Pictured from left: Superintendent Tamra Collins, Principal David Allen, NYCPS Chancellor David Banks, Bard President Leon Botstein, Councilmember Chris Banks, Bard Vice President Dumaine Williams, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council, Sen. Roxanne Persaud, Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, NYCPS Head of School Design Shawn Rux, among members of BHSEC Brooklyn’s inaugural class.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — To celebrate the opening of its fourth public high school in partnership with New York City Public Schools, and its tenth early college campus nationwide, Bard Early College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 27th ahead of its inaugural school year at BHSEC Brooklyn.

Alongside a New York State Regents Diploma, Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) Brooklyn will award an Associate in Arts degree from Bard College, tuition-free and by the end of the 12th grade. This public early college high school will provide a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. The new school will ultimately serve up to 500 students, with 90% of seats committed to students from across Brooklyn, 40% specifically for families living in East New York and Brownsville. 

Community members, elected officials, incoming students and staff, and members of Bard College and NYCPS gathered to cut the ribbon on BHSEC Brooklyn, the tenth early college campus in the Bard Early College network. BHSEC Brooklyn joins a large network of early college students, faculty, and families committed to expanding access to college education. 

Speakers at the Ribbon-Cutting included: founding Principal David Allen, Bard College President Leon Botstein, New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks, NYS Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young, Superintendent Janice Ross, Councilmember Chris Banks, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council, and State Senator Roxanne Persaud.

“With a strong partnership that has spanned two decades, New York City Public Schools is Bard College’s most long-standing partner in early college work,” said Vice President and Dean of the Bard Early Colleges Dr. Dumaine Williams. “The opening of Bard High School Early College Brooklyn represents an exciting expansion of our collaboration and speaks to the success of the Bard Early College model here in New York City as well as in Newark, New Orleans, Cleveland, Baltimore, Hudson, and Washington, D.C.  We are thrilled to deepen access to rigorous and intellectually inspiring opportunities for high school students in Brooklyn and across New York City.” 

“The opening of a Bard High School is always a momentous occasion. It symbolizes the steps this administration is taking towards fulfilling the promise of ensuring that more students have access to the life-changing opportunities that accelerated schools provide,” said Chancellor David C. Banks. “We are grateful to our partners at Bard College for standing with us as we work to provide all students with various school models that best fit their needs.”

BHSEC Brooklyn is also specifically designed to bring the Bard Early Colleges’ proven model and impact to students from Brooklyn. “Far too many generations of Brooklynites in East New York and Brownsville have faced unreasonable barriers to higher education, and the opening of Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) is an important step to finally tearing those barriers down,” saidBrooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I’m proud to support the opening of BHSEC because children and families deserve accelerated learning opportunities that are both accessible and affordable to all – and Bard Early College’s model has not only proven to be a success for NYC students but nationwide. Congratulations to the administrators, the staff, and the inaugural class of BHSEC! I can’t wait to see all that you will contribute to Brownsville, East New York, and all of Brooklyn.”