Instructional Approach & Philosophy
At Bushwick Leaders’ High School, we have adopted competency-based education (CBE) as our instructional focus. CBE focuses on what students can demonstrate they know and can do. This is also what a student’s grade represents. See our grading policy here for more information about that. As part of our effort around implementation of CBE, we identified a set of competencies that every student will develop during their time with us. This includes the four 21st century skills: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity.
Developing these competencies prepares students for the challenges they will face in higher education and the workforce. Critical thinking enables students to analyze information, solve problems, and make informed decisions, which are vital skills in any academic or professional setting. Collaboration fosters teamwork and interpersonal skills, allowing students to work effectively with others to achieve common goals. Strong communication skills are crucial for articulating ideas clearly and persuasively, whether in writing or speaking. Finally, creativity encourages innovative thinking and adaptability, traits that are increasingly valued in today’s rapidly changing job market. By focusing on these competencies, we are not only preparing our students for academic success but also equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in their future careers and in life.
Core Curriculum
Core Curriculum includes courses in English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Students are expected to earn 8 credits in English, 6 credits in Mathematics, 6 credits in science and 8 credits in social studies in order to graduate with a Regents Diploma. We offer high school level as well as Advanced Placement courses in each of these subject areas. Additionally, students have the opportunity to take college level/college-credit bearing courses through CUNY Now.
A list of main curricula used by department is shared below. For a full list of English, mathematics, science and social studies courses offered at Bushwick Leaders High School see the Course Directory Page.
| Subject Area | Main Curricula |
|---|---|
| English | HMH Into Literature |
| Math | Illustrative Mathematics |
| Science | New Visions |
| Social Studies | New Visions |
Non-Core Curriculum
Non-core curriculum includes courses in art, languages other than English (LOTE) and physical education.
Students must earn 2 credits in Art, 2 credits in LOTE and 4 credits in physical education in order to graduate with a Regents Diploma. We offer advanced placement courses in Art and Spanish language and literature. Students also have the opportunity to graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma (LOTE) if they earn 6 credits in LOTE and pass the LOTE exam. Students can also graduate with a Seal of Biliteracy, which demonstrates proficiency in English and another target language (e.g. Spanish) if they complete a four-part capstone project.
A list of main curricula used by subject area is shared below. For a full list of art, LOTE and physical education courses offered at Bushwick Leaders High School see the Course Directory page.
| Subject Area | Main Curricula |
|---|---|
| Art | Teacher Created |
| LOTE | Teacher Created |
| Physical Ed. | Teacher Created |
Advisory (CCR and SEL) Curriculum
Advisory is a cornerstone of the student experience at Bushwick Leaders’ High School and where we deliver Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum (i.e. Circle Forward) to every single student. Advisory can best be described as a family made up of an advisor (teacher) and advisees (students) that meets every week (2 or 3 times a week) from freshman year until senior year. Advisory provides the time and space for students to form long lasting, positive relationships with peers and an adult, which research has shown is important to helping students succeed in high school. During advisory class students participate in a dialogue circle that develops the socio-emotional competencies of every student and creates a shared experience that helps foster a safe and supportive school environment.
Data Science CTE Program
Bushwick Leaders’ High School has developed a cutting-edge Career & Technical Education (CTE) program focused on Data Science that will ultimately enable students to access a high quality and satisfying career as well as provide students with long-term economic security. We are the first school in New York State to have such a program approved by the New York State Education Department.
Data science is a field in the technology sector that combines computer science, statistics and business to organize data, make meaning from it and guide decision making. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the number of data scientist jobs is expected to grow 22 percent over the next decade, must faster than the average growth rate for all jobs. The median salary for data scientists is $126,830 a year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To learn more about a career in data science see here. This article from Harvard Business Review is also very helpful in explaining the current state of the field.
Students in the Data Science CTE Program take the following 7 credit course sequence:
| Grade | Course(s) | Curricula |
|---|---|---|
| 9th Grade | Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles (2 credits) | Code HS |
| 10 Grade | Advanced Placement Statistics (2 credits) | Stats Medic |
| 11th Grade | Data Analytics (2 credits)Career & Financial Management (1 credit) | Google Data Analytics New York State CFM Curriculum |
In 12th graders students will focus on applying the skills learned during the 9th through 11th grade in the real world through Work Based Learning (WBL) experiences. This includes WBL experiences offered through the NYC Public Schools FutureReady NYC program. In 2022-23 our students were able to take advantage of paid WBL experiences at Google as part of this program.
Our CTE Data Science program will officially begin in the 2023-24 school year. 8th graders applying to high school will be able to apply to our program in the fall 2023 through the NYC Public Schools My Schools application: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/schools/high-school/32K556/. To learn more about CTE programs see this resource.
English Language Learners Supports & Services
English Language Learners (ELLs) receive instructional language supports from English as a New Language (ENL) teachers in content area classes like English and Social Studies throughout the school day. Our curriculum is built upon a teaching model that values students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds, providing space in the classroom for language experimentation and authentic communication opportunities among pairs and groups of learners. The diverse identities of our students are celebrated in the classroom as they acquire language skills that will support their academic and professional goals beyond high school. ELL students also receive daily “standalone” instruction in the four language competencies of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. These classes occur in a setting that is purely devoted to English as a New Language and students receive non-core curriculum credit for these classes.
Students in the ENL program are assessed yearly to monitor the progression of their language
acquisition will receive language support from ENL staff for two years after achieving the requirements for a Commanding Level of English language use. Students and families who are curious to learn more about the ENL program should contact our Assistant Principal, Carolyn Gabriel-Green.
Students with Disabilities Supports & Services
At BLHS we believe in providing our special education students with the supports and resources they need in order to demonstrate mastery in all subjects. Additionally, we believe in integrating our special education students with general education students to create an inclusive learning environment. This way all students are held to the same standards and expectations. We are an Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) school meaning that Special Education Students will be in the same classroom as General Education students Special Education students will receive instruction by one content teacher as well as a Special Education teacher in their 4 core subjects (math, ELA, science, and social studies).
Our school also provides Special education students with paraprofessionals (Health, Emotional Disturbance, Bilingual) if their IEP specifies it. Special Education students still need to pass 5 Regents exams by the end of their high school career (ELA, Algebra 1, Global studies, US History and Living Environment) in order to receive a Regents diploma. There is a Safety net option for sped students who do not meet the 65 Regents minimum where they can score from a 55-64 on the Regents and still graduate, but with a local diploma. Special Education Teachers will also be contacting all the freshman parents during the first weeks of school in order to hold a Reconvene Meeting so that all the freshman IEPs match the services that our high school provides.
The Special Education Team will also be completing the Annual Reviews of Special Education students each year by collecting Vocational Assessments from their parents, the students themselves as well as their teachers in order to write the most accurate IEP. Tri- annual meetings (happen every 3 years) will be held by the school psychologist (Ms. Murray) where she will be conducting a battery of tests in order to better assess the Special Education student.
College and Career Readiness Curriculum
At Bushwick Leaders’ High School, our goal is to ensure that all students are prepared for college and careers. To this end we have partnered with OneGoal to offer students an elective course that helps them explore their interests, explore career options and understand the college application process through an elective. Additionally, we offer a Career and Financial Management elective course that equips students with essential skills and knowledge to navigate the ever-changing landscape of careers and personal finance. Likewise, we offer the following advanced courses that help prepare students for the rigor of college:
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP Spanish Language and Culture
- AP Statistics
- AP Studio Art – 2D
- AP United Stated History
- AP World History: Modern
- Algebra II
- Chemistry
Lastly, we have a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in data science that prepares students to work in high paying technology sector. See the next section for more information about this ground-breaking program.