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Study: Schools In Poor Neighborhoods Are Falling Apart
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published May 8, 2013
Modified May 8, 2013
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By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published May 8, 2013
Modified May 8, 2013
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A new study released today by labor union 32BJ, finds that, unsurprisingly, the poorest neighborhoods in the city also have schools in the worst physical condition.
The study details how New York City schools are decaying rapidly, with only half of them in what is considered by the Building Condition Assessment Survey (which was completed by the city) to be in "fair" condition. New York also spends less on maintenance and operations for their schools than nearly all other large school districts, including Chicago, Las Vegas, and Houston.
New York City's highly segregated public school system has had to deal with cuts to the budget for facilities almost every year for the past nine years (Hmmm, what happened around nine years ago?).
The concentration of schools in poor shape, the study found, correlates to poor, predominantly minority neighborhoods, like Richmond Hill in Queens, and East New York in Brooklyn. The school in the worst condition can be found in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, where P.S. 152 has front security doors which will not close.
A study by the U.S. Green Building Council found that “better school facilities can add 3 to 4 percentage points to a school’s standardized test scores, even after controlling for demographic factors.”
Tagged
bloomberg
poverty
schools
segregation
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Max Rivlin-Nadler has been a contributor to Gothamist since 2013. He has also reported for the New York Times, NPR, and The Intercept. His years-long investigation into New York City's arcane civil forfeiture laws led to a series of reforms which altered a practice that had been taking millions from poor communities for decades. Recently, he brought back a surfing habit from a few years on the west coast, and would love to see you all out in the Rockaways.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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