On the Brink of Restructuring and Potential Closing, a Brooklyn School Shines in Motivating Last-Chance Students

Known as a transfer high school, Bushwick Community admits only those teenagers who have failed elsewhere. Most students enter at age 17 or 18, and most have fewer than 10 credits. It is likely that the students will not graduate within six years of freshman year, which is the predominate metric the State Education Department considers. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed laying off the principal and half the teachers before it can reopen for the next school year. 

However, compared to other transfer schools, Bushwich Community been rated in having a 95 percent grade in improving student attendance, 90 percent for passing the English Regents exam and 100 percent for the math Regents. 

Now 20 years old with 46 high school credits, Bushwick Community student Aniah McAllister has a desire to attend college. “This school made realize,” she says, “that I am much better than I thought I was.” 

Question: How should the Education Department deal with transfer schools? What should be the metric to determine a school’s success?