Brooklyn, N.Y. – Olivia Connie-Perkins, a senior at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts, has made history by becoming the first student from her school's Brooklyn campus to gain acceptance into an Ivy League institution, Brown University. The significant achievement was met with widespread celebration among her classmates, a moment captured in a viral video that circulated in December 2025. The footage showed students erupting in cheers and applause as the announcement was made over the school intercom.
Connie-Perkins, 17, expressed her gratitude for the supportive community, stating, > "[Their reaction] made me realize how great our Success Academy community is. We always celebrate each other and our accomplishments." Her acceptance to Brown University represents the culmination of a rigorous academic journey, which included nearly a dozen Advanced Placement courses. She also fostered her creative interests by founding "Yarn Yard," a student-led club dedicated to art and crocheting.
As a first-generation college student, Connie-Perkins' admission holds particular weight for her and her family. She cited Brown's "beautiful campus" and its "open curriculum" as primary reasons for it being her first choice. The Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts in Brooklyn, which opened in 2022, is preparing for its inaugural graduating class this year, making Connie-Perkins' milestone a foundational moment in its young history.
While Connie-Perkins is the first from the Brooklyn campus, Success Academy as a network has a strong track record of college placements. Myra Blain, Senior Leader at SA’s Brooklyn campus, noted, "This is the ninth year in a row of 100% of Success Academy graduates being accepted to a four-year college, including many acceptances to elite or Ivy League schools." Blain further emphasized that Connie-Perkins' achievement is an inspiration, demonstrating that "when you are given access to opportunity and have the drive and discipline to take advantage of it, anything is possible."
