• Category 1

    Selected in 2020

  • Grades: 6 - 8
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 8,000,000
    Student Enrollment: 297
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 37%
    White/Caucasian: 10%
    Hispanic: 37%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 14%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:15
    % Reduced Lunch: 70%
    % ELL Learners: 5%
    Founded: 2017
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Nicholas Frangella
  • CONTACT:
    21 Hinckley Place
    Brooklyn, NY 11218
    929-397-9200
    mlopezurena@schools.nyc.gov
Middle School 890
Brooklyn, NY
Middle School 890 is a place of learning where students' talents are appreciated and nurtured.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
As a Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excellence (PROSE) school, school leaders
and staff design teacher-led professional development connected to the school’s instructional
focus. The staff voted to have hour long class periods, later entry and dismissal times, and daily
advisory periods. This allows for flexibility in teacher collaboration time, including weekly common
planning time and weekly professional learning centering on topics such as data analysis or
positive behavior supports. School leaders and teacher leaders review student performance data
and staff responses on the professional learning survey completed twice a year. This analysis of
the data along with the survey results is used to adjust the professional learning calendar
throughout the year. One example of an adjustment made to the professional learning calendar
included additional time spent on questioning and assessment techniques.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Middle School 890 is a place of learning where students' talents are appreciated and nurtured. Students exhibit a genuine enthusiasm for learning and are provided with strategically planned opportunities for enrichment that foster enjoyment and engagement. Teachers work collaboratively to ensure that content is closely aligned to rigorous standards and to the real world. Parents are actively involved in the planning and delivery of enrichment opportunities. The role of the student is transformed from one of lesson-learner to firsthand investigator of knowledge. All members of the school community – from students and teachers to administration and families – are viewed as learners and commit to deepen their understanding of the world to ultimately make it a better place.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
Middle School 890 is a small, tight-knit learning community that is
geared toward student-centered learning and preparation for the
real-world through the School-wide Enrichment Model (SEM). We offer a range of
academic enrichment opportunities and students have the
opportunity of taking advanced courses resulting in high school credits, including Algebra 1, Living Environment,
Earth Science and Spanish Language Proficiency. Students have a
daily advisory period to focus on social-emotional development in a
small group setting. We have a robust arts program that includes
dance, theater, general music, violin, guitar and visual art. Through
partnerships with Expeditionary Learning, NYU Tandon School of
Engineering, and Chess in the Schools, students have
the opportunity to explore their interests in a fun and engaging
environment - which is evidenced by one of the highest attendance
rates in the district and city and above-average scores on New York
State ELA and Math exams.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
In addition to the online grading system used across the school, teachers use data binders as well as a digital tracking document, progress monitoring occurs throughout the year, with the goals and measures used to assess student progress tracked and reviewed by the staff on a regular basis. Students often speak about how the school is preparing them for the next grade level through high school and college visits as well as through
information presented during their daily advisory, including a review of their academic progress.
They also discussed how their access to a variety of enrichment electives, such as SPARK
classes focused on STEM-based subjects such as Food Science, Robotics, and Urban Agriculture
and elective classes such as Korean Language, Latin Dance, Chess, Art Studio, and Choir. Moreover, structures such as advisory and peer tutoring are
preparing them for the next level.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Students reported that there is at least one adult who knows them well. Students also reported
they feel safe at the school, and, if there is a disagreement between students, they are
comfortable speaking to the dean, counselor, or other staff member to help resolve the problem.
The school has a school culture coordinator and a positive behavior teacher team that facilitate
workshops around positive behavior management and the behavior matrix. Students also elect
student government representatives each year who meet weekly with the school culture
coordinator to plan school events based on student interest and build a supportive school
culture. Consequently, the social-emotional needs of students are met through multiple staff
members who coordinate and support the development and advisement of students.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2020

  • Grades: 6 - 8
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 8,000,000
    Student Enrollment: 297
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 37%
    White/Caucasian: 10%
    Hispanic: 37%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 14%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:15
    % Reduced Lunch: 70%
    % ELL Learners: 5%
    Founded: 2017
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Nicholas Frangella
  • CONTACT:
    21 Hinckley Place
    Brooklyn, NY 11218
    929-397-9200
    mlopezurena@schools.nyc.gov