Middle Schools in New York City Geographic District # 1

The middle schools in New York City Geographic District # 1 serve a diverse student population, with varying levels of academic performance and resource allocation. Of the three schools analyzed, Tompkins Square Middle School stands out as the top performer, consistently outpacing the district and state averages in most subject areas, particularly in 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts and 7th grade Math. In contrast, University Neighborhood Middle School and School for Global Leaders struggle to meet district and state benchmarks, despite significant differences in their spending per student and student-teacher ratios.

Tompkins Square Middle School's strong performance is reflected in its 3-4 star rating from SchoolDigger, as well as its 100% proficiency rate in Regents Algebra I, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages. In contrast, University Neighborhood Middle School has the highest free/reduced lunch rate at 86.88%, suggesting a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, while also spending the most per student at $42,535. However, this high spending does not translate into strong academic outcomes, as the school consistently underperforms the district and state.

School for Global Leaders, on the other hand, demonstrates promising performance in 8th grade Math and Science, with proficiency rates above the district and state. The school also has an impressive Regents Algebra I proficiency rate of 66.67%, higher than the district and state. Additionally, School for Global Leaders has a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 7.9, suggesting a more personalized learning environment. These findings highlight the complex interplay between funding, resources, and educational outcomes, and the need for a nuanced approach to understanding and addressing the disparities among the middle schools in this district.