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Chancellor Farina's Showcase Schools Set Low Bar for Achievement

Jenny Sedlis // October 10, 2014

Chancellor Farina's Showcase Schools program is yet another disappointment for struggling schools awaiting much-needed help. The minuscule scale of the initiative and the low bar for student achievement is an insult to kids whose futures hang in the balance. Almost half of the so-called showcase schools just announced are failing our kids at unacceptable rates. Some of these schools may have positive attributes or interesting programs, but it is totally irresponsible to hold them up as a gold standard when they bear no proof of improving overall student achievement outcomes.

This administration promised to help all 1.1 million of New York City’s public school students, but to date, it has neglected the vast majority. Parents are infuriated by the glacial pace of school improvement, a sentiment shared by the principal of Boys and Girls High School who recently stepped down out of frustration. Students need to see a real plan for turning around a system that sadly continues to fail too many of them.

Background

Yesterday, Chancellor Farina announced the "Showcase Schools" program, comprised of 17 schools that will open their doors to visitors three times a year. Of the 13 schools selected with available 2013-2014 assessment data, 6 have failed to meet the citywide average in ELA or math proficiency.

School Name

Math Pass Rate

ELA Pass Rate

Learning Focus Area

The Highbridge Green School

2.9

8.0

Middle School Quality Initiative (MSQI)

M.S. 442 Carroll Gardens School for Innovation

4.7

8.3

Supporting All Students through Innovative Instruction

P.S. 188 The Island School

15.1

9.3

Community School Program

M.S. 340 North Star Academy

18.0

41.1

Middle School Quality Initiative (MSQI)

Academy of Arts and Letters

32.4

44.3

Fostering Student Voice, Ownership and Independence

East Side Community School

37.2

36.3

Teacher Development through School Culture

P.S. 65 - The Raymond York Elementary School

40.2

25.3

Family and Community Engagement

P.S. 071 Rose E. Scala

41.7

31.3

Middle School Social Studies

M.S. M247 Dual Language Middle School

45.1

17.4

English Language Learners

Central Park East II

55.6

45.1

Early Childhood Education

P.S. 170

55.6

37.1

Early Childhood Education

P.S. 048 William C. Wilcox

65.0

54.6

Elementary Social Studies

P.S. 69 Vincent D. Grippo School

65.2

43.8

Robust Arts Program

City Average

34.5

29.4

 

State Average

35.8

31.4

 

P.S. 231

District 75

District 75

Innovative Scheduling to Support All Students

Food and Finance HS

High School

High School

Career and Technical Education

Academy of American Studies

High School

High School

High School Social Studies

New Dorp High School

High School

High School

Structural and Instructional Reform