Scholars' Academy Explained

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The Scholars' Academy
Streetaddress:320 Beach 104th St, Rockaway Park, NY 11694
Established:September 2005
Principal:Michele Smyth
Grades:6 to 12
Slogan:Technology today, Smarter tomorrow
Team Name:Seawolves
Newspaper:The Seaside Chronicle
Website:http://www.scholarsnyc.com/
Colors:Navy blue, light blue and khaki pants

Scholars' Academy is a uniformed preparatory school consisting of a middle school (grades 6–8) and a high school (grades 9–12) for gifted and talented children located in Rockaway Park, in the New York City borough of Queens.[1] Scholars' Academy grew out of a pilot program and established a middle school in 2004 and added a 9th grade in 2007.[2] It draws 51% of its students from the Rockaway Peninsula and is known for its diversity.[3] [4]

As of 2014, the school had nearly a 100% graduation rate. The school's founding principal, Brian O'Connell, left the school in 2020.[5] [6]

Hurricane Sandy

Scholars' Academy was one of the city's hardest hit schools by Superstorm Sandy. Students, most of which were relocated themselves, were relocated to two schools in Brownsville, Brooklyn.[7] After the seawater was drained and the sewage was removed, several feet of sand remained. After several donations from individuals, disaster recovery teams and companies, the school was able to be repaired. After three and a half months of relocation, the students were permitted to return to the Scholars' Academy building, but repairs continued through 2017.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Rosen . Kenneth R. . Rockaway Beach: City Life With Sand and Surf . 27 April 2021 . The New York Times . 1 June 2016.
  2. Book: Hemphill . Clara . New York City's Best Public Middle Schools: A Parents' Guide, Third Edition . 2008 . Teachers College Press . 978-0-8077-7448-9 . 27 April 2021 . en.
  3. News: Honan . Katie . Diversity Is the Focus at High-Performing Rockaway Park School . 27 April 2021 . DNAinfo New York . 17 April 2016.
  4. News: Pheffer Amato Urges DOE to Maintain Scholars' Academy Admissions Process . 27 April 2021 . The Wave . 4 February 2021.
  5. Web site: Agish . Meral . 2014-10-15 . Best High Schools: Scholars’ Academy offers close-knit community, collaboration . 2024-06-05 . New York Daily News . en-US.
  6. Web site: Shain . Michael . 2020-01-23 . Scholars principal heads to Woodmere . 2024-06-05 . Queens Chronicle . en.
  7. News: Fitzsimons . Maria . Rockaway, Howard Beach schools move to LIC in Sandy's wake . 27 April 2021 . Queens Chronicle . 8 November 2012 . en.
  8. News: Chapman . Ben . Rockaway Beach students help with school's final repairs — 5 years after Sandy flooded the campus . 27 April 2021 . nydailynews.com . 29 October 2017.