Edward R. Murrow High School
| Edward R. Murrow High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1974 |
| Type | Public School |
| Principal | Allen Barge |
| Students | 4,000+ |
| Grades | 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th |
| Location |
1600 Avenue L, Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Coordinates | 40°37′15″N 73°57′33″W / 40.6207°N 73.9592°WCoordinates: 40°37′15″N 73°57′33″W / 40.6207°N 73.9592°W |
| Colors | Green and White |
| Newspaper | The Murrow Network (Murrow's Online Newspaper) |
| Website | www.ermurrowhs.org |
Edward R. Murrow High School, is located in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, New York City, New York and is part of the New York City Department of Education. This school is known for its outstanding theater program. Their success in the arts was recognized by Mel Brooks, who granted the school to be the first ever to gain rights to the smash hit musical "The Producers" in Spring 2008. It is a school of the arts where students are either music, dance, communication arts, theater, or art majors. This school was created under the supervision and leadership of Mr. Saul Bruckner, who was also the first principal of the school.
Murrow H.S. opened in 1974 under the supervision and leadership of Saul Bruckner as principal. The school was named for the pioneering television newsman Edward R. Murrow. Murrow H.S. was founded according to the pedagogical theories of John Dewey and the learning methods of John Dewey High School. Mr. Bruckner retired in 2004 and died on May 1, 2010, in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Anthony Lodico became Murrow's second principal. In March 2012, Anthony Lodico announced his resignation from Murrow in order to accept the High School Superintendent position. On April 2, 2012, Allen Barge assumed the role principal of the school.
Murrow's Vision
We are committed to providing the CARE that our students need and deserve to prepare them to be COLLEGE READY, CAREER READY, and LIFE READY. Our Instructional Focus for the 2013-2014 school year is Questioning and Using Assessment in Instruction.
Murrow's Mission Statement
…because at Edward R. Murrow, we CARE about our students!!!
Academics
The Virtual Enterprise program has been regarded as one of the best in the country, winning such honors as 1st place at the National Business Plan competition in 2005, 2007, and 2008.
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 "OPTA's" (Optional Time Activities), used for studying, eating, or relaxing.
Murrow has a number of unique features including:
- NYC High School adjusted its grade policies in 2013 so that a "U" is used instead of an "N". The letter grading system, with each letter corresponding to a numerical measurement, e.g. MI = 98-100, E = 90-97, G = 80-89, S = 79-65, U = 65 - 55, NS = below 55 (No Show = student who never reported to class), and MI for Mastery in Independent Study.
- In calculating the average, E is treated as a 95, G = 85, S = 75, and U = 55. This means that for getting the highest grade in all classes, a student will not achieve an average higher than 95. In college admissions applications, an explanatory letter is forwarded to colleges to explain this fact.
- Instead of using numbers to represent class periods, Murrow uses letters from A-J, excluding I. The periods are called "bands" (e.g., A-Band, D-Band). Some students take classes that meet before A-Band and after J-Band. These bands are "0 (zero)-Band" and "K-Band"
- There are no daily "home room" meetings. Entering students are assigned to a "Student Communication Section", or SCS, and remain in that SCS until graduation. The SCS meets only on an "as needed" basis and is used solely for dissemination of school-wide administrative/logistical information (e.g., distribution of report cards or new class schedules; election of class officers); 2 morning bands are cut short to allow time for SCS to convene. For mandated city-wide testing, students usually attend a half-day of classes, followed by the test in the SCS.
- While many state-mandated courses (e.g., science- and math-based courses) are geared toward students of a particular class year, other elective courses (e.g., performing arts, physical education electives) are not; students taking these electives will usually find themselves in classes with students from other class years.
Edward R. Murrow High School is also known for its outstanding theater program. Their success in the arts was recognized by Mel Brooks, who granted the school to be the first ever to gain rights to the smash hit musical "The Producers" in Spring 2008.
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 KINGS OF NEW YORK: A Year Among the Geeks, Oddballs, and Geniuses Who Make Up America's Top High School Chess Team", by sportswriter Michael Weinreb. "The Kings of New York" follows the 2005 championship-winning season of the Murrow Team. It was reviewed in the March 4, 2007 NY Times Book Review. 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.
Student Demographics
There are 4,000+ students in the school as of the 2013-2014 school year. The demographics of the school are 32% White (non-Hispanic), 24% Black or African American, 28% Asian, 20% Hispanic or Latino and 0.3% Native American. The student/teacher ratio is 30/1. The Department of Education has released the annual Progress Reports for all high schools and Murrow received a "B" grade on the report.
Notable alumni
- Darren Aronofsky - Director
- Joey Badass of Pro Era - Rapper
- Jean-Michel Basquiat - Artist
- Salvijus Bercys - International Chess Master
- Michael Brenyo - Lieutenant, NYPD
- Yvette Clarke - US Congresswoman
- Jerry Colonna - Noted Internet Investor, Philanthropist
- Wendell Jamison - Journalist
- Jason Katims - TV Writer and producer
- Irina Krush - US Women's Chess Champion
- Alex Lenderman - International Chess Grandmaster and 2005 World under 16 Champion
- Zoe Lister-Jones - Actress
- Lil Mama - Rapper
- Javier Munoz - Actor (In the Heights - Broadway)
- John Petralia - Chief Marketing Officer for Bloomberg LP
- Christie Pusz - Actress
- Edward Quist - Director and artist
- Jeffrey Alan Schechter - Screenwriter and producer
- Erica Sheffer - Playwright (Russian Transport)
- Peter Steele - Singer/Song Writer. Type O Negative and Carnivore
- Michael Spiller - TV Director and Producer
- Capital Steez of Pro Era - Rapper
- Marisa Tomei - Actress
- Richard Velazquez - PepsiCo Executive and first automotive designer at Porsche AG (Germany) of Puerto Rican descent
- Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys - Rapper
- Dyme-A-Duzin - Rapper
- Joseph Fischetti - Expeditors International of Washington
- Henry Li - Expeditors International of Washington
- Eric Mausler - Expeditors International of Washington