Queens’ schools get good grades on report cards

Among the trends detailed in the recently released Progress Reports, which evaluate how city public schools are performing, is that the highest average school score is in Queens’ District 25.
This marks the first time that such a report has been conducted. Each school is given a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F based on how it is evaluated in three areas - school environment, student performance and student progress. The majority of the grade is based on student progress, which accounts for 55 percent. Another 30 percent is based on student performance and 15 percent is based on school environment.
Also in Queens, District 26 was found to have the second highest amount of elementary and middle schools receiving A’s, with a total of 16. It was followed by District 25.
Overall, Queens had more elementary and middle schools with A grades than any other borough with 32 percent.
“Information is power, which is why we’re committed to providing clear, comprehensive information about our schools to educators and to families,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “With these Progress Reports, parents no longer have to navigate a maze of statistics to determine how their child’s school is doing and how it compares to others. And our educators now have a new tool to help them see exactly where their school needs improvement and find similar schools that could help them do that.”
The Progress Reports included 1,224 schools, 23 percent of which were given A’s. Another 38 percent received B’s, 25 percent C’s, and 8 percent D’s. Four percent were given an F grade.
Along with the schools that have already been given grades, there are an additional 23 high schools that are still being reviewed.
“Schools can’t improve without first knowing exactly what they’re doing well and what’s not working,” said Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. “These Progress Reports will give educators and parents the clear information they need to make smart decisions and accelerate progress in their school. The data the Progress Reports provide will also allow us to hold schools accountable for how well students are learning.”
Schools that were categorized as “well developed” on Quality Reports from last year and received an A for this year’s Progress Reports will be able to receive extra funding if they become demonstration sites.
The schools that were given D’s and F’s will have to create “action plans,” with the assistance of the Department of Education, to address their school’s specific problems. If such schools fail to improve, they could eventually be closed or have changes in their leadership.
Full details of the Progress Reports and how specific schools were graded is available on the Department of Education’s web site, https://schools.nyc.gov/