Controversial Success Academy Cobble Hill Releases Application Figures

March 14, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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COBBLE HILL — The Success Academy charter school network released application figures this week that are aimed at dispelling the perception that the controversial Success Academy Cobble Hill, to be co-located in a building already housing three public schools at 184 Baltic St., is an unwanted intrusion on the community and its existing students.

According to a press release that Success Academy sent out Monday, the parents of more than 950 children have applied for the190 available seats at Success Academy Cobble Hill, including 260 “local children.” The application period will close in a week and a half.

The controversy surrounding the school stems in part from the fact that Success Academy was originally authorized to open a school in either District 13 or 14, not in District 15, where it will open Success Academy Cobble Hill.

Last month, a group of parents initiated a lawsuit to block the co-location of the school, alleging that its founders made an illegitimate departure from their proposed plans to open a school in District 13 or 14.

Success Academy Cobble Hill's detractors believe that the co-location will divest resources from children at the three pre-existing public schools that will be forced to share space with the new school.

At a raucous meeting in December, where the Mayor’s Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) voted to approve the co-location, the decision was met with catcalls and cries of “Shame!” from a sign-waving crowd.

The founder and CEO of Success Academy is former councilwoman Eva Moskowitz and the charters for the Success Academy charter schools were granted by the SUNY Board of Trustees.

Check for more coverage of Success Academy Cobble Hill in the coming days.

— Eli MacKinnon