Academy for Young Writers

As a staff member at this school, I am greeted every day by smiling, respectful students who are ready to learn. I am concerned that recent negative reviews of the school may be politically motivated. No school is perfect, but students are the number one priority at Young Writers, and I personally have seen students who have started our school at a 5th grade reading level and who are now taking AP classes. Teachers work round the clock at this school, and the students even have their personal cell phone numbers in case they need help late at night or on the weekends. The school makes it very easy for parents to connect to teachers, and for students to succeed. Students don't memorize facts here for a test, but learn to understand the thinking behind what they have learned, preparing them for college after four years.
—Submitted by a teacher

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According to this school's learning environment survey (an anonymous survey conducted by the NYC Dept of Ed), students feel pretty unsafe here. In that survey, 48% of students at this school state that they don't think that students who get good grades are respected by other students, 40% of students are uncomfortable talking with adults who work at the school about problems they're having in class, and 53% of students are uncomfortable talking with students about something that's bothering them. 58% of students believe that students at this school don't help and care about each other, and 58% percent of students also say that most students don't treat each other with respect.Also 54% of students say that most students don't treat teachers with respect. 73% of students say that they are bullied or threatened by peers at least some of the time (22% say they are bullied either "most" or "all of the time"), and 88 PERCENT say that there are physical fights at school at least some of the time (20% say either most or all of the time). If you are thinking about sending a child there, keep in mind that this is the experience students at this school are having.

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I agree with the parent below who said that students who struggle get left behind here. My daughter is a student with "special education" needs, but I feel like the school hasn't made an effort to include her in school activities and definitely hasn't reached out to me. I wish they were more concerned about struggling students instead of their own image.
—Submitted by a parent

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Happy to report that Academy for Young Writers has received over 30K in grants for the 2011-12 school year and has been able to restore after school activities. Offerings this year including both girls and boys basketball, cheerleading, music, talent club, meditation and wellness, karaoke, cooking and anime clubs. Additionally, we have partnered with Urban Word NYC to host a Poet-in-Residence to run twice-weekly writers workshops, bring visiting writers to the school and host monthly poetry slams.
—Submitted by a teacher

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