Dive Brief:

• Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a Brooklyn school that has been praised by New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña for its excellence and rigor, was profiled by the New York Times for its approach to teaching in the city's poorest neighborhood, Brownsville..  
• Recognizing the troubles that come with its location, the public middle school utilizes a holistic approach to learning, where students have weekly peer group check-ins and opportunities to visit Manhattan to see how they connect to the bigger world.
• In October, during the most recent NYC Department of Education evaluation, the school was rated as "proficient" for both its curriculum and the efficacy of its teaching and learning.  

Dive Insight:

According to the New York Times,  the school's first class of 45 sixth graders all came in with failing grades, test scores, and many behavior issues. It currently gets about three applicants for every one spot, and instead of screening applicants, it relies on a lottery system. The Times also writes that about 28% of the school is special needs, "a higher percentage than at many schools."