Lafayette High School (New York City)
Encyclopedia
Lafayette High School is a large secondary school
located in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn
, New York City, New York . It is currently one of the low performing high schools of the city and is operated by the New York City Department of Education
.
were settled by the Dutch with the exception of Gravesend, which was first settled by a colony of English people under the leadership of Lady Deborah Moody
, a woman of considerable wealth and education, who took a prominent part in public affairs, and whose home was on Neck Road. According to the New York City Ward Map of Kings County
in 1899, the school is located on the former property of John Carter. This map reveals a frame house with stables on the site of the building. The land was originally swampy, sandy soil covering about 10 acres (40,468.6 m²).
Lafayette High School, the first building of its type, was designed to accommodate about 4,000 pupils. The cost of the site was $211,350 while the building itself necessitated an outlay of $2,820,000. There are two other high schools in the city, which are duplicates of this type – Christopher Columbus
and William Cullen Bryant
. Dr. Frederick William Oswald was asked to assume the principalship of the new school. As the new building was not ready, the school had to meet in three annexes. These annexes were P.S. 180, with Mr. Joseph Grady in charge, assisted by Mr. Freilich and Mr. Abraham Margolies; P.S. 126, under the direction of Miss Dorothy K. Lewis and Mr. Robert Buda; and P.S. 192 with Mr. Walter Jacobsen in charge. On March 1939, the faculty had been increased to 156 members and the student population numbered some 4,500 boys and girls. On November 13, 1939, the formal exercises dedicating Lafayette High School took place in the auditorium. Among those present was Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia
.
School activities early became an important part of life at Lafayette. On November 21, 1940, the first G.O. elections showed the following candidates victorious in the contest for school officers: Theodore Blinder, president; Gladys Deatsch, vice-president; Lillian Antin, secretary; Sabina La Salle, treasurer. Through the years principals, whether Mary Buda, Joseph Bellafiore, Leo Weitz, Irving I. Cohen, or Sheldon R. Friedberg 1986, recognized the importance of student activities and the Student Organization.
, Lafayette's students speak at least 30 different languages. With the explosion of the Asian population, the school has been accused of harassment and unequal treatment based on race and ethnicity. After much complaints, Lafayette was the subject of a June 2004 consent decree between the New York City Department of Education
and the United States Department of Justice
which found evidence of "severe and pervasive peer-on-peer harassment of Asian students."
Under the consent decree, Lafayette students needing help in English would be assigned appropriate classes within 10 days of enrolling. (e.g., Mandarin-speaking students would not be placed in bilingual classes taught in Cantonese). Lafayette also pledged to develop a policy clarifying school officials' obligations to report cases of harassment based on race, color, and national origin, and to heighten diversity awareness among staff and students.
The Justice Department will continue to monitor Lafayette's progress over the next three years.
labeled it an "Impact School". After some improvement, in April 2006, Lafayette has been removed from the Impact list.
In an effort to turn around the crime, performance, and harassment problems, Jolanta Rohloff, a graduate of the New York City Leadership Academy, was named principal for the 2005–2006 school year. She has proved controversial; angering teachers, discontinuing all after-school sports, overruling grades that some teachers gave students (She attempted to fail students who failed the Regents exam despite teacher's protests)
administration, the large closed schools will each be replaced by several small schools with about 400 or 500 students each.
. Principal Rohloff, praised by Board of Education officials for her work attempting to turn around the school, but criticized by the community, teachers, and students for heavy-handiness, will be assigned by the Board of Education to mentor principals and teachers on how to interpret student performance data and make necessary adjustments to instruction.
On September 15, 2008, a press release stated that Ms. Doris Unger had been promoted to Superintendent. On September 19, 2008, it was announced to the staff at Lafayette HS that the Assistant Principal, Jacqueline Boswell will be the new Principal, IA.
The school is shown during the chase scene of the Academy Award winning movie The French Connection
.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City, New York . It is currently one of the low performing high schools of the city and is operated by the New York City Department of Education
New York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
.
History
Lafayette High School is situated in what was formerly the town of Gravesend. All the towns in Kings CountyBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
were settled by the Dutch with the exception of Gravesend, which was first settled by a colony of English people under the leadership of Lady Deborah Moody
Deborah Moody
Lady Deborah Moody was the only woman to found a colonial settlement in early North America. She was the first female landowner in the New World. She had an unusual influence in a society dominated by men, and was described by contemporaries as "a dangerous woman."-Biography:Lady Moody was born...
, a woman of considerable wealth and education, who took a prominent part in public affairs, and whose home was on Neck Road. According to the New York City Ward Map of Kings County
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in 1899, the school is located on the former property of John Carter. This map reveals a frame house with stables on the site of the building. The land was originally swampy, sandy soil covering about 10 acres (40,468.6 m²).
Lafayette High School, the first building of its type, was designed to accommodate about 4,000 pupils. The cost of the site was $211,350 while the building itself necessitated an outlay of $2,820,000. There are two other high schools in the city, which are duplicates of this type – Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
and William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.-Youth and education:...
. Dr. Frederick William Oswald was asked to assume the principalship of the new school. As the new building was not ready, the school had to meet in three annexes. These annexes were P.S. 180, with Mr. Joseph Grady in charge, assisted by Mr. Freilich and Mr. Abraham Margolies; P.S. 126, under the direction of Miss Dorothy K. Lewis and Mr. Robert Buda; and P.S. 192 with Mr. Walter Jacobsen in charge. On March 1939, the faculty had been increased to 156 members and the student population numbered some 4,500 boys and girls. On November 13, 1939, the formal exercises dedicating Lafayette High School took place in the auditorium. Among those present was Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia
Fiorello H. LaGuardia
Fiorello Henry LaGuardia was Mayor of New York for three terms from 1934 to 1945 as a liberal Republican. Previously he was elected to Congress in 1916 and 1918, and again from 1922 through 1930. Irascible, energetic and charismatic, he craved publicity and is acclaimed as one of the three or...
.
School activities early became an important part of life at Lafayette. On November 21, 1940, the first G.O. elections showed the following candidates victorious in the contest for school officers: Theodore Blinder, president; Gladys Deatsch, vice-president; Lillian Antin, secretary; Sabina La Salle, treasurer. Through the years principals, whether Mary Buda, Joseph Bellafiore, Leo Weitz, Irving I. Cohen, or Sheldon R. Friedberg 1986, recognized the importance of student activities and the Student Organization.
Recent years
As measured by graduation rates, Lafayette's performance is low; 44.4 percent of the class of 2006 graduated on time and a 63.2 percent 7-year graduation rate. there was a 50th reunion in 2009 for the 1959 graduates.Minorities and the Consent Decree
According to the New York City Department of EducationNew York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
, Lafayette's students speak at least 30 different languages. With the explosion of the Asian population, the school has been accused of harassment and unequal treatment based on race and ethnicity. After much complaints, Lafayette was the subject of a June 2004 consent decree between the New York City Department of Education
New York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
and the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
which found evidence of "severe and pervasive peer-on-peer harassment of Asian students."
Under the consent decree, Lafayette students needing help in English would be assigned appropriate classes within 10 days of enrolling. (e.g., Mandarin-speaking students would not be placed in bilingual classes taught in Cantonese). Lafayette also pledged to develop a policy clarifying school officials' obligations to report cases of harassment based on race, color, and national origin, and to heighten diversity awareness among staff and students.
The Justice Department will continue to monitor Lafayette's progress over the next three years.
Crime
In recent years Lafayette has experienced criminal activity involving their students. Extra police officers and security guards were added when the New York City Department of EducationNew York City Department of Education
The New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. It is the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,700 separate schools...
labeled it an "Impact School". After some improvement, in April 2006, Lafayette has been removed from the Impact list.
In an effort to turn around the crime, performance, and harassment problems, Jolanta Rohloff, a graduate of the New York City Leadership Academy, was named principal for the 2005–2006 school year. She has proved controversial; angering teachers, discontinuing all after-school sports, overruling grades that some teachers gave students (She attempted to fail students who failed the Regents exam despite teacher's protests)
Planned Closing
In December 2006, it was announced that New York City plans to close Lafayette High School, along with four other low-performing schools that failed to improve under city guidance. Applying a strategy of the BloombergMichael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
administration, the large closed schools will each be replaced by several small schools with about 400 or 500 students each.
New Principal
Controversial Lafayette Principal Jolanta Rohloff stepped down (March 30, 2007) to be replaced by Doris Unger, who will oversee the closing of the school, having previously overseen the closing of Seward Park High SchoolSeward Park High School
Seward Park High School is a now-closed comprehensive high school which was located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. The school began as P.S. 62 Intermediate, a intermediate school. In 1923 the school pursued an experimental path as a combined junior-senior high school...
. Principal Rohloff, praised by Board of Education officials for her work attempting to turn around the school, but criticized by the community, teachers, and students for heavy-handiness, will be assigned by the Board of Education to mentor principals and teachers on how to interpret student performance data and make necessary adjustments to instruction.
On September 15, 2008, a press release stated that Ms. Doris Unger had been promoted to Superintendent. On September 19, 2008, it was announced to the staff at Lafayette HS that the Assistant Principal, Jacqueline Boswell will be the new Principal, IA.
Trivia
Lafayette is the New York HS with the most alumni (21) becoming baseball players.The school is shown during the chase scene of the Academy Award winning movie The French Connection
The French Connection (film)
This article is about the 1971 film. For the British fashion label, see French Connection .The French Connection is a 1971 American crime film directed by William Friedkin. The film was adapted and fictionalized by Ernest Tidyman from the non-fiction book by Robin Moore...
.
Famous alumni
- Bob AspromonteBob AspromonteRobert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
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