BRONX, N.Y. (WABC) — The Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School has opened its permanent home in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, marking a milestone for the charter school founded to connect academics with basketball-related career opportunities.<\/p>\n
Former Knicks star Earl Monroe joined the celebration alongside former New York basketball favorites John Starks and Stephon Marbury, as well as actor and longtime Knicks fan Tracy Morgan.<\/p>\n
The school’s new facility is a $39.5 million, roughly 70,000-square-foot building serving students in grades 9 through 12. According to school leaders, students spend their first two years focused on reading, literacy and math before moving into specialized courses connected to basketball.<\/p>\n
Monroe said he hopes students will use what they learn to benefit future generations.<\/p>\n
“If they could take whatever they learn from here, spread it around to the next generation, that’s what it’s all about,” Monroe said.<\/p>\n
Founder Dan Klores said the school was designed to prepare students for careers connected to sports beyond playing on the court.<\/p>\n
“This is a school for the off-the-court professions, they want to be you…they want to be print journalist, analytics and marketing,” Klores said.<\/p>\n
The school first opened in 2021 at a smaller temporary location. At the time, Klores said incoming ninth-grade students had an average reading level of fourth grade.<\/p>\n
“I hired 7 literacy enhancement teachers, we went to work with these kids, 5 days a week one on one, one on two,” Klores said.<\/p>\n
School officials said all 98 students in one class were accepted to college, a success they say continues as enrollment has grown to roughly 470 students.<\/p>\n
Senior Monica Barros said she has applied to several colleges.<\/p>\n
“I’ve applied to St. John’s, Stony Brook, SUNY Binghamton, NYU,” Barros said.<\/p>\n
Student Elijiah Torres said he is already thinking about his future career goals.<\/p>\n
“My big life plan is I want to pen my own sustainable tech company,” Torres said.<\/p>\n
The school’s motto is “A ball and a book can change the world,” a message Klores said reflects its mission.<\/p>\n
“if you can encourage a child ..what else is there to do,” Klores said.<\/p>\n
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