“Remember South Shore?” someone asks. That question lingers in the air as we stand before what was once South Shore High School. It is located at 6565 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn. The school opened its doors in 1970. It aimed to accommodate a massive student body.
South Shore High School quickly became one of the largest in the US. In the early 1970s, enrollment peaked at 6,800 students. It was the second-largest high school in the United States then. Thirteen class periods were needed. Freshmen and sophomores attended classes in the afternoon and early evening. Juniors and seniors were instructed in the early to late morning. An evening adult education center opened in 1973.
South Shore High School was part of CUNY’s College Now program. Senior-year students could take courses for college credit on campus. Kingsborough Community College cooperated with the program.
While relatively problem-free in its early years, South Shore faced challenges. Interracial fighting marked the school’s opening month. Several student riots occurred during that first year. Max Bromer, the first principal, resigned. A riot broke out outside the school in June 1987. A student was shot and killed off campus in May 1990. Another was shot outside the school in July 1990. He died in the hospital days later. In September 1992, a student was stabbed to death in a stairwell.
Increased security problems led to South Shore High School’s closure. The final class graduated in June 2014. Today, the campus houses smaller schools. These include Brooklyn Theater Arts High School and Brooklyn Bridge Academy. Also on site are Brooklyn Generation School, Victory Collegiate High School and the Academy for Conservation and the Environment. The South Shore Young Adult Borough Center and a charter school also operate here.
Despite its challenges, South Shore High School produced notable alumni. These include freestyle singer Alisha and rapper Troy Ave. Film producer Michael De Luca and actress Annabella Sciorra also walked these halls. Comedian Vic DiBitetto and basketball player Kadary Richmond also attended.
The Brooklyn Comprehensive Night High School also operated on the campus. It started in 1970 and closed in 2014.
Today, the South Shore Educational Complex stands as a testament to change. The building is isolated from subway lines. Students pass through metal detectors to enter. But efforts are underway to improve the environment. A renovated auditorium opened in May 2012. It was a million-dollar project.
South Shore High School may be gone. But its history remains. It is a reminder of challenges and triumphs in New York City education.