Frederick Douglass Academy VIII Middle School

Frederick Douglass Academy VIII Middle School in Brooklyn serves grades 6-8 with a mission to provide a diverse, college preparatory education in a safe and nurturing environment. The school emphasizes self-discipline, independence, and citizenship, operating with a 100% uniform policy. It offers a variety of arts programs, including visual arts, dance, music, and theater, along with Spanish as a foreign language. Students, referred to as "scholars," have opportunities to take Regents courses for high school credit and participate in college tours. The school is also a Verizon Innovative Learning School. While ELA proficiency is at the 25th percentile citywide, math proficiency is below the 25th percentile, and the share of students in accelerated courses is below the citywide median. Parents express overwhelmingly positive sentiment, describing teachers as caring and the curriculum as challenging yet accessible. However, the school's safety and school climate rating is fair, with a significant percentage of students reporting experiences with harassment, bullying, and physical fights.