Life Academy High School for Film and Music (21K559)

2630 Benson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214, Brooklyn
Phone: 718-333-7750
Hours: 8:15am - 2:31pm
School Website: https://LIFEACADEMYHSNYC.ORG
NYCDOE Website: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/schools/high-school/21K559/
Quality Snapshot: View snapshot
Building Access Profile: View profile
School Leader: Eugenia Kelch (ekelch@schools.nyc.gov)
Respect for All Liaison: Alfred Fisher (afisher3@schools.nyc.gov)
Sexual Harassment Prevention Liaison: Alfredo Lopez (alopez255@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Stella Inserra (sinserra@schools.nyc.gov)
Calculate commute

About

At LIFE Academy High School for Film and Music, we infuse the study of film, filmmaking, video/audio production, and new media into student-centered, project-based courses. We focus on building communication skills through writing, presentation, and creativity. We seek students who want to learn in an exciting atmosphere of excellence and creative collaboration. We offer customized instructional support and challenging academic program in a supportive learning environment.

Reports: School Budget | PTA Financials | Room Utilization

Teachers with more than 3 years of experience: 65%

Academic Highlights: Art and Film Production courses including cinematography, storyboarding art, video editing, script writing, voice over, National Honor Society, Customized instruction to meet the needs of all learners, CUNY College Now, Work Based Learning Opportunities, Internship program

Other Features: Career and Technical Education (CTE), College Courses Offered, College Trips, Computer Science Coursework, Expert College and Career Advisor On Staff, Financial Literacy Coursework, Paid Internships, Summer Bridge

School Features:

  • School whose primary location is co-located with another school
  • Guidance Counselors

AP Courses, Languages, Sports, Art
AP Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP African American Studies, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Science (College Course [Credited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Course List
View Courses
Languages Offered
Spanish
Boys PSAL Sports
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL Sports
Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Flag Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Table Tennis, Volleyball
Co-ed PSAL Sports
Cricket, Stunt
PSAL Team
Lafayette Educational Complex
This school is part of a PSAL team comprised of the following schools:
High School of Sports Management (21K348)
International High School at Lafayette (21K337)
Kingsborough Early College School (21K468)
Leaders High School (21K572)
Life Academy High School for Film and Music (21K559)
Clubs
After-School Tutoring, AP for All, Beautification Committee, College Now, Double Dutch, Film, Gaming Club, Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), iLearn, My Brother's Keepers...[more]
Art Courses
Digital Media Arts
Arts Summary
At LIFE Academy High School for Film and Music in Brooklyn, we offer a multi-year sequence in film, as well as a revolving track in music (audio) production. Our mission is to engage diverse learners through a variety of media and inquiry-based projects encompassing social, economic, gender identity, racial, and political (restorative) justice. Film and music literacy are woven through core classes by introducing students to various tools to cultivate, unlock, and express their creativity in multiple modalities. Striving to offer a career technical education (CTE) using film (media & communication), students apply critical thinking skills via projects and peer review and critiques of works in progress, while building technical skills as we evolve. A celebration of student artwork is evidenced in the hallways and virtually on the website anchored in excellence. While making connections and building bridges across the core and elective curriculum, we continue to partner with and immerse students in the arts from the Tenement Museum to the Metropolitan Museum. Internships in the spring and summer across the city involve the arts, film, and music industry, such as the Manhattan Theatre Club, while others serve on teen programming committees from The Door to the Brooklyn Museum. For the eighth consecutive year, our seniors' student work has been accepted into the Brooklyn Borough Arts Festival for the virtual and in-person screening at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.
Programs
Life Academy High School for Film and Music(L38A)
Visual Art & Design

Method:
Requirement:
Ed. Opt. programs admit students across all academic levels. Students are grouped into Low, Middle, and High categories based on a composite of their academic data. One-third of offers are made to students in each category.
Priority:
  • (Group 1) New York City residents

Applicant Analysis
2024-252023-24
GE applicants/seats:6 / 66 (0.09)13 / 66 (0.20)
SWD applicants/seats:7 / 15 (0.47)8 / 15 (0.53)
Rank Avg: 6.50
OffersOffers - Waitlist
Estimated Cutoffs
  GE:All accepted
  SWD:All accepted
Offer Prediction:
School Student & Admissions Statistics
School Year
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
Total Students Across All Grades
195
222
247
    Grade 12 Students
57
58
69
    Grade 11 Students
42
56
55
    Grade 10 Students
56
55
66
    Grade 9 Students
40
53
57
Avg. Class Size
24.4
24.8
25.1
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
9.7
10.5
13.8
Safety Comp. / Susp. / NYPD
<5 / 0 / 0
14 / 14 / 1
14 / 78 / 0
Attendance %
87%
83%
Graduation %
73%
91%
College %
52%
64%
Total Applicants / Seats
Total Offers
140 (13) / 81
37
145 (21) / 81
49
169 (21) / 81
82

This data was gathered from various NYC DOE reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/information-and-data-overview

Survey Summary & Data (2024-25)
Student Responses 89% responded
Academic Rigor 
  80.50%
Academic Engagement 
  80.18%
Safety 
  87.00%
Bully Prevention 
  82.00%
Inclusivity 
  87.55%
Mental Support 
  82.50%
Environment 
  80.29%
Post-School Support 
  83.00%
Teacher Responses 86% responded
Academic Rigor 
  97.00%
School Satisfaction 
  95.75%
Student Behavior 
  96.00%
Student Support 
  100.00%
School Leadership 
  100.00%
Instructional Clarity 
  100.00%
Instructional Development 
  99.33%
Post-School Support 
  100.00%
Family Responses 85% responded
Education 
  98.00%
Teacher Support 
  97.67%
Safety 
  73.33%
School Community 
  63.38%
School Leadership 
  86.20%
Post-School Support 
  97.00%
IEP Support 
  100.00%

Note: Yellow bars indicate city-wide averages for the associated category

View Full NYC DOE Survey Results:

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly school surveys: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/nyc-school-survey

Academic Summary & Data (2023-24)
Academic Proficiency
4-Year Grad. %
  75.00%
CC Regents
  55
Non-CC Regents
  56
Impact Score
  0.39
Performance Score
  0.32
College Aptitude
CCR
  32.80%
SAT Math
  382
SAT R/W
  405
Postsecondary
2-Year College 18.60%
4-Year College 31.30%
Unknown 50.10%

View Full Academic Data:

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly quality reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/school-quality-reports-and-resources

School Demographics (2024-25)
Student Population:
Male 44.60%
Female 55.40%
English Language Learners:
  47.20%
Students with Disabilities:
  17.90%
Economic Need Index: 
  91.40%
Student Ethnicity:
Asian 12.80%
Black 6.70%
Hispanic 44.60%
White 34.90%
Other 1.00%
Teacher Ethnicity:
Black 30.00%
White 30.00%
Other 40.00%

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's demographic snapshots: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/information-and-data-overview

IEP Statistics (2023-24)
IEP Services
Students with IEPs
  19.40%
Students with SETSS
  0.00%
Students with ICT
  13.50%
Students with SC
  0.50%
Has all programs
  92.00%
Has all services
  88.00%
IEP Student Performance
Regents English
  67
Regents Gl. Hist.
  63
4-Year Grad. Rate
  62.5
IEP Movement
Good
IEP Support 
  100.00%

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly quality reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/school-quality-reports-and-resources

Special Education Programs & Services (2024-25)
ProgramFully ReceivingPartially ReceivingNot Receiving
Integrated Co-Teaching Services>5 (94%)<=5 (6%)0 (0%)
Special Class0 (0%)0 (0%)<=5 (100%)
ServiceFully ReceivingPartially ReceivingNot Receiving
Counseling Services>5 (92%)N/A (N/A)<=5 (8%)
Occupational Therapy<=5 (100%)N/A (N/A)0 (0%)
Physical Therapy<=5 (100%)N/A (N/A)0 (0%)
Speech-Language Therapy>5 (94%)N/A (N/A)<=5 (6%)
TransportationNumber Receiving
Curb to School6 (86%)
Stop to School<=5 (?)
Unassigned<=5 (?)

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's Special Education Reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/government-reports/special-education-reports

ELL Performance (2023-24)
Regents English
  51
Regents Gl. Hist.
  62
Regents US Hist.
  60
Regents Algebra I
  60
Regents Living Env.
  55
4-Year Grad. Rate
  46.7
ELL Progress
  62

This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly quality reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/school-quality-reports-and-resources

Similar Schools
Cyberarts Studio Academy
237 7 Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215, Brooklyn

Total Students:
267
Academic Score:
  36.87%
Survey Score:
  8.51%
Flushing International High School
144-80 Barclay Avenue, Queens, NY 11355, Queens

Total Students:
410
Academic Score:
  52.92%
Survey Score:
  8.64%
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School
120 West 46 Street, Manhattan, NY 10036, Manhattan

Total Students:
316
Academic Score:
  51.26%
Survey Score:
  8.83%
Claremont International High School
240 East 172 Street, Bronx, NY 10457, Bronx

Total Students:
395
Academic Score:
  44.92%
Survey Score:
  8.58%
International High School at Union Square
40 Irving Place, Manhattan, NY 10003, Manhattan

Total Students:
361
Academic Score:
  42.74%
Survey Score:
  8.54%
Brooklyn International High School
49 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Brooklyn

Total Students:
308
Academic Score:
  49.60%
Survey Score:
  8.53%
International High School at Lafayette
2630 Benson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214, Brooklyn

Total Students:
349
Academic Score:
  49.12%
Survey Score:
  8.23%
High School For Climate Justice
320 East 96 Street, Manhattan, NY 10128, Manhattan

Total Students:
380
Academic Score:
  46.07%
Survey Score:
  8.10%
Community School for Social Justice
350 Gerard Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451, Bronx

Total Students:
187
Academic Score:
  38.35%
Survey Score:
  8.77%
Bronx School of Law and Finance
99 Terrace View Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463, Bronx

Total Students:
332
Academic Score:
  43.58%
Survey Score:
  8.60%