Middle Schools in New York City Geographic District #31

The 12 middle schools located in New York City Geographic District #31 serve students in grades 6-8 and vary significantly in their academic performance. While some schools, like Is 75 Frank D Paulo and Is 24 Myra S Barnes, consistently outperform the district and state averages on state assessments and Regents exams, others, such as Is 51 Edwin Markham and Is 49 Berta A Dreyfus, struggle to meet proficiency standards.

The data reveals a significant gap in academic performance between the top-performing and lowest-performing schools in the district, with the standout schools earning 4-star ratings from SchoolDigger and ranking among the top 200-300 middle schools in New York. These high-achieving schools, like Marsh Avenue School For Expeditionary Learning, demonstrate that a strong school culture, effective teaching practices, and a focus on student learning can lead to exceptional results, even in the face of economic challenges.

The data also suggests that factors beyond just funding and resources, such as school leadership, teaching quality, and student demographics, play a crucial role in student outcomes. The schools with the highest free/reduced lunch rates tend to have the lowest proficiency rates, indicating a strong link between economic disadvantage and academic achievement. However, the data also shows that there is room for improvement in the lower-performing schools, and by learning from the successful practices of the top-performing schools, these schools could potentially see significant gains in academic achievement.