Academy for Young Writers

The Academy for Young Writers is a small 6-12 school in Brooklyn, known for its focus on developing students' reading, writing, and communication skills within a nurturing and family-like atmosphere. The school emphasizes close relationships between staff and students, often operating on a first-name basis, and employs a restorative approach to discipline. Students have unique opportunities to become contributing authors to published books through partnerships with organizations like the Student Press Initiative. The school also offers Advanced Placement courses and robust career readiness programs, including apprenticeships, and guarantees high school admission for its 8th-grade middle school students. Parents consistently report high satisfaction with their relationships with the school, and the suspension rate is notably low. While ELA proficiency is near the citywide median, math proficiency is a concern, falling well below the median. High school graduation and college enrollment rates are around the citywide median, but Regents pass rates are generally low, particularly in math and science. Student surveys indicate concerns regarding safety, bullying, and physical fights, which contrasts with the low suspension rate. The school occupies an attractive, modern facility, though its location is noted as being far from the nearest subway.