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FDNY - Captain Vernon A. Richard High School for Fire and Life Safety

Grades: 9-12

Our Insights

What’s Special

Prepares students for careers with the New York City Fire Department

The Downside

Poor attendance and graduation rates

Since it opened in the Thomas Jefferson Educational Campus in East New York in 2004, FDNY-Captain Vernon A. Richard School for Fire and Life Safety has been aiming to prepare its graduates for careers with the city Fire Department.

In their junior and senior years, student may take classes that help them get ready for the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program. EMTs are Fire Department employees and some go on to become firefighters. Seniors in the top third of the class get EMT training from Fire Department staff aimed at enabling them to enter the department’s summer training program and be certified as EMTs. The school offers other courses geared to its theme, such as fire science and a class on the chemical makeup of substances used to extinguish fires.

A community-based organization runs a college office on the campus that provides test preparation for college entrance exams and helps guide students and their families through the college application process. However, most graduates are not prepared for college and only about a third of graduates are enrolled in further education six months after receiving their diploma.

 

The school is small and overwhelmingly male. It shares the campus with three other high schools --  Performing Arts and Technology, World Academy for Total Community Health and High School for Civil Rights. The schools share a number of sports teams and some facilities.

Special education: FDNY has a large number of students with disabilities. Most are in team teaching classes with a mix of general and special education students, but a small number are in self-contained classes. (Gail Robinson, DOE reports, November 2018)

                           

 

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School Stats

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
86%
How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
 
87%
Average daily attendance
 
86%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
37%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
93%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
93%
From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide and 2024-25 NYC School Survey

Students

418
Number of students
Citywide Average is 608

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
89%
Students with disabilities
 
29%
Multilingual learners
 
19%
From the 2024-25 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students were suspended?
 
2%
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
83%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
43%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
33%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
88%
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey and 2023-24 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
92%
17.1
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 8
58
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 119

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
81%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2024-25 NYC School Survey, 2023-24 School Quality Guide, 2022-23 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2025 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

College and Career Readiness

School
Citywide
How well are students prepared for college and careers after four years at this school? What is a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Score?
 
32
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
42%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
13%
From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide
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

Cybersecurity and Networking Technology (K62A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Through a partnership with technology giant, CISCO, students will earn a certificate in Cybersecurity or Networking upon graduation. As technology continues to advance globally, our students will have a head start in any career or college program they choose. Working in a rigorous academic setting with CISCO professionals, students will gain real-world experience, have opportunities for internships and participate in worldwide tech competitions.

Law and Civic Leadership (K62B)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

The Law and Civic Leadership program is a rigorous academic and work-based learning program that provides a foundational education in the practices of law and government.Partnering with The Justice Resource Center and the New York City Urban Debate League, students will engage in performance-based learning with Moot Court, Debate and Mock Trial in addition to work-site experience with a NYC law firm. In partnership with the NYS Office of Justice Initiatives students will gain experience in courtroom practices and work with professionals working in law and government offices throughout NYC. All students successfully graduating from this program will earn a Seal of Civic Readiness from the State of New York.

FDNY-Captain Vernon A. Richard High School for Fire and Life Safety (K62X)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

The FDNY Captain Vernon A. Richard High School for Fire and Life Safety is a joint program between the Fire Department and the Department of Education. The program provides a rigorous academic program with a special emphasis on the academic, physical and moral rigors of emergency response with a special focus on emergency medical and firefighting careers. Graduates from FDNY Captain Vernon A. Richard High School for Fire and Life Safety can go on to gain employment at the Fire Department. The FDNY Captain Vernon A. Richard High School offers a four-year FDNY Curriculum Track and includes FDNY-related after-school programs including a Post for the FDNY Exploring Program and the FDNY Robotics Club. In addition, students from the FDNY Captain Vernon A. Richard High School are eligible to participate in the FDNY Youth Leadership Academies, an elite, discipline driven program that helps students realize their potential as well as help develop leadership skills that last a lifetime. Our Leadership Academies, held 3 times per year (during one week in August, Mid-Winter Recess, and Spring Recess), push students physically, mentally, and academically.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP English Language and Composition, AP Statistics, World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Swimming, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Stunt

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

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

400 Pennsylvania Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11207

Buses: B14, B15, B20, B83


Contact

Principal: James Anderson

Parent Coordinator: Shawna Love

Phone: 718-688-7930

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Thomas Jefferson Educational Campus with three other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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