John Dewey High School

John Dewey High School is a public school in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, founded and based on the educational principals of John Dewey. It opened in the Fall of 1969 and is located at 50 Avenue X in the Gravesend border of Brooklyn at the the tip where Coney Island starts off from.The school is a part of the New York City Department of Education. The school is located across the street from the Marlboro Housing Projects and is not in such a great neighborhood.

The school is shown in the early moments of the chase scene of the Academy Award winning movie The French Connection.

It was established in 1969 and started out with only Freshman and Sophomores. Most of the students graduated after Sophomore year and moved on to college. Slowly, the school grew to include Junior and Seniors. Today, there are over 3,200 students are enrolled in the school.

John Dewey High School offers many prominent career opportunities. It houses the "first" Academy of Finance, started by Sandy Weill in 1982. The Academy of Finance prepares students for post-secondary education and careers through a theme-based, contextualized curriculum approach. Academic learning experiences are combined with hands-on work experience to help students develop the thinking and problem-solving skills so critical to postsecondary education and career success.

The Academy of Finance introduces high school students to the broad career opportunities of the financial services industry, opening the door to new options and equipping students to make sound choices for the future. One of three member programs of the National Academy Foundation, the Academy of Finance operates as a small learning community and is located in more than 275 high schools nationwide.

At John Dewey, each student is allowed to apply for the Academy. During the Sophomore year, a student who is interested in joining the Academy, gives in his or her application and waits for an interview with Academy coordinator. The Academy of Finance is only available to Juniors and Seniors who applies during their Sophomore year.

John Dewey High School is unique in a way that it is college-based. It is not a standard high school where students travel from class to class the whole day. What students call "free bands" are actually "Study time" where a student basically is "free" for 45 minutes to an hour to do something constructive. Resource Centers (RCs) are available for students who need extra help or wish to do some work. Teachers are available and can help a student if they desire.

Dewey also has a different grading system than any other school. It doesn't use the regular numerical grades that are found in every other NY high school, nor does it use the alphabetical grading system. John Dewey High School is unique in that it uses ME, M, MC, and R. Dewey doesn't have actual grades, but uses a range of grades. ME (Mastery with Excellence) is equal to the numerical grade of 90-100. M (Mastery of Course Objectives) is equal to the numerical grade of 75-89. MC (Mastery with Condition) is equal to 65-74. R (Retention for Reinforcement) which is each to the numerical grades of below 65.

John Dewey High School is also the only school that offers DISKS. A DISK (Dewey Independent Study Kits)is a programs that is used in many ways. Some students may "take a DISK" in order to advance in their classes, others might use a DISK in order to make up subjects in which a grade of "R" was recieved, while to just enjoy a broad spectrum of courses offered at John Dewey High School.

A Dewey year is also different from the year in any other high school. Instead of having 2 semesters, as any other school in New York, John Dewey prides itself on having 'cycles'. A cycle is a nine week mini-term. Another different thing about John Dewey, is that the student is allowed to choose his or her own courses. During 'mid-cycle', the average Dewey student takes part in Program Planning. About half-way into the term, the student is able to choose his classes for the following cycle. You are allowed to choose as many as 10 classes.

In order to graduate from John Dewey High School, each student must take a certain amount of specific classes. For example, each student must take 16 cycles of English; 8 literature classes, 4 writing classes, 2 communication classes, and 2 elective classes. For Social Studies, each student must take 16 cycles of classes. He needs 8 Global courses, 4 American History, 2 Economic classes, and 2 Participation in Government classes. Mathematics requires 12 cycles, each student must complete 3 years of math, and must complete Math A. The Science Department requires students to take 12 cycles of Science. John Dewey also offers many foreign languages. When a student chooses his prefered languages, he must take the course either for 1 year (4 cycles) or for 3 years (12 cycles). Art and Music are important in the Dewey curriculum. Each student must take 2 cycles of each. Aslo, like in every high school, John Dewey offers health education and physical eduction. Each student must take 14 cycles of phys. ed. and 2 cycles of health; totaling up to 16 cycles (4 years).

John Dewey High School offers many electives. A student may want to take Dance classes, or Business Education classes. It also offers Technology, Home Economics, Health Careers and Occupations. John Dewey is a school of independence.

There is a great campus around the school. Students may spend their "free" periods there. It also has a wonderful athelic field. Even though it has an athletic field, John Dewey does not have sports teams. It has intramural athletic progams, meaning it competes within the school.

ARISTA is the scholastic honor society of John Dewey High School. A prospective candidate must be a Junior or a Senior student. Applicants must have achieved and overall scholastic average of 90 as a student at John Dewey High School. The student must aslo have a record of service performed each cycle in some capacity in the school.

John Dewey is also unique in that it has an extended day. That means, that it starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 3:50 p.m. Another unique thing about the day at John Dewey is that it does not have periods. Each day consists of 10 bands... A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K... Each day, one band is "missing" but the program just skips over that period.

Well-known graduates of Dewey include director Spike Lee. Its faculty alumni include Emmy Award winning playwright, George Rubino.

Clubs

• Anime Club
• Multiculture Club
• Chess Club
• Student Orgization
• Mouse Squad
• Dance Ensamble
• Academy of Finance
• Computer Science Institue
• Publications Institute

Recent raceism

Recently, a student claimed that Mr. Morales, the leader of security at John Dewey, took his bandana of a Haitian Flag and threw the bandana into the trash can. The student also cited that Mr. Morales told him the bandana belonged in the "trash" which sparked the outrage. The news spread quickly into major news broadcasting networks. Many parents were not pleased of his actions and protested in front of the school to fire Mr. Morales.

External links

• Profile of Dewey High School

• National Academy Foundation