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Volume XIX • Number 38 • October 4 - 10, 2012 •
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School report cards: Double disaster for PS 24 Results at PS 81 and RKA seem to be more promising
By MIAWLING LAM P.S. 24 recorded a devastating C grade on this year’s report cards, while P.S. 81 and Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy each earned a B. The annual evaluations released by the Department of Education on Monday reveals Riverdale’s three schools posted mixed results on the 2011-2012 school progress reports. The report assesses schools based on four key categories—student progress, performance, attendance, and feedback from parents, students and teachers about their schools. P.S. 24 emerged as the area’s worst performer and scored just 48.8 points out of a possible 100—a C grade—on the city’s latest progress report. Last year, it earned a B. Of great concern, however, was the school environment category, where P.S. 24 was slapped with its third F grade in four years after earning a mere 3.6 points out of a possible 15. According to city officials, just 53 schools out of nearly 1,200 citywide earned an F on the back of the latest parent and teacher surveys. Moreover, just 43 schools in the entire city posted a lower score in the important school environment category. The school also received a C on student progress, but pulled their overall score up with an A in student performance, which reflects students’ proficiency on the 2012 state tests. This is common in schools in more middle class neighborhoods. Scores are often high, but the progress the students make in moving forward is sorely lacking. The varied performance means P.S. 24 recorded a percentile rank of 37, meaning its performance was better or equal to that of only 37 percent of the city’s elementary schools. Last year, that ranking was 53. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said he continues to be skeptical of the city’s scoring system. “While I don’t place a lot of stock in these ridiculous school report cards, I would certainly rather see an A than an F,” he said. “Work needs to be done, specifically P.S. 24’s school environment grade, as it does not reflect well on the school and is in fact the lowest grade possible. That’s just not acceptable.” It was the continuing bad relations between principal Donna Connelly and the
Students at the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy and some younger helpers washed cars as a fundraiser held at the school this past weekend. See story on Page 5. teraching staff that resulted in the poor grade. Every single teacher participated in the survey, and 56 percent reported that they “did not trust the principal at her word.” The survey was taken before Connelly eliminated half of the school’s music program, which led one staffer to ask that if it had, “is there a grade even lower than an ‘F’?” At the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy middle school, M.S. 141, student progress—which accounts for 60 percent of a school’s progress report grade—rose 9.2 points to 29.9 points, the highest jump across the three local schools. However, its score was weakened in the school environment category after it earned 5.2 points—a D grade—on the
back of parent and teacher surveys. Overall, M.S. 141 boasted the biggest improvement and earned 55.5 points out of a possible 100, a massive 20-point jump from last year’s score of 35.5 points. Principal Lori O’Mara was enthusiastic in a statement to parents, “delighted to report” that the middle school had earned a B on the progress report. “The official reports released yesterday indicate that the middle school’s scores have improved by two letter grades in two years,” she said. “This achievement represents the work of the entire school community, from teachers and staff to parents and students. I am very proud of this accomplishment.”
O’Mara noted areas of growth she was particularly proud of and cited several initiatives that led to the improvement. “In addition to the valuable contributions of the teaching staff, I attribute the success to the many changes in the past few years such as the RKA Way, Overcoming Obstacles, curricular revisions, and extended-day programming including academic support and clubs.” She also acknowledged the need for vigilance in reviewing the curriculum. “Whenever great news comes our way, I am filled with pride, but also I remain cognizant of the work still to come,” she said. “Specifically that work comes as we help Continued on Page 11