Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced a proposal to create a small, selective high school named in honor of Frank McCourt. The new school would open on Manhattan’s Brandeis campus in September 2010 serving ninth graders, with additional grades phased in annually until the school serves the full complement of high school grades beginning in the 2013-14 school year. Best known as the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt also worked as a New York City public school educator for 29 years, including 15 years as a teacher of English and creative writing at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan until his retirement in 1987. The proposed school represents the culmination of a year-long collaboration between elected officials, parents, and the Department of Education.
“Frank McCourt was a remarkable writer, but I believe he achieved his greatest impact as a New York City public school teacher for 29 years,” Chancellor Klein said. “As we gather tonight to celebrate his memory, I’m pleased to announce our intention to honor his legacy through creation of a new public school that will nurture the academic and creative talents of New York City students for generations to come.”
“Today’s announcement is great news for the Upper West Side and for all of the students at the Brandeis campus,” U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler said. “We can all agree that the current high school is not performing well and does not adequately serve the needs of students or the community. I look forward to working with Chancellor Klein and the Department of Education on the new Frank McCourt High School, which I know will reflect a strong commitment to learning and providing a quality education to all students.”
“This is an exciting day for all those who have fought to ensure that we have education that matters at Brandeis,” U. S. Representative Charles Rangel said. “I can't think of a better way to remember the life of Frank McCourt – not just a Pulitzer Prize winner, but a longtime public school teacher and child of immigrant parents – than to create this school in his honor. Our City and our nation need more places like these, centers of excellence and learning that are dedicated to teaching their diverse student body not just how to have a career in words, but to be expert advocates who use their pens to make a difference and like McCourt, change the world for the better.”
“The Frank McCourt High School promises to be a diverse institution that will provide its students the literary skills to become leaders in their communities,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. “I am proud to be a part of these efforts to ensure that the children of Manhattan receive the best education that our borough can offer. I would also like to congratulate all of the parents, educational advocates, and fellow elected officials who have worked tirelessly to make the Frank McCourt High School a new addition to our city’s educational system.”
“It is befitting that we honor Frank McCourt, an exceptional writer and teacher, with a new communications arts high school bearing his name,” New York State Senator Thomas K. Duane said. “It is truly gratifying to have been a part of the planning committee that shaped the proposal for this school and, while the logistics of the school have yet to be finalized, I am grateful to the New York City Department of Education for its strong support.”
“The Frank McCourt High School is a well-deserved tribute to a man who excelled as both a writer and an educator,” New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman said. “Mr. McCourt’s story of facing adversity and rising up against formidable challenges will continue to serve as an inspiration for our city’s young men and women for many years to come.”
“The creation of the Frank McCourt High School is fitting tribute to a teacher and writer whose imagination inspired generations of students and whose prose has reached millions,” New York State Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell said. “I look forward to the development of an institution that reflects and celebrates the rich diversity of our great city.”
“I am delighted that the Frank McCourt School will be established on the West Side of Manhattan,” New York State Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal said. “I am proud to have been involved with the many community stakeholders and elected officials in the development of the school, which I know will be a wonderful testament to the legacy of Frank McCourt. The school’s mission will ensure that his love of communication and the written word will be passed on to generations of New York children.”
“The Department of Education presented the community with an opportunity to shape a powerfully imagined and inspired school,” said New York City Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “The McCourt school’s mission will be to prepare students for college, while reflecting the community’s literary voice, and offering students and parents a language arts school with unique strengths and a creative environment. I look forward to working with the school leader to shape this school into a thriving and challenging educational environment worthy of Frank McCourt’s memory.”
The McCourt School proposal was shaped by extensive input from key stakeholders including parents, education advocates, and elected officials. In coming months, a formal public impact statement will be released and a community hearing will be convened to gather additional feedback before the Panel for Educational Policy votes on a final proposal. If approved, the schoolwould meet demand for creation of an additional citywide, selective high school. Three new schools opened on the Brandeis campus in September 2009: Global Learning Collaborative; the Urban Assembly School for Green Careers; and Innovation Diploma Plus – a “transfer school” designed to help overage, under-credited students graduate from high school. The campus will ultimately house five small schools, which together will ensure that the campus continues to serve a diverse student population including English language learners, special education students, and overage students.