Academy for Excellence in Leadership

The Academy for Environmental Leadership, also known as the Academy for Excellence in Leadership, is a small high school located in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. It emphasizes a nurturing learning community dedicated to developing responsible leaders through student-centered instruction. The school offers partnerships focusing on the arts, socio-emotional growth, career development, and college readiness, and features a greenhouse and hydroponics lab. Parents express exceptionally high satisfaction with the school, with nearly all survey respondents reporting positive experiences. The small school size is often praised for fostering close student-teacher relationships and a supportive atmosphere. Academically, the school demonstrates a notable strength in Languages Other Than English Regents pass rates, which are well above citywide benchmarks. However, most other Regents exam pass rates are low, and the college enrollment rate is significantly below the citywide median. The four-year graduation rate is slightly below the citywide median. Student surveys indicate some concerns regarding bullying, substance use, and physical altercations, though overall feelings of safety are fair. The school serves a high proportion of students with economic need and English Language Learners.