NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio delivers speech at Bronx Latin

CPCSLjrU8AAYD3wOn September 16, 2015 New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered his Equity and Excellence speech at Bronx Latin. Our school was honored to host the mayor and over 300 of the top officials in New York City’s education system, including our schools Chancellor Carmin Farina

During the speech, Mayor de Blasio had some kind words for Bronx Latin as well:

It’s an honor to be here at Bronx Latin. I want to thank Principal Annette Fiorentino of Bronx Latin and the principals at the two other schools that share this building… We’re so happy to be here, because the kids and educators at Bronx Latin exemplify what we want to see, and what we are going to see, at schools all across the city. Bronx Latin looks like a lot of our schools – 92 percent of its students live in poverty. But a love of learning permeates every corner of this place. Students excel in so much, from English to biology to history. 89 percent of them graduate in four years. Bronx Latin students are showing us the future of New York City education. Because what’s happening at Bronx Latin can happen at any school in our city – and it will.

The roots of that achievement grow right here at Bronx Latin, where all 571 students are offered a chance to attend Saturday Academies throughout the year. Principal Fiorentino says that typically, about 300 students show up on any given Saturday morning – 300 coming to do SAT and Regents prep. Those of you who have ever lived with a child, you know how hard it can be to get one out of bed on a Saturday – much less 300.

Feel free to check out the speech in its entirety below: