It has been exactly two decades since a small charter school located in the South Bronx opened its first classes. By all accounts, It was not a conventional educational center.
This educational proposal appeared in this community, with an innovative method that went beyond children sitting at desks listening to their teachers. From day one, they were surrounded by musical instruments, also motivated to make theatrical performances, to paint, to create.
In short, that “little school” as some called it, began to expose its enrollees to the visual arts, music, theater and dance… In short, an experience that, for its current directors, has been the key to the academic success of hundreds of children and young people, who have mostly grown up in some of the most vulnerable counties in the country.
This is the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, defined as a creative home, which has promoted the development of thousands of professionals in all areas, both managerial, scientific, and artistic.
“One could have thought at the beginning that it was an arts school and that was that. !But not!We simply use the transformative tools that artistic creativity offers us, as a basis for us to Each student explores their own interests and achieves academic success.“explained the Puerto Rican Kathy Ortíz, director of this educational center.
Since 2002, Bronx Charter School for the Arts has ignited the creative impulse of nearly 5,000 students. Currently it is a school that offers training from primary through eighth grade.
Ortíz, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, grew up in that same Big Apple community.
Although Salsa County has always been put on the map as one of the most dangerous and poorest locations in the country,This educator is excited to notice that this school is a “powerful” example of how Quality education can transform an entire community.
“It fills me with pride that our students have both academic and service tools, comparable with prestigious private schools in this city. We have achieved this from our vision of connection with our communities. We have graduated a generation of talent and leaders. We have shown that here, in the Bronx, there are wonderful experiences of all kinds”, she shared excitedly.
Today, Bronx Arts showcases partnerships with world-renowned organizations that allow their students to experience comprehensive immersion in a artistic programming including theater, dance, visual arts, music and acting.
In the catalog of artistic institutions that are involved in the annual programming of this charter school, there is The Bronx Conservatory of Music, The Harlem Classical Theatre, Lincoln Center Jazz and the NYC Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)among other.
two generations
He 72% of the students at this school are Hispanicand 25% African Americans.
This autonomous institution located in the New York City School District 8has already trained two generations of young people,from kindergarten to fifth grade. In 2018 he marked the opening of Bronx Arts Middle, grades six through eight.
“We celebrate that based on this creative energy, we are raising a generation that has the highest achievements in language and mathematics in this entire school district. During the toughest days of the pandemic, we optimize our study plan”, explained the teacher and director.
This campus is equipped to insert English language learners in a more dedicated and efficient manner. At this time, this group represents the 13% of the school population.
Likewise, another specialized intervention program helps students improve their reading skills with instruction in vocabulary, phonics, and fluency in a small group setting.
Students also receive special support in mathematics, and the school community benefits from a day of 30 minutes longerwhen compared to most schools in this county.
But in addition to the unique academic experience, high school youth can participate in athletic programs to develop their skills and experience the joy of competition and sportsmanship.
The data:
- Just 1% of NY public schoolshave been recognized with the ‘Rewards Schools’ a prize of excellence, awarded by the New York State Department of Education: Bronx Charter School for the Arts has been one of them.
