They’re all kings and queens!
College students on the Rosalyn Yalow Constitution College within the South Bronx — the place 22% of pupils are homeless and practically all are economically deprived — simply received a New York state chess championship and can compete in a nationwide chess competitors subsequent month in Baltimore, Md.
“This success demonstrates what occurs while you stability preparation and alternative for youngsters in The Bronx,’’ crowed Alec Diacou, govt director and founding father of Yalow Constitution College, to The Publish on Thursday.
“Every time the bar is ready excessive for youngsters, they meet it,’’ mentioned the previous economist and banker.
The little-known however mighty Ok-8 college is called after Nobel Prize-winning nuclear physicist Rosalyn Yalow, who as soon as labored on the Bronx Veterans Administration and was hailed for her pioneering work involving diabetes.
At Yalow, college students far outperform their native and state friends on standardized assessments whereas being tutored in extracurriculars equivalent to chess and fencing — proving poverty is just not future.
The youngsters’ college day, from 8 a.m. to five p.m., weaves the coveted further courses into common instruction at its spot in a constructing additionally occupied by Cardinal Hayes Excessive College on the Grand Concourse.
The college’s Ok-8 crew received the “beneath 900,” or newbie, class on the 58th Annual New York State Scholastic Chess Championships held in Saratoga Springs in March.
The group included 6-year-old Roger Basurto, among the many youngest gamers within the competitors, and 11-year-old Ishaan Nikhil, who solely began taking part in chess within the fall.
“While you see a great transfer, play it earlier than you overlook it,” Roger advised The Publish of his chess technique.
Ishaan mentioned taking part in chess teaches life’s classes.
“Dropping is just not a mistake, however not studying from shedding is a mistake,” he mentioned.
College students at Yalow additionally positioned second as a crew within the Ok-to-5 “beneath 1,400,’’ or elite, class, fourth place within the Ok-to-5 “beneath 1,000” class and seventh within the Ok-to-5 “beneath 600,’’ or novice, class.
Twenty-six college students from Yalow competed in opposition to greater than 1,700 college students from all through the state.
Yalow’s chess crew is coached by a number of high internationally acknowledged chess gamers, together with Irina Krush, the primary and solely lady to earn the Grandmaster title for the US.
Samuel Lin, who scored a 2025 New York State Scholastic Chess Championship and was on the second-place crew within the “beneath 1,400” class this 12 months, mentioned, “Most of my greatest recollections are associated to chess.
“I really benefit from the particular coaching classes with Grandmaster Irina Krush and Nationwide Grasp Ilia Kakushadze and competing with my pals.
“I all the time attempt to have enjoyable and be taught from my very own errors — and my opponents’ errors — slightly than simply specializing in the outcomes,’’ Samuel mentioned.
“Additionally, strive to not be nervous, as a result of your nerves can affect how your mind performs.”
Diacou referred to as the efficiency of the chess groups “wonderful.
“This success isn’t nearly chess. It’s about making ready college students for all times,’’ he mentioned.
“At Rosalyn Yalow, our purpose is to equip each pupil for the long run. It’s why we created the perfect and most subtle chess program in America, rivaling any high personal college domestically,”
Diacou, who launched the publicly funded Yalow in 2015, mentioned he determined to make chess and fencing necessary on the college after his three sons competed in each actions whereas rising up in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen. He may afford the after-school actions for his children, he mentioned.
He needed the identical alternative for his charter-school college students, 96% of whom are thought-about poor or economically deprived, 22% are homeless, 17% have particular wants, and 40% are English Language learners.
About half the scholars are black, principally West African immigrants, and the opposite half are Latino.
Chess teaches college students how one can motive, strategize and take care of adversity, Diacou mentioned.
He mentioned fencing teaches the identical traits, calling it “bodily chess.”
“These children are thriving right here. We’re a crown jewel in The Bronx,” Diacou mentioned.
At Yalow, 73% of scholars handed the state’s standardized math examination, 34 proportion factors larger than the 39% cross fee surrounding conventional public colleges in Bronx District 7 and 16 proportion factors larger than the 57% statewide common.
In the meantime, its college students’ 64% cross fee on the state’s English Language Arts examination was 25 proportion factors larger than surrounding district colleges and 11 factors larger than the state common.
“Our job is to shut achievement hole,” Diacou mentioned.
Yalow, which enrolls 410 college students from grade Ok-to-6, will add a seventh grade within the fall and an eighth grade in 2027.
