Edward R Murrow High School

Great school with many unique courses that you will not find anywhere else. The staff is friendly and very helpful. There is no place like Murrow.

Aa a proud Murrow alumni I’ve had many fun experiences as well as the guidance counselors always managed to give me A H & J opta. This school is a hidden gem with many gems attending as well

I had a really horrible experience attending Murrow. I received no support from teachers and deans. The teachers and deans hated students and took their anger out on them. There are some corrupt individuals running this school. Fortunately, I transferred out after 2 years of attending.

If your looking for a school with a discouraging staff who is clueless and completely disorganized, this is the school for you and your child. Having common sense and caring about their students is not a factor in their everyday business.
When initially applying to the school a make art teacher made it his business to completely discourage my child from attending. I asked her if she still want to go, her determination refused to let his words get to her. She was accepted, but into another program.
Since school started I’ve received a phone call everyday stating that my child was absent, yet she would come home with homework everyday.
Her french teacher left me a message on my phone to weeks after school started saying she has not seen my child at all. Come to find out she was calling her by another students name the whole time even after my child corrected her.
Also, I needed to change my last name on my child records back to my maiden name and that’s nothing but a run around. They said come back with my divorce papers. I did. Then they say that nothing on my certified divorce papers states that I changed my name back to my maiden name. Meanwhile my current drivers license (and official government license) has my maiden name on it and so does every other proof of name that I offered.
I’m sorry, but only one word comes to mind and that’s idiots. Thank god I’m pulling my child out next year and moving. For years of their unprofessional nonsense would drive any parent insane.

I am a parent of a Murrow student. The good news: located in a lovely, middle class, residential neighborhood. Building is new and in good condition compared to most NYC public schools. Teachers are mostly young, friendly and pleasant. Many after school programs for the ambitious child. Nice variety of courses.
The bad news: This school is good for a self motivated, naturally hard working student. However, if a student wants to goof off and underperform, Murrow gives him every chance to do so. The atmosphere is too laid back, in my opinion, for students who need to be pushed or who need structure. Underachievers would love this place because Murrow gives them every chance to continue their mediocre ways.
If a child needs help and a parent is turning to the school for assistance, guidance counselors and other administrators are often hard to find. If you need an appointment to see someone, forget it. You may get one eventually, after several calls and waiting a week or two.
In sum, this is a good place if a student loves and excels in art, music or theater or if a child is bright, hardworking and motivated to do well academically without much coaxing. But if you have a child that needs to be pushed, supervised, etc., he or she will most likely fall down a big black hole in Murrow.

The educators who work at this school hate children and take out their personal frustrations on the developing minds of confused teenagers. I had a horrible time here and received no support from any teachers. If you go to Murrow you are a number, don’t expect to make any friends with any teachers, they’re all too abused by the past generations of cruel kids that went there before you. I transferred out as soon as possible.

A poem:
You used to be awesome
Now you’re kinda gross,
I hope students will blossom
But don’t keep teachers too close.
The essence of the school which was about freedom and treating these high schoolers like high functioning people has long since past my graduation when I visit each year.
I got to this school about one year for Mr. Bruckner and then Mr. Lodico for the rest. I don’t blame Mr. Lodico but things did change drastically after Mr. Bruckner left. And of course, the No Child Left Behind Act which ruined the school which brought mostly rejects who increased the crime/​fight potential at our school as well as even more academically unmotivated students. It was no longer the school ruled by happy misfit hipsters & hippie kids (though I guess the drama club thought they were important I’m sure).
On the one hand, fantastic variety of classes and the freedom to choose what you want and some amazing teachers. On the other hand, the type of teachers you’re not sure why they still have jobs which is always unfortunately inevitable in life. We all know which teachers hooked up with which students, but that is also inevitable with life.
The freedom of the curriculum would cause people to cut a lot and fail a lot of classes, but I think that was the test of the system which was great. Now they constantly check your program which is great, but some of us didn’t want to carry them because most people can memorize their schedule and don’t need to cut. The lack of trust defeats the whole point of an open system.
But for all the times I underestimate Murrow and it’s unfortunate lack of «oomph» these days, I’ll be in class now thinking «shouldn’t we have learned this in high school?» and apparently most people didn’t.

Deep in the heart of Midwood, Brooklyn lies a hideous bunker-​esque High School with rules just begging to be broken and a 70’s rainbow interior. It was here I experienced some of the best days and some of the worst days of my teenage years.
These years were a trash accented whirlwind of russians in juicy suits with zebra highlights, forties of OE in the hallways (special occasions ONLY), megalomaniacal musical theater students, a senile principal, and the ever present challenge of how to attend as few classes as possible without failing.
Unfortunately, this challenge sometimes got the best of me. While Edward R. Murrow was definitely a school built upon freedom, it definitely has way too much faith in its students… what teenage rebel is going to fight the urge not to cut class when the opportunity is handed to them? There were scores of students basking in the fluorescent light at any given time. Since every student had multiple «Optas» (Free periods), it was expected that a large fraction of the student body (4,000 strong) would be hanging out in the hallways or smoking in the courtyard. This left a lot of room for debauchery. I had friends who would go months without attending class. They’d just sit in their favorite hang out spot. All. Day. Every. Day. Honestly, if you’re going to cut class, don’t you have anywhere better to go?*
While I had a lot of room to screw up (and I did, resulting in Catholic summer school in the Little Haiti of Miami), I also had a lot of opportunities. No High School that I know of offers courses in Magical Realism, Broadcasting (I can do a REALLY good newscaster impression), a myriad of shop classes, yoga, pilates, AP Human Geography, courses dedicated to the Holocaust or the Middle East… it was really incredible. Sometimes I wish I had taken advantage of more of these classes instead of engaging in rocker vs. russian mob youth wars or tanning on the soccer field. Either way, I graduated from this school completely enriched and with a lot of stories to tell.
* My idea of somewhere better to go was running from truancy officers, pretending to be a lesbian and dining at Pomme Frites.

I don’t know how useful this review is since I graduated from Murrow in *gasp* 1992, but I have nothing but fond memories of my time there. Murrow’s structure is very different than most high schools. It is set up sort of like a «proto-​college», where you are given some of the freedoms afforded to college students while still of high school age. Most interesting are the use of «Optas», free periods of about 45 minutes where a student is allowed to do whatever they wish. This can mean sitting in the halls doing nothing, studying in the library, chatting with friends or getting tutoring.
For those who use the time wisely, Murrow will be a hugely enriching experience, for those who don’t, well, most people tell me they had fun anyhow.
Murrow had (at the time I went) a wonderful theater and music program. It also participated in the College Now program, allowing seniors to take college level courses after the school day was over to gain some advanced college credit. The teachers were always helpful, understanding and smart.
I’d gladly send my kids there if I ever had the chance.

I never understood people who hated high school. I had a blast, but maybe it was because I never felt like I was living the life of Veronica Mars and her high school experience. No jocks, no athletic events, BUT we did have a championship winning chess team!
The school allows a lot of freedom and prepares you well for college. I spent my free time (OPTAs) hanging around with friends and never had any issues with cutting classes. The teachers were great and there’s a wonderful curriculum — when I tell people, my high school major was business, they’re shocked! Classes and teachers also change 4x a year, which is more good prep for college.
My favorite part of Murrow was when I had pretty much finished all my requirements for graduation and I had F-​J band OPTA — allowing me to leave around noon. Ah, those were the days!

I currently attend this school (graduating 2010) and let me just say: THANK GOD.
I transferred here from Midwood my sophomore year and the atmosphere is just so homely. It’s a great school :) maybe I’m a sucker for it?
The school is large and one doesn’t have to try hard to just melt into it. Teachers will honestly care for you if you put effort into your work (when you think about isn’t so hard, even AP classes).
Managing time between OPTA’s and class isn’t hard so long as you don’t get carried away with cutting (which some of my friends had fallen into).
I feel as if whatever I write will not be enough to fully explain my happiness for attending this school. All in all, it’s an experience!

This is my alma mater. Alright it’s been a little while since I attended. I’m not say how long cause I don’t want to date myself. But I loved my experience in Murrow. The teachers were great and the school gives you lots of freedom, at least when I attended. I made lots of great friends there many of whom I am still friends with today.

I go here and quite frankly as much as people say this place i really like it i wouldnt want to go anywhere else, its really safe, u have lots of freedom and alot of nice people the buiding is depressing though