Williamsburg Charter High School (WCHS), the longest operating charter high school in Brooklyn, will officially serve the community for another five years. On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Board of Regents voted to issue WCHS a full-term five-year renewal, the greatest allowable charter term in New York State.
In order for a charter school to be issued a renewal, the school must demonstrate educational success, organizational soundness, and faithfulness to the charter and law.
At the school’s renewal hearing in October 2018, over 80 constituents from the community came out in support of the school, including District 34 Councilman Antonio Reynoso’s Chief of Staff, Jennifer Gutierrez, representatives from the 90th Precinct, local business owners, and former staff and alumni.
In a message from the Board of Trustees Chairperson to the community, Lourdes Rivera-Putz, a board member for all 15 years of the school’s operation, stated:
As a lifetime resident of Williamsburg, I want to take the opportunity to remind everyone of what an honor and responsibility it is to use public dollars to educate the children of our community. As we move forward into this next era, let’s be mindful of our mission to prepare our students on their journey to become citizens of the local and global community. Together, we can make a difference if done with compassion, intellect and good intention.
Tanishia Williams, Head of School, added:
It has been one of my greatest honors to serve this community and we all look forward to five more years of maintaining our momentum and striving for even greater successes.
Williamsburg Charter High School received its operating charter in February of 2004. The public, community charter school initially served 400 students across grades 9-12 and operated from 424 Leonard Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The School moved to 198 Varet Street, in Bushwick in September of 2009 and now enrolls up to 963 students.