Bronx Collaborative students are academic detectives, bringing New York City's unique resources and rich history into the classroom to investigate and solve real-world challenges.
Teachers connect students with community leaders, organizations, and professionals to collaborate on exciting projects. These real world teamwork experiences offer students feedback that prepares them for success in college and careers. Teachers and counselors know our families, recognize students' talents, and
support their needs from the first day of school to graduation. We prepare students for success after high school with special attention to preparing for four-year colleges. Restorative practices and social justice are key features of the school activities.
How can conceptual scaffolding focus students' independent work with higher-order depth of knowledge efforts?
Student Choice- Our faculty and students work closely together to create a full student-choice model for course selection in which students are able to choose from between 2 to 6 course options for any given requirement they may have. Our faculty custom-write all of their courses and engage in vertical planning like a college department might-- hiring to expand subject area sub-specialities and examining the range of offerings from which a student can choose. 9th grade students start with Intro courses and then select a range of courses throughout the four years that speak to areas of interest.
College Preparatory Environment- We have created a school structure that functions more like a liberal arts college. All classes are 90 minutes long and meet every other day-- preparing students to develop the study skills, endurance, and focus required for collegiate efforts. As a performance based school with a state Regents waiver, we are able to backward design all disciplines from the commencement requirements of comprehensive research/practicum papers and oral defense panels in each core discipline. To prepare students for the rigor of these graduation assignments, all four years at Bronx Collaborative provide class sessions engaging students to walk, talk, read, and write-- making sense of complex materials.
Restorative Practices- Our school puts social and emotional education at its heart-- using restorative practices and provide its faculty and student body with a clear sense of how we communicate and collaborate. A ladder of intervention is in place so students know where they stand when any community norms are broken. Faculty teach with community circles when applicable and faculty conduct their Advisory sessions as community circles.
Culture of Innovation- Bronx Collaborative Has been recognized for a strong culture of innovation being recognized both by our local department of education with a PROSE status and by our local school district having been asked to present at district and citywide conferences about innovative practices in teacher development and student-centered scheduling.