School Selection

Blue Engine launched a multi-stage school selection process in the fall of 2009.  During the first stage, we began an open search to generate a list of potential school partners based on the following criteria, followed by a rigorous internal review process that will culminate in the selection of a limited number (1-2) of site partnerships with public high schools in New York City.  Partnership announcements will be made in the late spring of 2010, with program operations set to begin in September.  If you are a school leader interested in a potential Blue Engine site partnership, we encourage you to contact us at info@blueengine.org

Demonstrated Need

• At least 70% of students in the school are low-income, meeting eligibility requirements for free or reduced price lunch
• At least 50% of students entering the freshman class scored below proficient on 8^th grade ELA and/or math examinations
• Room for improvement on select indicators of student performance and progress (including Regents scores) from the prior academic year

Programmatic Fit

• A small to medium-sized student body, with an entering freshmen class of approximately 80-150 students
• A school within close proximity to a subway line, easily accessible to program staff commuting from neighborhoods across the city
• A school that provides dedicated office space for Blue Engine Fellows and staff
• A school that integrates Blue Engine tutorials directly into the instructional day, with the expectation that all students—regardless of ability level—will enroll on a for-credit basis

Visionary Leadership

• A principal and leadership team committed to leveraging the power of small group instruction  to improve the academic performance of students across the board
• A commitment to integrating the Blue Engine program into the local school community, including parent outreach and ongoing communications with students and teachers
• A willingness to think radically about how to increase academic rigor and how to help prepare greater numbers of students to graduate with the skills they will need to succeed in college

If you are interested in learning more about a potential Blue Engine partnership, we encourage you to contact us for more information.