South Bronx Community Charter High School
This spirited new school has just completed its first year with a lively curriculum that balances academics, activism, and individual support. Every student gets a Chromebook computer to access textbooks and other course materials.
The school occupies its own floor in Boricua College’s shiny new tower in Morrisania, where 44% of families live in poverty, and draws most of its students from the neighborhood. A high adult-to-student ratio — and a highly bilingual staff — ensures that kids get plenty of targeted attention during the school day. That makes them eager to come to class: the school notched a 95% attendance rate last year and had zero suspensions.
A typical day at SBC runs until 4 p.m. and includes equal amounts of social, emotional, and academic learning. Along with interdisciplinary core classes and arts or special-interest electives, students are scheduled for daily one-on-one tutoring sessions and group mentoring and advisement meetings. Each day ends with a “closing circle” ceremony for the whole school; brotherhood and sisterhood groups meet weekly to build peer relationships.
Project-based learning is the norm and frequently involves the surrounding community. Last year, after reading “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, students surveyed neighbors’ conceptions of “the American Dream,” then mounted a multimedia exhibition at the Bronx Museum of the Arts with video interviews, infographic data, and readings of original student works. An improv class based on the MTV show “Wild ‘n Out” builds teamwork, poise, and self-esteem — and scored a coup when its video invitation, posted to social media, spurred host Nick Cannon to pay the novice comics a visit.
Kids explore college campuses starting in their freshman year. The curriculum is expanding into AP and dual-enrollment college classes as upper grades are