Nelson Mandela High School: admissions and school facts
Nelson Mandela High School (DBN 16K765) is a New York City public high school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with 3 admissions programs. Admission: Open, Educational Option (Ed. Opt.), ASD or ACES program. Its average SAT is 760 (2024-25), against a median of 871.5 across NYC high schools. 85% of students graduate in four years.
- Programs
- 3
- Average SAT
- 760
- NYC median 871.5
- 4-year graduation
- 85%
- College and career rate
- 46%
- Students
- 131
- Applicants per seat
- 0
Free. Enter your academic group and borough, and the estimate takes your priorities into account.
How to get in
Seats and applicants are from the DOE directory for the Fall 2025 admissions round. Rules can change: confirm them on MySchools.
OpenK15A
Focus: Humanities & Interdisciplinary
No screening by grades or tests: seats are offered by priority (borough, zone, language) and a random number.
44 seats · 11 applicants · under 1 per seat
Educational Option (Ed. Opt.)K15E
Focus: Humanities & Interdisciplinary
Educational Option: the school takes students of mixed levels. About 16% of seats go to high-scoring students, 68% to mid-range and 16% to lower-scoring; a random number decides within each category.
44 seats · 9 applicants · under 1 per seat
ASD or ACES programK15Y
A specialized program for students with an IEP (ASD Nest, ASD Horizon or ACES). Eligibility depends on the IEP: ask the school or your IEP team.
0 seats · 0 applicants · under 1 per seat
About the school
Nelson Mandela High School for Social Justice takes a student centered approach to encourage healthy identity growth, a critical conscious understanding of the world, and adopting inquiry techniques that support student independence and leadership. Mandela uses media to offer two pathways to explore social justice study: 1.Civics and 2. Technology. Students are able to gain credentials that support employment and further education in each field. Students also engage in metacognitive educational practices organized through the International Baccalaureate Organization. Every student will have an opportunity to earn a job ready Computer Science certifications, immersive experiences in law, social justice and community service that can lead to a New York State recognized Civic Seal. Mandela partners with NEST and offer exclusive seats into this educational program. Mandela also has...
Courses and languages
AP courses (3): English Literature and Composition, United States History, World History: Modern
Sports and clubs
Girls: Basketball, Cross Country, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Volleyball
Boys: Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball
Clubs: Flag Football, Black Lives Matter, Student Government (Barraza), Gaming, Step, Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
Students
- Girls
- 36%
- English language learners
- 8%
- Students with disabilities
- 38%
- Economic need index
- 88%
- Asian
- 0%
- Black
- 79%
- Hispanic
- 17%
- White
- 1%
- Multi-racial
- 2%
- Native American
- 2%
What the school community says
Share of positive answers in the 2026 NYC School Survey. This is a DOE survey, not a rating from us.
- Students feel safe
- 66%
- Rigorous instruction
- 49%
- Supportive environment
- 56%
- Family and community ties
- 91%
Location and getting there
- Address
- 1700 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11213
- Neighborhood
- Bedford-Stuyvesant
- Subway
- A, C to Utica Av
- Bus
- B15, B25, B26, B43, B45, B46, B46-SBS, B65
- School hours
- 8:30 AM – 3:09 PM
- Building access
- Partially Accessible
Where to check and ask
Common questions
How do you get into Nelson Mandela High School?
Nelson Mandela High School admits students through: Open, Educational Option (Ed. Opt.), ASD or ACES program. Families apply by ranking programs on one MySchools application; the application closes December 4, 2026 for fall 2027 entry.
How competitive is Nelson Mandela High School?
In the Fall 2025 round the school’s programs had 0 applicants per seat. Your real chance also depends on your priority group and admissions method.
What is the average SAT at Nelson Mandela High School?
The average SAT was 760 in 2024-25, compared with a median of 871.5 across NYC high schools (DOE data, students who took the test).
What is the graduation rate at Nelson Mandela High School?
85% of students graduate in four years, and the college and career rate is 46% (DOE Fall 2025 directory).
Where is Nelson Mandela High School and how do you get there?
The school is at 1700 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. Subway: A, C to Utica Av. Bus: B15, B25, B26, B43, B45, B46, B46-SBS, B65.
Other high schools nearby
Sources: NYC DOE Fall 2025 admissions directory, DOE InfoHub demographics 2025-26, SAT 2024-25, NYC School Survey. School Match is not affiliated with NYC Public Schools. How we calculate chances, and how accurate they are