New Charter High School Rising at 1480 Atlantic
A new charter high school is nearing completion at 1480 Atlantic Avenue in Crown Heights. The 1,600-seat school, a joint venture between Achievement First and Uncommon Schools and funded in part by the Robin Hood Foundation, was designed by Robert A.M. Stern and Gensler. The facility will include six fully-equipped science labs, a 4,000-square-foot library…
A new charter high school is nearing completion at 1480 Atlantic Avenue in Crown Heights. The 1,600-seat school, a joint venture between Achievement First and Uncommon Schools and funded in part by the Robin Hood Foundation, was designed by Robert A.M. Stern and Gensler. The facility will include six fully-equipped science labs, a 4,000-square-foot library and two gyms and is scheduled to open in time for the 2010-11 academic year. Fantastic news! GMAP P*Shark DOB
Well, at least it’s ugly.
As for what do charter schools do different than public schools, I think the answers differ from school to school. I’m on the board of a charter school in another state. We are graduating our first class of high school students. 98% of our senior class does not have one parent with a college degree. So, for the last three years we have been taking our kids on college tours, introducing them to professionals in various fields so they learn about different types of jobs and carrers, teaching them about appropriate attire for various occasions (interviews, parties, work, etc.), and educating them about the application process for various colleges. For kids that are not college-bound we have been advising them on educational alternatives such as Americorps and the Student Conservation Association.
Once our kids got accepted to a school or program of study, we also matched them up with families in the towns where they will be going to school so they have someone local to call if there is an emergency, they need a hot meal, or want to do some laundry. For all of our kids that are going out of state, they will not be able to afford to go back and forth to school on breaks so these types of connections are key to their aclimating to new environments.
I’d like to think that this is the difference between charters and regular public schools. We’re free to deal with those issues that affect achievement, but aren’t directly related to education in a way that traditional public schools are not.
Outsourced union busting
Rob, well I guess it helps that my co-op complex is gated…lol. Nevertheless, the sidewalks by the school are for the most part, always clean. I really dont have an issue with litter on my block.
well duh that’s true. if you are at work during the day you will be fine. just expect to come home and find trash strewn all over your property (and perhaps even some litter tickets!) there’s always people complaining about that when they live near a school.
*rob*
Violet, I get that when school is beginning and getting out, that kids can be loud. Also there will be too many buses and cars in the area at those times. But aside from that, and especially if one works away from home, I have to agree with aj, I don’t see what’s so bad.
Granted, this school is enormous, and if I lived directly across the street, in that beautiful brick house, I’d probably be howling about my sunlight and view. But these kids are chosen to be here, they are motivated, their parents are probably active and motivated towards their kids’ success, so these kids will not be egging cars, or stealing hubcaps, or worse. I think you will find them to be good neighbors.
whats so bad about living across the street from a school? i live across the street from one (junior high) and its no issue to me at all. when the kids are at school, im at work, and there is no school on weekends. so living by a school never affects me.
Violet, unless you actually work at the school, go to the school, or a pedophile, there is nothing positive about living next to a school.
*rob*
The school’s address is actually 1485 Pacific Street – the entrance is on Pacific and this is the view of the back of the building. There will also be a rooftop sports field.
In addition to uniforms, the school day will also be longer than regular public schools (from 7:45am – 4:45pm or later if a student doesn’t finish his homework or if he gets in trouble). Here is their website http://www.uncommonschools.org/chs/aboutUs/.
I understand why this might be good if you have a child, and of course it is good for our community generally to have young people striving to go to college.
But on a completely different level, if you lived nearby how would you feel? I’m not being snarky – we’re really trying to see the bright side of living near a huge high school! Please help us think of good things about living near the new CHCS that make this terrific news for us neighbors?