Frederick Douglass Academy

I have heard great things about this school. My sons will be attending soon and I am looking forward to a successful school year.

FDA has been an interesting experience for my daughter during her middle school years. She has been academically challenged, scoring an 83 on the Living Environments Regents exam in Grade 7. She has also been socially challenged in that she has spent a lot of her time just trying to to "fit in", but that's what all MS kids do. The curriculum is strong; the instructors are strong; and the principal is strong. The elephant in the room here is that most of the student's parents don't participate at the level required to make a "good" school "great". Let's face it. ....Kids come to school with the manners they are taught at home. Stronger home-stronger kids-stronger students-stronger school. Once we overcome this obstacle, the sky's the limit!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I have been a faculty member at FDA for sometime now and I have unique perspective about the school. Like many reviewers, my views of the school have changed since I began working there. However, I have also realized FDA has many unique opportunities that few schools can offer. Many parents and students in the below reviews complain about the uniform policy. I find their complaints hard to sympathize with. Every students is told the policy before coming to the school. If you do not like the policy, there plenty of other schools in NYC. FDA has a uniform policy for a reason and enforcing the policy ensures that our school runs efficiently. In my experience, I have found that enforcing the uniform as a teacher has eliminated nearly every behavioral issue because students realize that if you care about the little things, then big problems vanish.
—Submitted by a teacher

I was overjoyed when I found out that my Daughter was accepted to FDA because I had heard great things. That is until she actually attended and on three seperate occasions, my 13yr old child was sent home from the front door because of MINOR uniform issues. Never once did I get a phone call! Unacceptable! when did the uniform become more important than the actual education?
—Submitted by a parent

Im also a freshmen and I agree with some of the comments that were said. Some teachers are disrespectful and some arent. There are some excellent teachers at FDA. The administration is definitly the worst part of FDA. Lunch is not as bed as it may seem. Some classes are organized and there arent alot of 'loose' students. Come on a weekday and get a tour of the school and you will see that not every single thing is bad.
—Submitted by a student

I am a freshman here. I was so excited when i got accepted having a b+ average. I now have an f average. This school was my worse mistake. The kids are too rowdy, there are fights almost everyday, the teachers don't teach they expect perfection without teaching you. The kids make fun of you if you don't speak slang. The principal has an attitude and a half including most of the staff. Fda cares more about appearance then anything. You have to hunt to find out about the extra circulars. They focus mostly on sports, but less on the arts. The lunch tables are broken and the classes are not organized. I do not recommend this school to anyone. There is a lot of 'loose' girls and guys. The teachers have favorites and tell you to come to after school tutorials if you need help for any little thing. Dontgo!
—Submitted by a student

Provided the best public school education for my son. Proving that there are excellent public schools in the city of New York. The teaching staff was very beneficial in the achievements my son made.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree so much with the other reviews that it brings pain to my heart. I was so excited when my daughter who is a 90 (A-) average student got accepted to FDA. My daughter has worked hard to keep her grades up and has been successful; however I'm terribly disappointed in the leadership via principal, dean, coordinator, and teaching staff. I viewed many negative comments before applying my daughter to FDA, however I may have relied too much on my daughters past achievements to get her through middle school. This summer has been a rough one because all my daughter thinks about is her dreadful return back to a school that she is miserable at. My husband and I feel awful because she has kept up her promise to excel even though FDA has not kept up their part of the promise to suppot and assisti.
—Submitted by a parent

FDA is a great school for academics, college opportunities and world cultural exposure. However, the school leadership needs to focus on students' behaviors, improving student academics that are not up to standard and respecting the students. Respect must be reciprocated. I have witnessed the principal and staff disrespect students. If the principal does it, I guess the staff feel they are entitled to. The same way parents must lead by example, so should the school leadership.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the last comment. The Frederick Douglass Academy used to be an exceptionally well school. I've attended this school from sixth grade to my current year now as a senior. I have watch this school go to the dumps. The students and faculty as well are disrespectful. Students are forever wandering the halls or cutting class in the cafeteria. The secrurity guards are young and often befriend the students. Therefore, when somethings occur they may or may not turn their head. It is so true that the school cares more about their uniform then their academic standings. More and more kids are put in detention everyday for being 'unacademy' rather than being put on punishment for poor/missing homework assignments or terrible test grades. It seems to me that the school is more focused on their appearance now that it is doing so horribly. Thats all im aloud to write
—Submitted by a student

FDA use to be a good school, now it has become like every other public school in NY. FDA cares more about your uniform than they do your education. The students and faculty alike are very disrespectful even to the parents at times. The school has a very unwelcoming atmosphere. This school has alot of cliques so if your not in one tough luck. The only positive thing left in the school is its education, and not even that is all that good anymore and the fact they let students travel to other countries. Also the school only cares about helping those students that have 85+ averages and more than half the school is failing and they don't even try to help. word of advice Be sure to visit FDA before or while your applying to H.S. Trust me!

This school has great college opportunities. The teachers, as well as other staff, are friendly and help to keep the building a safe and orderly place.
—Submitted by a student

nice school i love this school
—Submitted by a student

This school has shown me that I can become anything that I want to be. My education is also being challanged so that I can learn at my highest level. Also we have have so may opportunities to become advanced.
—Submitted by a student

FDA use to be good. It just recently started and slowly going down. The only good thing about the school right now is the curriculum and thats the only good thing.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is very strict about learning and they don't want you to be on the streets. They focus on mainly academics and the world of academia. Most kids enjoy coming because there is always someone to say hi to.
—Submitted by a student

School focuses more on status as oppose to assisting students in an academic crisis. They make it harder for those students to recover by tauting their low status and suggesting GED as a way of getting them out of the school.
—Submitted by a parent

The quality of the academic programs is excellent. Alot of regents courses are available in addition to various programs in the arts, such as dance, drama, etc. However, the level of parent leaves a lot to be desired.
—Submitted by a parent

My oldest son attends this school and seems to be completely satisfied. While the curriculum appears to be challenging, he is a typical teenager and makes attempts(sometimes successful) to circumvent the rules and regulations. I am basically satisfied after three years that FDA offers some of the best academic opportunities in the community. It is up to the student and parent to partake.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a student at FDA for 2 years. It is supposedly the creme de la creme of Harlem but it is not. Any body can get into the school. Half the kids are failing. The uniform to to strict they put more emphasis on the uniform than class. They actually take kids out of class if there shirt is not tucked in or your sweater has a hood. The staff is rude and unhelpful. They don't listen to you until a parent is called in even then you still have trouble. Also the school has so many cliques that the atmosphere is not friendly and very unwelcoming. The only good thing about the school is the curriculum is good. If your looking for a good school visit the school first an see for yourself any kid could do a better. Make this your second to last choice.
—Submitted by a former student