprise, Business and Technology. The schools collaborate on performance groups and sports teams. Students hold mock trials and moot court in a renovated courtroom. The building has a large auditorium and five gymnasiums, a weight room, plus a field for football, baseball, softball, soccer, and more. A music wing has four classrooms for various band classes (i.e. modern, jazz, marching). 

College & Career: There is a college advisor who engages in one-on-one discussions about college plans, scholarships, and financial aid. Students attend college and career fairs to meet representatives and explore options, and they visit colleges. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and responses to a questionnaire, February 2024) 

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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?
 
84%
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
 
82%
Average daily attendance
 
85%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
42%
From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide and 2020-21 NYC School Survey

Students

482
Number of students
Citywide Average is 615

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
86%
Students with disabilities
 
19%
Multilingual learners
 
43%
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?
 
85%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
41%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
32%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
89%
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?
 
93%
8.5
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 7
233
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?
 
87%
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

 
3%

Computer Science

 
2%

Physics

Not offered in 2019-20

Advanced Foreign Language

 
11%

AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science

 
25%

AP/IB Math or Science

 
5%

Music

 
89%
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?
 
30%
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
49%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
40%
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?
 
53%
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

Law Enforcement Academy (K86A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Specialized Law Enforcement Academy program. Program includes courses in criminal justice, criminology, police science, forensics, constitutional law, and family & civil law. Activities include annual moot court and mock trial competitions, internships, and community service opportunities. Partnerships include John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Fordham Law School, Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, NYC Council, U.S Probations, U.S. District Court, and many more.

Computer Forensics Program (K86B)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Program is a combination of law and technology sequenced courses preparing students to pursue careers in computer forensics and cyber-security. Computer forensics courses involve identifying, preserving, analyzing and presenting digital evidence and cyber-security technology include processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. Partnerships include LIU, PACE University, Microsoft, and many more.

Instrumental Music (K86C)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

This programs offers courses in concert bands, jazz bands, chamber groups and music history which result in a 10-credit sequence. This sequence fulfills the requirements for the Advanced Regents Diploma.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP World History: Modern, Other (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Handball, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Handball, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Golf

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

850 Grand Street
Brooklyn NY 11211

Trains: L Line to Grand St

Buses: B24, B43, B60, Q54, Q59


Contact

Principal: Rosemary Vega

Parent Coordinator: Pamela Delgado

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Grand Street Educational Campus with two other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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