Edward R. Murrow High School

Edward R. Murrow High School is located in Midwood, Brooklyn, New York, and is operated by the New York City Department of Education. The school is dedicated to the arts, and students can audition for programs in music, fine and visual arts, or theater. The school was established in 1974 by Saul Bruckner, who also served as its first principal, and was named after the renowned broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow. The school was founded based on the pedagogical theories of John Dewey and the learning and teaching methods of John Dewey High School. After Bruckner's retirement in 2004, Anthony Lodico became Murrow's second principal. In March 2012, Lodico announced his resignation, and Allen Barge took over as principal the following month. Academics Murrow's academic year is divided into two semesters. Students receive new class schedules and teachers at the end of January. The daily schedule shifts depending on the day of the week, with class lengths varying from 45 minutes to an hour, and each class meets only four times a week. Rather than having a lunch period or study halls, Murrow students have free periods called "OPTA's" (Optional Time Activities), used for studying, eating, or relaxing. In response to concerns over overcrowding and student behavior during free periods, the school administration made the decision to eliminate Optional Time Activities (OPTAs) during the 2022-2023 academic year. To mitigate this change, students are now required to have a pass in order to visit the library, and are restricted to eating lunch only in their designated cafeteria. The 285 suite, which was previously available to students with an OPTA, has been repurposed as an additional cafeteria to accommodate the students.