All-Boys School Scheduled to Open in Newark

Newark officials are announcing the scheduled opening of the first all-boys public school in the city.

The Eagle Academy for Young Men is planned to open this fall and eventually will serve sixth-graders through 12th graders.

Newark Schools Superintendent Cami Anderson made the announcement Thursday morning at Newark's Metropolitan Baptist Church.

The Eagle Academy aims to reverse the high dropout rate for boys in Newark's school system.

It features small class sizes and focuses on college preparation.

Eagle Academy Foundation president David Banks says 80 students will be accepted into this fall's sixth-grade class, and that the school's enrollment eventually will be about 500. He says the student body will reflect all economic and educational levels.

Eagle Academies already operate in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, N.Y.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)