By Gina Martinez
An already struggling Flushing High School has not seen much improvement.
The state Education Department released progress reports for the state’s 62 struggling schools. During the 2015-2016 school year Flushing High School was the only New York City school on the list that failed to make sufficient gains in student academic achievement and other categories outlined by the state. Each school’s “improvement plan” included a minimum of 10 indicators that covered suspension rate, graduation rate and student attendance. The state DOE said the schools that fail to make improvements have one more year to meet indicators or they face the possibility of being managed by an outside administrator.
On average the struggling schools met 68 percent of their indicators, with 56 of the 62 meeting at least half of their indicators and 38 meeting two-thirds or more of their indicators, according to the DOE.
Flushing High School was one of six schools in the state that failed to meet half its indicators. The other schools are Poughkeepsie Middle School, Museum School 25 in Yonkers, School 41-Kodak Park in Rochester and Build Academy and Frank Sedita School No. 30 in Buffalo.
Flushing High School has been under threat of closing down for several years. Students have under performed on tests and the school’s current graduation rate is 57 percent. In 2012 the school was one of 24 to be shut down as part of the federal DOE’s turnaround plan. The principal and half of the staff were expected to be replaced. Under the turnaround plan all the teachers had to reapply for their positions. Plans were dropped months later when an arbitrator ruled that the city’s staffing plans violated its contract with the teachers union. Planned changes were reversed, leading students and staff to complain of disorganization and confusion at the beginning of the fall 2012 semester.
Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa said the results from the latest report were encouraging.
“I am encouraged that so many schools are showing signs of progress,” she said. “Their improvement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the teachers and administrators, as well as the determination of the students and their families. But we know there is still much work to be done at every one of these schools—and the State Education Department will continue to help support them in their turnaround efforts.”
State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said her agency will continue working with the struggling schools.
“Virtually every school on the struggling schools list demonstrated progress on the indicators for which they committed to improve performance,” she said. “But we can’t let up now. The Regents, the Education Department and I will continue our efforts to help get all of these schools—and all of their students—on a path toward success.”
Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmart
