Frequently Asked Questions about Brooklyn Collaborative (15K448)
What are the school hours?
School begins at 8:45 and ends at 3:05. Morning recess and breakfast begin at 8:15 am.
How do you get to Brooklyn Collaborative on public transportation?
Our address is 610 Henry Street in Brooklyn. We are located near the Carroll Street F/G train station.
How many students are in each class?
In our Lower Grades classes (6-8th grade), there are about 25 students. In our Upper Grades classes (9th-12th grade), there are about 28 students. In all ICT classes, there are two teachers.
How many seats are available for Grade 6? How about Grade 9?
There are 90 seats available for grade 6. Approximately 24 of these are reserved for students with IEPs. Because the majority of our 8th graders continue with us into 9th grade, there are usually about 40 seats available for new 9th graders.
How is instructional time structured?
All classes meet daily for 47 minutes. Students have one period of core classes every day (Math, Science, ELA, and Social Studies). For lower grades students, there is an additional period of ELA each day to support our commitment to reading, writing and research. Monthly, the normal instructional schedule is suspended for Expeditionary Thursdays where students complete academic fieldwork in trips outside the building.
How much homework is given on an average night?
We believe that HW should never be busy work but should instead be targeted reinforcement of skills learned in class or work towards a major project or PBAT. All students are expected to read for at least 30 minutes a night. All students have access to IXL Math online (an independent math study program) – we recommend 30 min a night of IXL practice.
What does PBAT stand for? What is a Mastery Passage PBAT? What is a Roundtable?
PBAT stands for Performance Based Assessment Task. PBATs are papers written in all core classes each year. Mastery Passage PBATs are completed in 11th/12th grade and replace Regents as a graduation requirement. We have a Regents waiver as part of the NYS Performance Standards Consortium. Roundtables are final presentations of learning. They are an authentic and powerful way for our students to demonstrate what they have learned. All PBATs end in roundtables where students present in groups of 3-5 to an outside evaluator.
Is there an out-to-lunch policy?
Yes, with teacher and parent permission, lower grades students can go out to lunch. In the upper grades, we have an open campus for lunch in Grades 10-12. Grade 9 students earn the out-to-lunch privilege based on their punctuality to their Pd 7 class.
What types of social/ emotional supports are available for students?
All students participate in our advisory, called Crew, for 30 minutes each day. In crew, the crew leader plans circles and other activities to support SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) growth. In addition, our counseling department meets regularly with students who need more support. We also partner with a variety of community based organizations such as Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility to strengthen supports for all students.
What types of health supports are available for students?
We have a full-time DOE nurse in Rm 105. We also have a full-service School Based Health Center operated by SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Rm 209. Services at the school-based health center include: physical exams, mental health services, urgent care, health education and counseling, first aid, immunizations (such as Influenza, Tetanus/Pertussis & Meningococcal), prescriptions, asthma and diabetes management, age appropriate reproductive health care, and screening for vision, hearing, dental, and asthma.
What is mastery grading?
Mastery based grading means that our teachers track student learning towards learning targets in each class. These targets give us, and families, a clear understanding of the learning happening in each class and what work a student still needs to do to master course content and skills. All core classes utilize a mastery grading system where grades start at “Not Yet” (NY) and move up. We use iO classroom/Pupil Path online grading system. We partner with the DOE Mastery Collaborative for professional development.
What are Student Led Conferences?
Student Led conferences (SLCs) occur twice a year in fall and spring. During SLCs, the student leads a conversation with his/her family with support from the crew leader. Students present examples of their academic work, discuss their progress on course learning targets, and collaborate on an action plan to achieve increased mastery.
What afterschool programming is offered?
Yes, through a partnership with the YWCA, we offer daily, free after school until 6pm for our lower grades students. In after school, students have supportive HW help and enrichment opportunities. We have a variety of afterschool clubs and classes through partnerships such as Reelworks.
What are restorative practices?
Restorative practices are an array of tools for creating a safe, respectful community and building positive connections among community members, including circles, explicit instruction, and conferences. We use restorative practices to help students develop skills in relating well to others and in dealing with any conflicts that may arise between students or in the classroom.
How does the school handle incidents of bullying?
A school that is physically and emotionally safe is necessary for all students to achieve at their highest levels. Bullying is entirely contrary to our core values. All members of the school community have the right to work and learn in a secure and caring environment. They also have a responsibility to contribute, in whatever way they can, to the protection and maintenance of such an environment. All staff are trained to respond to bullying and follow our anti-bullying policy which can be found on our school website (bcs448.org).
What is the graduation rate?
Our average 4-year high school graduation rate is 90%, with 100% of our graduating seniors admitted to college each year.
What colleges do our graduates attend?
100% of students in the Class of 2018 were admitted to multiple colleges, with over 50% of graduates matriculating at 4-year colleges. Some schools our graduates have attended are: Cornell, NYC, Skidmore, Bard, Barnard, and all schools in the CUNY and SUNY system.
What is the athletic program?
BCS is a member of the citywide Public School Athletic League (PSAL) where our athletic department actively coordinates interscholastic competitions with other New York City public schools. We provide athletic opportunities in MS CHAMPS sports (Fitness, Soccer, Basketball) and HS PSAL – Girls: Basketball, Softball, Volleyball and Boys: Baseball, Basketball, Soccer. All students take PE every semester with a focus on physical fitness, team sports, and character development. Our student athletes who wish to play sports in college are eligible to apply to NCAA Division III schools. These institutions provide an integrated college experience that focuses on academic success while offering competitive athletics and meaningful non-athletics opportunities. While these institutions do not offer athletically related financial aid, most student athletes receive some form of academic grant or need-based scholarship. You may view NCAA Division III facts here & list of Division III schools here, including some of the most selective public & private institutions in the U.S.
What is the CEEB Code?
Our CEEB code is 330849.