“Accuracy is key” could easily be the motto of Bushwick Leaders’ High School for Academic Excellence. Welcome to a school with a fascinating story. Bushwick Leaders’ High School for Academic Excellence stands as a beacon of learning. It fosters critical thinking.
Initially located at 271 Melrose Street, Bushwick Leaders High School opened in 2002. It started small. The school only served ninth graders. Fewer than 100 students were enrolled. Over time, the school expanded. It served students from ninth through twelfth grade. Peak enrollment reached over 400 students.
Catherine Reilly was the creator and principal of Bushwick Leaders. She stepped down in 2020. In 2019, the high school faced challenges. Low state test scores, especially in math, placed it on the state status list. It was announced that the school would close in 2022. It would merge with neighboring schools.
Bushwick Leaders High School has a range of advanced courses. Students could take AP Spanish, AP Statistics, and AP Chemistry. These courses provided opportunities for advanced learning.
Bushwick Leaders High School strives to give individual attention to students. These students may have struggled in middle school. The goal is to help them catch up and graduate. Many students speak Spanish at home. The school introduced a dual language Spanish program in 2018. Bushwick Leaders primarily serves the Bushwick community. Some students travel from other neighborhoods. These include East New York, Brownsville, and Williamsburg.
Teachers schedule extra long periods for math and reading. This boosts the skills of incoming students. These students have often fallen behind in middle school. Attendance has been a challenge. More than half the students miss at least a month of school.
Students are placed in small advisory groups for extra support. These groups are gender-based. Good Shepherd Services offers tutoring during and after school. They also provide instruction in small groups. Gym, art, music, boxing, and dance classes are available.
Opened in 2003, Bushwick Leaders is affiliated with East Brooklyn Congregations. This consortium of churches and homeowners’ associations works to rebuild communities. Long-time principal Catherine Reilly dedicated over 30 years to the neighborhood. She served as an educator, guidance counselor, advocate, and principal.
The school is housed in a 19th-century building. It once served as a home for the aged of the Roman Catholic Little Sisters of Sorrow. The building has renovated science labs. It also features a library with a multimedia theater and wireless laptops. The library is named after Frank J. Bisignano. He helped raise money for the school.
Today Bushwick Leaders High School has a cutting-edge Career and Technical Education program. It is focused on Data Science. This program combines business, statistics, and computer science. The program enables students to access high-quality careers. It provides students with long-term economic security. Bushwick Leaders was the first school in New York State to have such a program approved.
Originally St. Augustine’s Home for the Aged, the building has undergone many changes. It now stands as Bushwick Leaders’ High School for Academic Excellence. A place where futures are shaped and leaders are made.