14 New York City schools slated to close, including school where student fatally stabbed
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina announced a proposal Monday to close several struggling schools and merge or truncate others.
Officials say 15 proposed interventions are part of the Renewal School program, based on thorough analyses of school quality that included test scores, enrollment, graduation rates, college readiness, attendance, chronic absenteeism, classroom instruction and school leadership. Five schools that are not in the Renewal program have also been stamped for closure.
Farina determined that students currently attending schools proposed for closure or truncation will be better served at the stronger school options available to them. The DOE's Office of Student Enrollment will work individually with each impacted student at a closing or truncating school to ensure they have a seat at a higher-performing school next year.
The 9 Renewal Schools proposed for closure are:
PS 050 Vito Marcantonio (04M050)
Coalition School for Social Change (04M409)
High School for Health Careers and Sciences (06M468)
New Explorers High School (07X547)
Urban Science Academy (09X325)
PS 92 Bronx School (12X092)
Brooklyn Collegiate: A College Board School (23K493)
PS/MS 42 R. Vernam (27Q042)
MS 53 Brian Piccolo (27Q053)
The 5 Renewal Schools proposed for merger are:
Holcombe L. Rucker School of Community (08X332) and Longwood Preparatory Academy (08X530) - Longwood Preparatory Academy will be the prevailing school. Both schools are Renewal Schools, both schools are in the same building, and the merged school will remain in the Renewal program next year.
Accion Academy (12X341) and Entrada Academy (12X384) - Accion Academy, which is not in the Renewal program, will be the prevailing school.
East Flatbush Community and Research School (18K581) and Middle School of Marketing and Legal Studies (18K598) - East Flatbush Community and Research School, a Rise school, will be the prevailing school. Both schools are in the same building.
Middle school grades of Gregory Jocko Jackson School (23K284) and Brownsville Collaborative Middle School (23K363) - Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, which is not in the Renewal program, will absorb the middle school grades of Gregory Jocko Jackson School. The elementary school grades at Gregory Jocko Jackson School will remain in the Renewal program.
The 1 Renewal School proposed for truncation is:
Middle school grades of Wadleigh Secondary School for The Performing Visual Arts (03M415) - Next year, the school will serve students in grades 9-12.
This truncation is part of a targeted plan to revamp the high school's arts program. Beginning this year, Wadleigh will enter the Arts High School Planning Process which will include additional funding and extensive support from the DOE's Office of Arts and Special Projects, new partnerships with the Harlem School of the Arts and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the development of a rigorous arts curriculum. The goal of this process is to transform Wadleigh into one of New York City's top audition arts high schools. Wadleigh's staff and administration will also begin regular visits to other arts high schools across the City that have successfully completed the Planning Process.
The 5 schools proposed for closure that are not in the Renewal program are:
KAPPA IV (05M302)
Academy for Social Action (05M367)
Felisa Rincon de Gautier Institute (08X519)
Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation (12X372)
Eubie Blake School (16K025)
The Renewal School program supports long-struggling schools by setting clear goals, providing targeted resources and holding each school accountable for sustainable improvement.
The Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation is where a student was fatally stabbed, allegedly by a classmate, earlier this year. The Department of Education has been monitoring this school and provided ongoing support dating back to the 2016-17 school year, including placing additional safety agents at the school and increasing training for staff members.
Following the stabbing, which also left another student critically injured, DOE leaders have visited the school frequently, including several visits from Farina. The DOE has also strengthened safety measures, selected a new leader, expanded parent engagement and offered more instructional resources and training. Despite these additional interventions, there continues to be instability for students and staff, and the chancellor has determined that Wildlife students will be better served at another school.
Education officials also announced a new school designation called Rise Schools for 21 Renewal Schools that have seen steady gains across multiple measures. All Rise Schools met at least 67 percent of their benchmarks, are not on the state's Priority list, and have demonstrated a sustainable school improvement structure that will allow them to build on their progress with fewer Renewal School resources.
The following 21 schools will be designated Rise Schools:
Manhattan
PS 015 Roberto Clemente (01M015)
Orchard Collegiate Academy (01M292)
Renaissance School of the Arts (04M377)
IS 528 Bea Fuller Rodgers School (06M528)
Bronx
PS 154 Jonathan D. Hyatt (07X154)
Bronx Early College Academy for Teacher and Learning (09X324)
DreamYard Preparatory School (09X329)
JHS 080 The Mosholu Parkway (10X080)
The Bronx School of Young Leaders (10X331)
Urban Scholars Community School (12X463)
Brooklyn
PS 067 Charles A. Dorsey (13K067)
JHS 050 John D. Wells (14K050)
East Flatbush Community Research School (18K581)
Brooklyn Generation School (18K566)
PS 328 Phyllis Wheatley (19K328)
Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory (19K659)
Queens
Pan American International High School (24Q296)
PS 197 The Ocean School (27Q197)
JHS 008 Richard S. Grossley (28Q008)
Ebbets Field Middle School (17K352)
John Adams High School (27Q480)
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