Schools
City Shutters Boerum Hill High School
For the second year in a row, Metropolitan Corporate Academy was targeted for closure after consecutive years of falling graduation rates.
, a high school serving 300 students on Schermerhorn St., was proposed for closure for a second year in a row, the Department of Education announced yesterday.
MCA fought to stay open last year after the city attempted to close 19 schools for low performance. The move, however, was challenged by the teacher's union and NAACP with a lawsuit over the application process, and was ultimately overturned.
This year, the school's chances of staying open are slim. MCA's graduation rates have fallen steadily over the last four years, from 67 per cent in 2005 to 47 per cent last year, according to DOE graduation data.
In addition, the DOE took great pains to ensure it went above and beyond the legal guidelines for closing a school, holding community meetings with parents and conducting an "extensive review of each school's academic record," according to a statement from Deputy Chancellor Marc Sternberg.
"I think we've definitely tried to improve the process this year," added DOE spokesman Jack Zarin-Rosenberg. "And I think we've done a strong job."
Today's announcement was the final round of proposals that took place over the past two days. More than 50 schools were eligible to be shut down, according to a master list compiled by the DOE over the last several months.
Twelve schools — eleven public schools and one charter — were listed for closure yesterday, and an additional 14 were announced today.
The closures are bound to be controversial for education advocates who have been critical of Mayor Bloomberg's efforts to fix failing schools since he took over the school system in 2002. A hallmark of his administration has been to close low performing schools and replace them with charter schools or smaller specialized schools. More than 90 such schools have been closed in eight years.
In Boerum Hill, Councilmember Steve Levin, who opposed last year's proposed closure, expressed "disappointment" at the DOE's decision.
"Over the past year, I have worked with Principal Lennel George to advocate for improved school facilities and support," Levin said in a statement.
Students currently attending MCA will be allowed to finish, but no new students will be accepted for the 2011-2012 school year.
"My main priority is to make sure that all students will continue to receive the support and education they need and deserve," said Levin.
Administrators from MCA could not be reached for comment.
