Higher education officials celebrated the expansion of CUNY's dual enrollment College Now program that is offering more high school students from independent religious schools a chance to take college classes in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson joined CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez on Tuesday for a visit to Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School to highlight the expansion of the program that began in 2024. Between last fall and this fall, the number of students enrolled from independent religious schools in College Now programs, administered by Brooklyn College, increased from 32 to 78 students, officials said.
“This expansion reflects CUNY’s commitment to providing high-quality education to all of New York City’s students,” said Rodríguez. “We’re helping more students build real academic momentum and enter college with the confidence, credits, and preparation they need to thrive both in a higher education setting and beyond.”
At Yeshivah of Flatbush, 23 students are currently enrolled in year-long College Now courses—including Physics, English Composition, American Pluralism and College Algebra—that are taught directly at the high school by Yeshivah of Flatbush teachers who are also Brooklyn College adjunct lecturers. An additional 30 students are also taking Calculus at the high school through the College Now program.
The program serves as a model for future collaborations with other private and religious schools, and is part of the university’s broader strategy to enhance educational access to all students across the city. The expansion is funded through partnerships between CUNY campuses and the yeshivas, officials said.
“The College Now partnership between Brooklyn College and Yeshiva of Flatbush reflects our ongoing commitment to Brooklyn’s vibrant community,” said Anderson, who was joined by Lillian O’Reilly, vice president of enrollment management and retention at Brooklyn College. “We’re excited to welcome these students into College Now and support their success well beyond.”
The initiative helps students to be better prepared for college, said Rabbi Joseph Beyda, head of school at Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School.
“We’re excited to offer our students college-level courses through CUNY’s College Now program," he said.
Rebecca Weinwurzel, a junior at Joel Braverman High School, said taking challenging courses now will be worth it later.
“Yes, the work is harder and I’m putting in more effort, but I'm gaining so much: a whole semester of college, all from the comfort of my high school, with classmates and teachers I already know. It really pays off in the long run,” she said.
A second yeshiva, Magen David Academy in Bensonhurst, is also part of the program and offers College Now classes on nutrition through Brooklyn College.
