ACADEMICS
Our Philosophy
Summit Academy brings the benefits of rigorous scholarship to one of Brooklyn’s most underserved communities. We provide scholars in Community School District 15 with a public education that addresses their academic needs and delivers on the aspirations they and their families hold for them. The school prepares scholars to reach grade-level expectations and develop the skills, competencies, and character necessary for success in college. Our academic design cultivates scholars through three venues: our Academic Program, our Character Development, and our Community Leadership Program.
Our Curriculum
OUR CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO
⦁ Attain college readiness goals
⦁ Raise student performance
⦁ Hold our scholars to a higher standard
⦁ Prepare them for college and life
Why Summit Academy- Revolutionizing Learning
Summit Academy is a metaphor for success. We recognize that there is no easy solution to closing the achievement gap. To this end, we have committed to a series of design elements, which, combined, have proven to result in outstanding academic performance. These include:
Small classroom size to ensure that scholars receive individualized instruction
Master teachers coupled with meaningful, strategic professional development
Family involvement
More instructional time
Fully integrated 6-12 instruction
Character development and advisories
High expectations for academics and behavior
Assessments and data to drive instruction
Middle School Foundation
Middle school curriculum focuses on building a foundation of skills and knowledge in the core content areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. Our philosophy is one of remediation that leads to acceleration. We provide 120 (110 to 6th grade only) instructional minutes in literacy and math daily—over twice the amount provided in local public schools. Scholars participate in a weekly college preparation class, which develops age-appropriate academic skills that transcend mere individual content areas and classroom education to lay the foundation for success. SACS 8th graders are enrolled in Regents-level courses, including Algebra I, Living Environment, US History and Government, and Spanish I, setting them up for high school success.
High School Foundation
We recognize that when a scholar is applying for college, high school performance will be one of the main factors in the admission decision. Admissions officers are interested in seeing that the scholar was challenged within the secondary school environment. Colleges pay close attention to curriculum rigor, grades earned, and the work accomplished. Our philosophy is grounded in this reality, and our educational program is designed to ensure scholars have the skill set and transcript that will open up doors of opportunity. To this end, Summit Academy offers high school scholars up to seven (7) AP courses to choose from beginning in the 10th grade. We also have a partnership with St. Francis College (Bridge Program), affording scholars the opportunity to take Algebra II for college credits.
View Our Syllabi
Parent & Scholar Handbook
This family resource guide aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the policies you can anticipate as a scholar & parent of Summit Academy.
Summit Academy's Cell Phone Policy
Scholars are entitled to bring their phone to school with them each morning. However, their phones should be turned off when they enter the school building, and their cell phones will be placed in SACS-issued “Yondr” security pouches every day by Dean Williams. While smartphones are a normal convenience in our society, we want to ensure that scholars are focused 100% on their instruction. Additionally, we want to protect scholars from the negative consequences that can occur from social media and from recording devices. To review the policy in its entirety, please click here.