NYCDOE Middle School Students

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NYCDOE Middle School Students
We serve 222,508 students in grades 6-8.

• 10 have special education needs
• 10.5 are ELLs
• 51 are male
• 49 are female

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Middle School Grade Configurations
Our middle school students attend 521 schools
with middle grades.54 of these have 6-8
configurations.
Number of Schools by Grade Configuration1
3
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1 Excludes D75, SE, and charter schools.2
Includes 17 schools with grades 5-8 and 9 schools
with grades 6-9.3 Includes K-8 configurations
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Middle School Performance
Source New York City Department of Education,
Assessment and Accountability, http//schools.nyc.
gov/daa
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Middle School Indicators of High School Success
Proficiency in ELA and Math1
Passing Core Academic Courses3

• Students who pass core academic courses during
  the middle grades are more likely to graduate
  from high school in four years.

• Students who score at level 2 or above on 8th
  grade state assessments are more likely to
  graduate from high school in four years.

Middle School Indicators of Success
High Attendance3
Positive Behavior2

• Students with fewer suspensions and disciplinary
  infractions in middle school are more likely to
  graduate from high school in four years.

• Students with higher middle school attendance
  rates are more likely to graduate from high
  school in four years.

1 NYCDOE longitudinal analyses2 Balfanz et al.
(January 2008). Keeping Middle Grade Students on
the Path to High School Graduation.3 Both NYCDOE
analyses and the Belfanz study identified these
indicators. For passing courses, Belfanz
identified passing ELA and math in 6th grade as
an indicator of high school success. NYCDOE data
identified passing core academic coursework in
8th grade as an indicator of high school success.
Similarly, Belfanz looked at 6th grade attendance
and NYCDOE examined 8th grade attendance.
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Supporting Middle School Improvement

• Middle School Initiative
• Created Office of Middle School Initiatives
• 5 million to support 51 under-performing middle
  schools
• Regents course expansion pilot program
• Middle School Working Group
• Recruitment Assistance Project (RAP) expansion in
  middle schools
• Improved professional development options
  targeted to middle grades educators and
  administrators
• Focus on finding what works schools with
  demonstrated best practices, inquiry team work
• Fair Student Funding allocations added weights
  for middle grades students
• Creating a Blueprint for Middle School Success
  for 2008-09
• Clear expectations for the necessary conditions
  for middle school success
• Successful practices in academic excellence,
  teacher and school leader quality, adolescent
  development, family and community partnerships,
  and school structures
• Comprehensive supports for all middle school
  students to prepare them to meet and exceed
  promotion standards
• Ongoing input from and collaboration with parents
  and community members

What WeHave Done
What WeAre Doing
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Highlight Regents Course Pilot Program
The Regents Course Pilot Program was initiated in
a subgroup of the 51 schools targeted in the
Middle School Initiative in October 2007.

• These components are designed to
• Promote a smooth transition between middle school
  and high school
• Focus on developmental needs of middle school
  students
• Improve middle school students high school
  readiness

• Program Components
• Middle school and high school partnerships
• Ongoing professional learning and collaboration
• Development of a pacing calendar
• Peer tutoring
• Parent workshops

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Essential Elements of Middle School Success
Adolescent Engagement
Academic Excellenceand Rigor

• Quality Teaching and Leadership
• Differentiated, Engaging and Standard-based
  Instruction
• Evidence-based Practice
• Interdisciplinary, Real-Life Application,
  Technology-Infused and Aligned Curriculum
• Multiple Opportunities for Student Learning and
  Success

• High School, College and Life Planning and
  Readiness
• Engaging Curricula and Co-curricula Options
• Advisory and Guidance/ Advocate Support
• Access to Social Services and Heath and Wellness
  Options
• Civic Responsibility

Building a Culture Of Middle School Success
Organizational Efficacyand Coherence
Family and Community Engagement

• Small Learning Communities
• Shared Leadership Accountability
• Professional Learning Communities
• Equitable Resource Allocation
• Time for Teacher Learning, Planning and Student
  Support

• Parents as Partners
• Focused Collaboration with Community
  Organizations, Corporations and Universities
• Multiple Communication Pathways
• High expectations for all students and adults