About New District Schools

The DOE strives to ensure that all students in New York City have access to high-quality schools at every stage of their education. In order to understand where and how we can improve our schools, we consider school performance data and community needs.

Graduation Rates at New District Schools are Higher Than at the Schools They Replaced

The major drivers to determine whether to open a new school are:

Availibility of high-quality school choices for students within their   
    community
 Availibility of space including underutilized and new construction
 The need to replace a consistently underperforming school
    

Assessing community needs: Department officials meet with families and school staff, Community Education Councils, District Leadership Teams and other community leaders over the course of the year to gather information to aid our planning. The DOE makes preliminary recommendations about the need for new schools throughout the City as we meet with local communities to better understand their educational priorities and determine what types of new schools will best meet their needs.

Evaluating School Performance Data: If a school is struggling, we provide support and work to make positive changes. In some cases, if schools are very low performing, more significant action is required, including phasing out schools. As part of the replacement strategy, the DOE will open a new school in its place to create a better educational option for the community.