All new students should make an effort to introduce themselves to their guidance counselors in the next few weeks. If you don’t know who your child’s Guidance Counselor, your child schedule should include their names. Guidance counselors can help with general guidance throughout a student's time at Tech, but also will write the counselor recommendations for students' college applications. Guidance counselors also help with schedule changes.

At Brooklyn Tech. HS, Guidance Counselors are not the same as College Counselor. The Guidance Counselor are assigned at the start of Freshman year and stay with the student all four years at Tech. They are crucial in the emotional development and academic development of the student. During their college application process, they are to write a recommendation on behalf of the student.

The College Counselors at Brooklyn Tech assist each grade of students in their proper steps in their College search journey and provide guidance to the steps needed for student college applications.

Summer Reading 2025

Brooklyn Tech HS Students do have summer reading assignment during the summer of 2025. Please click here to see the instructions

Math placement depends on previous coursework:

● Students who completed Algebra I Regents in middle school take Geometry

● Students who completed both Algebra I and Geometry Regents take Algebra II

● Students who didn't take Algebra I in middle school will take Algebra I in a double period during fall semester and Geometry in a double period during spring semester

Please discuss with your student’s math teacher. One possibility is to take the math Regents offered in January (see schedule).

Science placement depends on previous coursework:

● Students who passed Living Environment class and Regents will take Physics or may qualify for AP Biology

● AP Biology is competitive and seats are limited, assigned based on Living Environment Regents scores (from highest to lowest)

All Regents need a score of 65 or higher to receive credit along with class completion. If students pass a class but fail the Regents, they only need to retake the Regents exam (in August or January), not the entire class.

Students will rank their preferred languages in the electives survey. They'll be placed in level 1 or 2 depending on any 8th grade coursework or placement assessment. Students who took a language in 8th grade can take a placement test during orientation or the first week of school to potentially start at level 2.

To ensure your student is placed in a higher-level LOTE course at Brooklyn Tech, here are the most effective steps you can take:

🧭 Placement Strategy for Advanced LOTE Students

1. Contact the World Languages Department Directly

• Reach out to Assistant Principal Cristina Santiago-Campbell at csantiagocampbel@schools.nyc.gov or call the department office at 718-804-6530.

• Explain your student’s background in the language—whether they’re a heritage speaker, have prior coursework, or have lived abroad—and request placement consideration beyond the introductory level.

2. Review the Programming Guidelines

• Brooklyn Tech has a World Languages Programming Guidelines document that outlines placement procedures. While the document itself wasn’t accessible in the tab, it’s likely to include criteria such as:

• Prior coursework or transcripts

• Standardized test scores or proficiency assessments

• Teacher recommendations or interviews

3. Submit any of the following Supporting Documentation(s)

• Middle school transcripts showing advanced coursework

• NYSSB (New York State Seal of Biliteracy) documentation if applicable

• Written statement or portfolio demonstrating proficiency

• Recommendation from a previous language teacher

4. Request a Placement Exam

• Ask if Brooklyn Tech offers a language placement test for students with prior experience. This is often the most direct route to bypassing intro-level courses.

5. Monitor Programming During Course Selection

• During course programming windows, ensure the student selects the appropriate level and flags their advanced status. If the system defaults to intro level, follow up immediately with the department.

Yes

Tech requires students to complete 3 years of the same language. Students must reach level 3 before switching to a different language. For college applications, it's better to show advancement in one language (level 4/AP) than taking another language at level 1 in junior/senior year.

The first thing the parent should do is contact the teacher in question. If the result of that is unsatisfactory, the parent should reach out to the AP (Assistant Principal) of the teacher’s department. Including parent coordinator on the communication is also a good idea.

List of departments and APs can be found here.

School and the PA recommendations: Parents give students the opportunity to try resolving routine problems on their own. Learning to navigate institutions and solve problems without parent assistance is an important part of students' education.