BROOKLYN URBAN GARDEN CHARTER SCHOOL

www.bugsbrooklyn.org

Charter School 310 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School (BUGS), located in the Windsor Terrace neighborhood of Brooklyn, is a tuition-free public charter school serving students in grades 6 through 8. Founded on the principle of "sustainability," the school integrates environmental stewardship into its academic curriculum. BUGS distinguishes itself by using the local community, the urban environment, and ecological issues as a framework for project-based learning, aiming to cultivate critical thinkers who are prepared to address real-world challenges.

The school emphasizes a holistic approach to education that prioritizes social-emotional development alongside rigorous academic standards. Through its focus on interdisciplinary study and hands-on experiences—often involving local parks, gardens, and community partnerships—BUGS seeks to foster a culture of inclusivity, environmental responsibility, and civic engagement. By bridging traditional classroom instruction with nature-based learning, the school strives to prepare its diverse student body for high school success and lifelong learning.

310

Total Students

37.9

Full-Time Teachers

8.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

31.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for BROOKLYN URBAN GARDEN CHARTER SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	176
Hispanic	74
Black	27
Asian	10
Two or More	22
Pacific Islander	1

White
176 (56.8 %)
Hispanic
74 (23.9 %)
Black
27 (8.7 %)
Two or More
22 (7.1 %)
Asian
10 (3.2 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	BROOKLYN URBAN GARDEN CHARTER SCHOOL
Phone:	(718)280-9556
Website:	http://www.bugsbrooklyn.org
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	310
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	37.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	8.2
NSLP Participation:¹	N/A
Qualified Free Lunch:	91
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	8

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 111

Grade 7 107

Grade 8 92