Brooklyn Ascend Charter School

205 Rockaway Parkway

School District

Brooklyn Ascend Charter School
Grade

K-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:30
Type

charter

School Map for Brooklyn Ascend Charter School

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 08, 2024

Brooklyn Ascend Charter School is what I refer to as a mini prison. This is the place you send your child if you want him or her to learn how to fall in line. The school is so hell bent on great grades that they forget to foster the social emotional well-being of the child. Children go to school from 7:30 / 8am - 3:50pm and break and lunch are packed into one time. This means that they get 1 hour per day off. They’re not allowed to talk, laugh, play, or interact much and this is the case even at lunch time. If a child dares to laugh or crack a smile at the wrong time it could be a problem. Every little thing your child does is a complaint. They also tend to take things away a lot such as recess or being able to attend effort parties or even using the vending machine. The amount of work children get during the school day and then on evenings is extensive. While the children learn well, many of them cry or stress about school and don’t want to go. Some children even feel anxious about school because of all the threats to not be included in things. Lord forbid you have a child that may learn at a slower pace or not fit into their mold, it’s a huge problem. There’s no room for children to be children. There are no opportunities to run around, play, or form friendships. The children are always being told to keep quiet or stay still or not move. They even police how many times you can go to the rest room: Even during lunch time the children cannot talk much because they must eat quick enough to return to work. There are no extra curricular activities and most of the teachers appear to be undertrained and mean. They say some horrible things to the children as though they do not know they’ll tell their parents. The school have like 4 good teachers. Overall, if you want a child that may learn well, feel burn out, hate school, be anxious, and feel really broken you can consider Brooklyn Ascend Charter School. However, I wouldn’t recommend.
Submitted by parent on December 21, 2019

Overall, 3 stars which includes to the curriculum
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2019

I still think that Brooklyn Ascend is a good school but there is lots of room for improvement. They have/had great teachers but they are not sticking around.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2018

Disappointed. Things have truly change since the teachers starts to rapidly turnover
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2018

If I can give them 10000 stars I would I just love this school sadly I’m moving but I wish I could take the school with us, My son came from having difficulty reading and writing when he left his old school in kindergarten he is now on a 3rd grade level n he’s just leaving 1st grade he has made the principals honor roll any received many awards for his work they have pushed him to greater limits and it has payed off greatly school days are long but are well worth it for the high level of education they are receiving WORTH IT
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2016

Ascend is a place to send your if your child fits the mold. God forbid your child learns a bit slower or in a way that is not conducive to a packet of worksheets. It is heartbreaking to see so many kids in the primary grade already burnt out by October. If you want your child to dislike learning this school is for you.
Submitted by teacher on September 15, 2015

As a professional who has worked for eleven years in the field of Education, I have never experienced something similar to this network.I spent a full school year in one of their schools and it was the worst experience I have ever had as a teacher. The student body is challenging, but they were not the reason why I left. From my experience, their philosophy of Education is very old school and children are requested to sit in their chairs for a very long time without having many breaks during the day. Recess was always in the class, and lunch took twenty minutes in all. Kids would complain about school being boring and long, and teachers were pushed to follow behavior management systems that were not effective and most of the times reactive even when they claim to follow a proactive behavior management system.Their liberal arts approach didn't happen in my school and many other teachers from different campuses were disappointed at what they saw in reality compared to what is advertised on the network's website.The school climate wasn't good at all: surveys showed how teachers are unhappy there. Their retention rate is very low, and most of the teachers who stay look for new opportunities all year long.I have not seen a network or school with such many openings after the school year starts, which tells that professionals leave as soon as they know the way the network functions.The network claims to foster high order thinking skills in their students, but in reality, they're not allowing children to think, but to comply and write the "right" answer to a test so the network can claim great test scores.Rather than being a college preparatory network, children are being burnt out. The system itself makes behavior challenging students to behave even worse and administrators try to throw all the responsibility on teachers.The network has great teachers, but they end up leaving unless they fall into the Ascend way, which looks great on their website but very heart-hurting in reality.Teachers may leave, but many children stay without their parents knowing how much harm this network might be causing to them.The majority of the teachers who work there wouldn't take their own children to these schools. That says it all.It's not the long hours, it's not the kids, it's the philosophy of the network that makes teachers to look for a better place.
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2015

Bushwick ascend has taken a turn for the better. The new leadership team that are in place now are phenomenal! My scholars have had a hard time with behavior issuses, but this school administration have help me tremendously with addressing and fixing this problem. Now that this new team is in place my kids are more excited about going to school and they are truly learning. I have a direct encounter with my scholars teachers and administration, and the school feels more organized and functions at a level of greatness
Submitted by other on May 31, 2015

After researching and visiting several schools in my pursuit of a teaching position, I found Brooklyn Ascend Charter to be among the most favorable that I've come across. The staff was welcoming and courteous. Also, the students that I had been introduced to before my demo lesson were friendly and attentive. During the lesson, the scholars (as they are referred at Ascend) were disciplined, engaged in the activities and inquisitive, as they asked questions that reflected their ability to think critically. After my demo lesson, I met one of the members of the support staff and the principal for my interview. They both offered constructive feedback about my lesson and were insightful in their suggestions of ways in which the lesson could have been improved. I had no doubt that Brooklyn Ascend Charter would have been a great school to begin my career as a full-time classroom teacher. Unfortunately, I had to decline my offer to join the staff at Ascend due to its proximity from where I currently live. On the whole, I found this school so to be one that motivates its students to learn and excel academically. It also provides support and constructive criticism to its teachers to enhance their teaching practice. Students and teachers alike would benefit greatly from joining Brooklyn Ascend.
Submitted by teacher on May 28, 2015

I have to say that Brooklyn Ascend Charter School has changed for the best. I have seen such a great shift in the curriculum and the culture at the school. Scholars are more engaged in their learning, they are taking ownership and they are becoming critical thinkers and problem solvers in both aspects (academics and culture). The teachers and leaders are phenomenal and work so hard to provide a quality education to scholars. Our School Director, Johana Andujar, is by far the best school director EVER. I really appreciate her transparency and willingness to go above and beyond for her staff. Its definitely a family and I appreciate everyone. Thank you curriculum team for taking on the planning of pacing and assessments, it definitely makes the teachers lives that much easier. Culture team (yes, this includes the BA), you all are AMAZING.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2015

My kids started from kindergarten and is now in 2nd &3rd grade. Ever since, the growth in learning they've made is amazing. The teachers and staff of the school are very warm welcoming and pleasant, they constantly keep you updated with information regarding your child as well as ensuring you as a parent stay on task with what's going on in the school. Some of the services offered such as after school tutoring which gives your child an opportunity to improve academically if they see that your child is having a hard time with the work, the great trips, their seasonal concerts which I enjoy all the time and not forgetting their community meeting which gives you the public a chance to voice your opinion and ideas to improve the school. The environment of the school on a whole gives your child room to grow. These qualities are what makes Brooklyn Ascend stand out top of my list for great schools. As a parent I want the best education for my kids and from my experience most schools do not offer most of this. If you're looking for a great school check out BACS.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2015

This by far is one of the best charter school in Brooklyn. My children has been in this school since the doors open in 2008. This school has great staff and academics for the scholars. My daughter is already talking about what college she wants to go to and she only in the 7th grade. This school push each and every scholar to aim for success.
Submitted by other on May 27, 2015

This school is made great because of the teachers and leaders. They really care and there aren't people here for superficial reasons. They take the art of educating seriously. They really worked hard the past 2 school years to create more parent involvement opportunities.
Submitted by other on October 11, 2014

i hate this school so much. i currently attend their middle school and its horrible! They are constantly replacing teachers and i question the process of hiring some of them because most of them give up easily. We barely have trips and have tests almost every week. Ms. Gengzlinger is nice sometimes but then again she doesnt listen to what we have to say. We are the students after all. They give us no freedom and the school days are long and tireing. Ive been in this school for 7 years and i can't stand it. CAN't wait to graduate -thats if they even have a graduation. Dont send your child here, they WILL hate it
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2013

I am bless and very happy,please my daughter got into this charter school. There rating is the best...
Submitted by other on July 21, 2013

The teachers at this school are fantastic and well-qualified teachers. Sadly, the administration will run this school into the ground. The leadership at this school does not care about families, scholars, or the community. Their priorities are WAY out of wack. The many pending lawsuits they are in the middle of should be a red flag to parents. Please do not be tricked by the fancy videos of lies on their website. Most of what is said is NOT TRUE!! Please don't send students here.
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2011

One of the best schools in brooklyn they take pride in their scholars they teach them to be disciplined , punctual and also guide them academically to acheive greatness which is what they would need to suceed in the world today.
Submitted by parent on November 26, 2010

Brooklyn Ascend suspend their studends for late pickup. Also, they get suspended for playing even at recess. This school did poorly on the state exam. What's even more appalling, there is no one to talk to about the school. If you call the office, you get a machine and no one return your call.To sum it up, inexperience faculty members.