Achievement First Crown Heights Elementary School

790 East New York Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11203
Phone: 718-774-0762
Fax: 718-774-0830

Opened: August 2005
Grades: K to four
Number of Students in 2009-10: 422
Student Demographics in 2009-10:
49% Boys, 51% Girls
99% African American or Hispanic
72% Qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch

Overview

Achievement First Crown Heights Elementary opened in Brooklyn in 2005 as one of the first two Achievement First schools in New York City. The elementary program has a special school culture that pairs fun incentive programs with a thoughtful emphasis on diversity, conflict resolution and personal enrichment. Students can earn “paw prints” (the school’s mascot is the cougar) and redeem them for special events and activities. In addition, a public scoreboard tracks weekly homework completion and attendance rates for each class, and winning classes are treated to a celebratory party. To learn the school's REACH values (Respect, Enthusiasm, Achievement, Citizenship and Hard Work), students read stories, role play, sing songs and create artwork related to each core value. At the end of each month, the school gathers to celebrate what they have learned and to reward students who exemplify REACH.

School Leader

Marin Smith is the principal of Achievement First Crown Heights Elementary. Ms. Smith began working with children in 2001 as a counselor for adjudicated youth in rural Maine. As a member of the New York City Teaching Fellows, she taught third grade at PS 62 in the South Bronx. Ms. Smith came to Achievement First Crown Heights Elementary in 2005 as a founding kindergarten teacher. Before becoming principal, Ms. Smith served as the school’s academic dean. She is extremely proud of her students, who have outperformed district, city and state averages on New York State English Language Arts and math exams. Ms. Smith holds an A.B. from Harvard University and an M.S. in early childhood education from Mercy College.