www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY May 3, 2020 4
BY JASON COHEN
In the midst of the coronavirus
pandemic, a recent report named a
Bronx high school as one of the best
in the nation.
International Leadership Charter
High School at 3030 Riverdale
Ave. in Kingsbridge, was a recipient
of the 2020 Best of The Bronx Award
in the Secondary Schools category
by the Bronx Award Program.
The International Leadership
Charter High School is a high performing
college-preparatory high
school dedicated to providing students
from the Bronx with an exceptional
high school education.
On April 21, U.S. News and World
Report issued it national rankings
on best high schools. The International
Leadership Charter High
School was in the top third of the 548
New York City high schools and in
the top 2.5 percent of 17,792 schools
on U.S. News’s national Math and
Reading Performance ranking.
“As the fi rst charter high school
that was established in the Bronx
on Sept. 11, 2006, we had a unique
opportunity and an obligation to be
intentional in the implementation
of an academically rigorous college
prep sequence to provide a superior
high school education,” said
Dr. Elaine Ruiz Lopez, CEO and
founder.
The school’s performance in
math and reading, shows it is one
of the most effective schools in the
country at preparing low-income
students for end of grade state assessments.
Additionally, International
Leadership’s four year
graduation rate of 95 percent from
2017 to 2018 ranked in the top 25
percent of public high schools in
New York and it has a college admissions
rate of 100 percent.
The charter high school has
been consistently recognized by
U.S. News and World Report: Best
High Schools from 2013 through
2020 for its student achievement
outcomes, graduation rates and
performance on NYS Regents
exams. Furthermore, International
Leadership ranked among
America’s Top High Schools in
2018: Beating the Odds for Low
Income Students. In 2014, Newsweek
ranked International Leadership
as number 137 in the nation
for Beating the Odds for Students
Living in Poverty in its 2014 “Top
High Schools” Special Edition.
“Our mission is to implement
an academically rigorous curriculum
to elevate students’ intellectual
capacity and provide a superior
college prep experience that
prepares our scholars for four-year
colleges and universities of their
choice,” Ruiz Lopez said. “Our student
performance outcomes have
consistently exceeded city and
statewide graduation rates, outperformed
on the New York State
Regents exams and focused on the
development of leadership skills
with a commitment to community
service.”
Longwood pantry provides
food and diapers for families
in need during COVID-19
BY JASON COHEN
A nonprofi t in Longwood is
serving as a lifeline for families
in south Bronx who are in need
of food and diapers during the
COVID crisis.
Founded in 1990, The Hope-
Line Resource Center for Community
Development at 884 East
163rd St., provides food, diapers,
SNAP and tax services. Executive
Director Maria Cintron
told the Bronx Times, they have
handed out 30,000 diapers and
about 35,000 pounds of food since
the COVID epidemic began.
“Everybody is really grateful
and it feels really good to help
them,” she said.
Cintron explained they had to
change the model of how things
run when the virus arrived. Normally
people make an appointment,
come in, pick out their food
and chat while their kids watched
cartoons. Now due to COVID,
they make appointments Monday
and come for their food and or diapers
Tuesday and Wednesday.
Also, because of social distancing
and the increase in demand
for food, she and her staff
make up boxes of food for each
family that comes in. As per the
new policy, only one person can
come in at a time and they can
only come once a month.
It used to be a personable experience
when people came to
the pantry, she said. Now people
just come for what they need and
leave.
But with only a few volunteers
and a small staff, they have their
hands full. The line to get food
and diapers starts early in the
morning, she said.
“It’s been pretty crazy,” Cintron
commented. “We had to reshape
the facility.”
The past two months have
been a whirlwind for Cintron.
She came back from maternity
leave in March and COVID fell
right in her lap. They adapted,
but with only 1,200 square feet in
A mom receiving food from the
HopeLine Photo courtesy of The
HopeLine
their space, two refrigerators and
offi ces, they are at capacity.
There was one recent family
that stood out to Cintron. Before
the coronavirus arrived a
mother came with three kids
without an appointment and told
them she just moved to a shelter.
She then revealed there were two
more children at home and they
were all starving. The staff immediately
gave them food.
“It’s moments like those that
make you humble,” she said. “I
just love to know that I’m giving
food to someone that will be satisfi
ed for a few meals.”
Cintron, 40, has been with the
organization for seven years and
in 2015, added the diaper pantry.
She explained that this has been
huge for residents, as many people
don’t have big box stores near
them or can afford to travel to
one. So they can go to a bodega
where disapers are limited and
expensive or come to Hope.
Since 2015 they have given
away 600,000 diapers and 175,000
last year. She is glad to make a
difference in so many lives.
“The diaper program I’m
proud of because it’s a unique
program,” she said. “We’re the
fi rst in the Bronx to open a diaper
donation program.”
Bronx high school recognized as
one of the best in the country
General Phone: (718) 260-4595
By Mail: Bronx Times Reporter
3604 B E. Tremont Avenue
Bronx, NY 10465
NEWS
Fax: (718) 518–0038
E-Mail: bronxtimes@cnglocal.com
DISPLAY ADVERTISING
Phone: (718) 260-4593
Fax: (718) 518–0038
E-Mail: lguerriero@cnglocal.com
CLASSIFIED
Phone: (718) 260–2555
Fax: (718) 260–2549
E-Mail: classified@cnglocal.com
This newspaper is not responsible for typographical errors in ads beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2020 by Bronx Times Reporter, Inc., a sub sidiary of
News Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. The content of this newspaper is protected by Federal copyright law. This newspaper, its advertisements, articles and photographs may not be reproduced,
either in whole or part, without permission in writing from the publisher except brief portions for purposes of review or commentary consistent with the law. Postmaster, send address changes to Bronx
Times Reporter, 3604 B E. Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465
MEMBER:
International Leadership Charter High School in Kingsbridge was recently recognized as one of the top school’s in the nation.
Photo courtesy of International Leadership Charter High School
link
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
link
link
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
link
link
link