| Edward R. Murrow High School | |
|---|---|
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| Location | |
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1600 Avenue L , 11230 | |
| Coordinates | 40°37′15″N73°57′33″W / 40.6207°N 73.9592°W /40.6207; -73.9592 |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school; Ed. Opt., Audition |
| Motto | "…because at Edward R. Murrow High School, we CARE about our students!" |
| Established | 1974; 51 years ago (1974) |
| Founder | Saul Bruckner |
| School district | 21 |
| School number | K525 |
| Principal | Allen Barge |
| Teaching staff | 232.20 (FTE)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 3,595 (2023–24)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 15.67[1] |
| Colors | Green White |
| Nickname | Murrow |
| Newspaper | The Murrow Network |
| Website | ermurrowhs.org |
Edward R. Murrow High School is a publichigh school inMidwood, Brooklyn,New York City, operated by theNew York City Department of Education. The school is dedicated to thearts, and students can audition for programs in music, fine and visual arts, or theater. The school was established in 1974 by Saul Bruckner, who also served as its first principal, and was named after the renowned broadcast journalistEdward R. Murrow. The school was founded based on thepedagogical theories ofJohn Dewey and the learning and teaching methods ofJohn Dewey High School.
After Bruckner's retirement in 2004, Anthony Lodico became Murrow's second principal. In March 2012, Lodico announced his resignation, and Allen Barge took over as principal the following month.
Murrow's academic year is divided into two semesters. Students receive new class schedules and teachers at the end of January. The daily schedule shifts depending on the day of the week, with class lengths varying from 45 minutes to an hour, and each class meets only four times a week. Rather than having a lunch period or study halls, Murrow students have free periods called "OPTAs" (Optional Time Activities), used for studying, eating, or relaxing.[citation needed]
In response to concerns over overcrowding and student behavior during free periods, the school administration made the decision to eliminate Optional Time Activities (OPTAs) and have a uniform schedule during the 2022-2023 academic year. To mitigate this change, students are now required to have a pass in order to visit the library, and are restricted to eating lunch only in their designated cafeteria. The 285 suite, which was previously available to students with an OPTA, has been repurposed as an additional cafeteria to accommodate the students.[2]
During the 2022-2023 school year, the school implemented significant changes to its schedule. In contrast to the previous model, where students met with each class four times a week, the updated schedule now requires students to attend each class five times per week. Additionally, the schedule has shifted to a more standardized system, with each period is now at a set, specific time rather than varying times throughout the week. On Friday, the schedule is shorter.[3]
Murrow has a number of features including:
Edward R. Murrow High School is also known for its outstanding theater program. Their success in the arts was recognized byMel Brooks, who granted the school to be the first-ever to gain rights to the smash hit musical "The Producers" in Spring 2008.[citation needed]
In attempt to diversify schools, some high schools in NYC, including Murrow, use the DOE's "Educational Option" model. Instead of tracking, schools admit learners of all capabilities by purposefully accepting a set percentage of students with high, middle and low test scores.[5]
The 2023-2024 academic year saw a student enrollment of approximately 3,595 students at the school. The ethnic makeup of the student body was diverse, with 30% identifying asWhite, 26% asAsian, 20% asHispanic or Latinx, 18% asAfrican American, and less than 1% asNative Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Out of the reported 3,595 students, 9% were identified asEnglish language learners. Additionally, 18% of students had Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).Thestudent-teacher ratio was reported as 15:1.[6]
The Edward R. Murrow High School StudioTheater Program offers courses in various aspects of theater, includingActing,Directing,Set Design, and more. Additionally, the program offers partnerships with renowned theater organizations such as theManhattan Theater Club and Roundabout Theater, providing students with opportunities to connect with industry professionals and explore the world of theater.[7]
Students can participate in a variety of opportunities, includingmusicals andplays, theater workshops, and competitions such asSing#! and the August Wilson Monologue Competition and the Shakespeare Competition. Additionally, the program offers an improv troupe andinternships with technical theater shops to give students hands-on experience in the field.
Mel Brooks granted the school the rights to perform the musicalThe Producers in the spring of 2008, making it the first-ever school to do so.[citation needed]
The school's music department offers a variety of performance courses for students, including opportunities to learn to playguitar,piano,percussion, aband ororchestral instrument, or sing in achorus. Students can participate in these courses without any prerequisite or audition, but placement auditions are required to join one of the school's performance ensembles.[8]
For students interested in pursuing music beyond the minimum graduation requirement, a sequence of study is available in the guitar, piano, orchestral, choral, or band program. Specialized classes in vocal or instrumental technique andmusic theory are also available with permission from a music teacher.
The Music Institute is anauditioned program for students committed to developing their musical skills, who will fulfill the requirements for a Chancellor’s Endorsed Arts diploma.
The school also offers non-performance classes, such asMusic History.
In addition, Murrow's Music Technology CTE Program provides courses inmusic technology, including Recording Techniques & MIDI and Studio Practicum. During the 2015-2016 school year, the school launched the Music x Technology program with the help ofAlicia Keys andLevi's Jeans. The program provides students with access to arecording studio and production equipment, allowing them to studysound engineering,audio-visual production,post-production,mastering,songwriting, and more. The department also hosts an annual Music x Tech Fest where students and alumni showcase their original songs and music videos to raise money for charity.[9]
The Art Institute at Edward R. Murrow High School aims to develop students' knowledge and skills in the arts through participation in a creative community. The program offers students opportunities to explore and develop as individual artists, through a range of courses including Art Studio,Fashion Illustration and Design,Intro to Painting 1 & 2,Animation, andCeramics. Screened Art classes are available to approved students and cover topics such asDrawing from the Figure,Sculpture,Painting Studio, Advanced Studio Art,AP 2D Art Studio (Portfolio),Ceramics, andArt History. The Art Institute provides students with exposure to working artists, museum internships, andapprenticeships inNew York City.[10]
Edward R. Murrow High School offers a range ofAdvanced Placement (AP) courses that cover all subject areas. These classes are certified by theCollege Board and help prepare students for college. Additionally, students who receive a sufficient grade may receive credit by the college or university they attend.[11]
The Murrow Advanced Placement offerings are:
The Technical Theater Program at Edward R. Murrow High School offers a curriculum, facility, and faculty for students interested in technical aspects of theater. Concentrations inLighting Design/Stage Lighting,Technical Direction/Production & Stage Management,Costume Design/Costuming, andScene Painting are available. Students in the program have opportunities to learn about set design, set painting, stage lighting and sound, and costuming. The program provides students with a safe and creative environment to develop their technical skills and pursue their passion for theater.[12]
Edward R. Murrow high school offers a range of dance classes that cater to students with varying levels of experience. The courses include Introduction toDance,Modern Dance,Latin Dance, Physical Movement, Theatre Movement 1 and 2, Advanced Dance Class, and Dance Ensemble/Choreography. Students can also take Dance History and Literacy as an education broadening module. Dance Ensemble includes Introduction to Dance and other advanced dance classes, where students can develop their skills and technique.[13]
The Career and Technical Education Department at Edward R. Murrow High School offers a range of courses that develop students' 21st-century skills to prepare them for college and careers.
Some of the courses offered in the department include Computer Applications, Multimedia Design 1 & 2, Digital Marketing 1 & 2, Fundamentals of Web Design I & II, Accounting, College Accounting, Career & Financial Management, Stocks and Investments, International Business, Business Law,Entrepreneurship, andVirtual Enterprise.
The Entrepreneurship program, which requires a three-year sequence of courses including Computer Applications, Entrepreneurship, and Virtual Enterprise, is a New York State approved CTE program that offers students the opportunity for work-based learning experiences such as guest speakers, career research, mock interviewing, job shadowing, mentoring, and internships. Completion of the program offers students the chance to earn Economics credit, Career & Financial Management credit, as well as a Technical Endorsement on their diploma. Students who score 75% or higher on their technical assessment may also earn college credit. Additionally, internship and scholarship opportunities may be available to students who successfully complete the program.[14]
The Edwin P. Hubble Planetarium, located within Edward R. Murrow High School, was established by astronomy teacher Sam Storch in 1979. Named after the American astronomerEdwin P. Hubble, the planetarium offers students enrolled inAstronomy andEarth Science classes an opportunity to study the cosmos. The Astronomy course is a science elective that runs for a full year and is available to students who have fulfilled their Living Environment and Physical Science requirements, with priority for seating given to seniors.
Recently, the planetarium underwent a complete overhaul, including new carpeting, seating, ceilings, and dome lighting. A new sound system was also installed, and a fully digital system with Uniview© software was developed by SCISS corporation.[15]
The school hasSpanish andChinese transitional bilingual program open to English language learners. Classes in two major content areas are taught in English and the other language.
Edward R. Murrow High School offers a range of athletic programs across various seasons, as part of the Public School Athletic League (PSAL).[16] The school shares an athletic field withMidwood High School.
The fall season includes girls'volleyball, girls'cross country, girls'varsity soccer, boys'badminton, and co-edbowling. In the winter, students can participate in girls' and boys'table tennis, girls' and boys' varsitybasketball, and boys'wrestling. The spring sports lineup features girls' badminton, girls' wrestling, co-edgolf, girls' junior varsity soccer, girls' varsitysoftball, and boys' volleyball.
Students at Murrow have the opportunity to participate in sports not offered at their school by joining teams at neighboring schools via the PSAL All-Access Program. This includes boys'fencing atBrooklyn Tech, boys'football, boys'baseball and boys' soccer atWilliam E. Grady, and girls'tennis and girls'swimming atAbraham Lincoln.
In the 2023-2024 school year, Murrow expanded its athletic offerings, adding boys'basketball, girls' basketball, and girls'softball.[17]
The Edward R. Murrow chess team has won seven national championships, fifteen state titles and sixteen city championships. The Edward R. Murrow HS chess team's success has been chronicled in the bookThe Kings of New York, by sportswriterMichael Weinreb.The Kings of New York follows the 2005 championship-winning season of the Murrow Team. It was reviewed positively in the March 4, 2007 NY Times Book Review.[18] The team was personally congratulated by President Bush in the Oval Office on December 15, 2004. A movie, based on "The Kings of New York" will begin production sometime in 2014.[citation needed]
Agriculture
A up & coming program through the school’s science department is their program focused on urban agriculture. This includes an aquaponics system, rooftop greenhouse and more. The Murrow chapter of theNational FFA Organization is one of the most active in the New York City area
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The school can be reached bypublic transportation, including theNew York City Subway'sAvenue M station (Q train) as well asMTA Regional Bus Operations'B6,B9,B11,B49,B68,BM1,BM3 andBM4 routes.[20]
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