Frederick Douglas Academy II Secondary School

I taught at this school and I can tell you it is terrible. The teachers try really hard but they exist under almost unworkable conditions thanks to the new principal, Mr. Afriyie. This guy was let go from his previous job at the Eagle Academy for Young Men, has been accussed of forcing teachers to inflate grades, and even for locking a teacher in a room all day without access to a bathroom, etc. as punishment (see the Daily News). IMO this is not a principal who cares about students - this is an egomaniac who operates in very shady and mean ways. I loved the kids, but it broke my heart that they were exposed to this environment. If you don't have to send your kids there - don't.
--Submitted by a teacher

My daughter attended FDAII for 7 years and graduated 4th in her school. FDAII is a new High school. I have to say honestly that her first 2 years were very difficult. FDAII strives for excellence in all their scholars. Their main focus is to prepare them for college from the very beginning. They succeeded in doing this with their first graduating class this year, 2007. My daughter got accepted into 4 prestigious colleges. They offer excellent extracurricular activities, although, parent involvement is mediocre. The only complaint I have is the foreign language classes. For the 4 years she took up Spanish, she hadn't learn much. I felt that the weakness there was in the teacher, not the school itself. Their Young Ambassador's foreign exchange Program permitted my daughter to go to South Africa. She learned so much from this. I would highly recommend FDAII to all parents.
--Submitted by Patsy Cruz, a parent