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Our Insights

What’s Special

A broad range of electives, activities, and advanced courses

The Downside

Many students miss a month or more of school

Frederick Douglas Academy is a combined middle and high school offering a variety of electives and college-level courses. Students can study Japanese and Latin, work with flight simulators in an aviation class, and take Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Special features include Harlem Samba, a Brazilian percussion ensemble, and Taekwondo classes. 

The school has many technology and science courses. Middle school electives include computer programming, gaming, and web design. High school students can take AP courses in statistics, calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, microeconomics, U.S. and European history, English, Spanish, French, and Latin. Middle school students study French and can pursue other languages in high school, completing high school language requirements in their first year and taking advanced classes in Japanese, Italian, French, or Spanish. 

Starting in 9th grade, students in the FDA Dual Enrollment/Advanced Placement Program can take college courses through partnerships with SUNY Old Westbury and Syracuse University,  such as Human Geography, Computer Science, Gender Studies, and Black Studies.

Middle school test scores in English and math fall well below the citywide averages, but students improve by high school. The college readiness rate, meaning how many students graduate prepared to tackle college level work, approaches the citywide average. Attendance is an on-going challenge; more than half miss a month or more of school.  Students can expect a couple hours of homework daily.  

All students learn to play a musical instrument and can participate in Harlem Samba, performing on New York stages and internationally. They can also take Taekwondo, developing discipline and confidence. FDA has  excellent facilities including a gymnasium, fitness center, dojo for martial arts, auditorium, and digital music studio.Sports and clubs include lacrosse, tennis, basketball, chess, aviation, robotics, and yearbook. The school provides shuttle service to practices and games for athletes.

FDA shares space with Mickey Mantle, a District 75 school that serves students with disabilities. Following an inclusion model, Micky Mantle students may join classes at FDA. A dedicated college office arranges college tours and hosts classes for juniors and seniors. Students have been admitted to schools like West Point; most attend CUNY and SUNY schools, with some earning Posse Scholarships. Some attend private and out-of-state colleges like Vanderbilt University. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, June 2024)

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2024-2025 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
82%
82% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
61%
53% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
68%
84% Citywide Average
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
70%
82% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
2%
4% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2023-24 School Quality Report

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
88%
78% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
7.1

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2023-2024 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
30%
50% Citywide Average

From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
20%
49% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
93%
90% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2024-25 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
621
Asian
1%
Black
58%
Hispanic
34%
White
3%
Other
3%
Free or reduced priced lunch
89%
Students with disabilities
27%
English language learners
7%

From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
88%
88% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
42%
39% Citywide Average

How does this school serve special populations?

From the 2023-24 School Quality Report

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
88%
84% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2023-2024 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
6%
19% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
12%
19% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
8% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
0%
3% Citywide Average
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Dual Enrollment/Advanced Placement (M75A)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

FDA Dual Enrollment/Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take college courses simultaneously while in high school. Through our partnerships with SUNY Old Westbury and Syracuse University, students in the FDA Dual Enrollment/Advanced Placement Program begin their course work in Grade 9 with AP African American Studies. As they progress, students will have advanced class choices from Gender Studies with Syracuse University to Black Studies with SUNY Old Westbury. In addition, we offer students accepted to the FDA Dual Enrollment/Advanced Placement Program courses with the College Board in AP Psychology and AP World History among others.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) (M75B)

Admissions Method: Screened

Program Description:

FDA STEM will prepare students for college studies and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Students will have access to elective courses such as Anatomy and Computer Science required in their first year. FDA STEM Students are expected to take a minimum of two AP/Dual Enrollment and/or CUNY City College courses and may include AP Computer Science, AP Biology, and AP Physics at FDA.

Music: Harlem Samba (M75D)

Admissions Method: Open

Program Description:

FDA Harlem Samba is taught by internationally renowned educator and musician, Dr. Dana Monteiro. Through our partnerships with samba schools internationally, Harlem Samba students will have the opportunity to take Samba during their entire high school career. In addition, students accepted to the Harlem Samba Program will take Introduction to Percussion, World Percussion, and Sound Engineering.

World Language (M75E)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

FDA World Language Program offers students accepted to the program the opportunity to master two of the following languages: Japanese, Italian, French and Spanish. Beginning in their freshman year, students will choose two beginning language courses and continue until graduation upon completion of the AP Foreign Language Exam.

75M811 D75 Inclusion Program at Frederick Douglass Academy (M75U)

Admissions Method: D75 Special Education Inclusive Services

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Psychology, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Credited]), Physics (Advanced Science), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages), World Languages (College Course [Credited])

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Fencing, Football, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Fencing, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Double Dutch

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

2581 7Th Avenue
Manhattan NY 10039

Buses: Bx13, Bx19, Bx6, M1, M10, M102, M2, M3, M7


Contact

Principal: Ayisha Fullerton

Parent Coordinator: Yvette Mckenzie

Phone: 212-491-4107

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? No

This school is in its own building.

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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