Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment High School (BASE)
In September of 2003, the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment (BASE) opened its doors for the very first time, to a group of 125 ninth graders. BASE is a new "small" public high school that will be capped at 500 students. The mission of BASE is to create a learning community that embraces the environment as a body of knowledge for understanding the world we share; while engaging and addressing the needs of our students.
In 2002 Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) and Prospect Park Alliance (PPA) were challenged to bring their considerable resources to bear to help improve public education in central Brooklyn. BBG and PPA began a rigorous process that culminated with BASE being selected as one of eight applicants out of 60 in Brooklyn to be part of the city-wide New Century High School Initiative to convert large, under-performing high schools into clusters of small themed schools. Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment (BASE) High School is a New Century High School, created in collaboration with New Visions for Public Schools, the New York City Department of Education, the United Federation of Teachers and the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Open Society Institute.
Students at BASE have the opportunity to take advantage of three campuses that are within a stone's throw of each other: the Academy itself, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Prospect Park. BBG and PPA are involved in the development and implementation of curriculum with the school administration. Representatives from the institutions serve on the School Leadership Team, which advises on governance and ongoing operations of the school. BBG and PPA contribute lessons and activities that directly support required New York City and State curricula. Students attend "field study" that is built into their regular school schedules at either Prospect Park or the Garden; during this time they use a wide range of equipment and learn scientific research skills that would not otherwise be available. BBG and PPA staff participates in and lead staff development workshops at BASE on a regular basis to maintain regular contact with the school community. BASE parents are invited to workshops and events hosted by both partner institutions.
For more information about BASE, please visit the school’s website: basehighschool.net
If you are interested in finding out how you or your organization can become involved in BASE please contact Ely Arnone, Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Program Manager for BASE at elyssaarnone@bbg.org. Thank you.