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District 25 superintendent reports mixed academic results, attendance gains and new arts funding
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Mike reported ELA/math performance gaps—especially for English language learners—arts funding deployments, teacher recruitment results and noted the district's improvement to second‑highest attendance citywide.
Dr. Mike (Superintendent, District 25) delivered the district report at the May 19 President's Council meeting, briefing attendees on academic performance, arts funding, recruitment and attendance.
Academic performance: the presentation stated that the district’s year performance shows roughly 48 percent of students at grade level overall. The presenter gave subgroup details: about 63.4 percent of non‑ELL students were at grade level while approximately 6 percent of ELL students were at grade level. A cited average pass rate for some ELA sprint results was 34 percent, with top performing schools at about 81 percent. The superintendent said the district will focus curriculum and supports on key subgroups including English language learners (ELLs), students with disabilities and Black and Hispanic students.
Arts and civic events: the district received arts funding used to bring assemblies and performances—Chinese dance, Mexican and Colombian dance, West African drumming, juggling and Broadway experiences—to over half of district schools; some events target students with high attendance as a reward. The district also announced a District 25 Civic Share Fair on May 22 at PS/MS 164 to showcase student civic work and participatory budget projects.
Recruitment and class‑size updates: the district held a teacher recruitment fair in late April with “hundreds of candidates,” and more than 20 schools received approval for class‑size reduction, creating multiple vacancies to fill for next year.
Assessments and timelines: the presentation noted the New York State diagnostic testing and assessment windows: NYSISLAD was listed as underway through May 23 and year diagnostic ELA/math assessments through June 13; Regents exams for middle‑to‑high school students begin in June. The 3‑K offer release was noted as occurring the day after the meeting.
Save for College and parent engagement: the superintendent said just over 30 percent of families currently participate in the Save for College program; he plans to add a district goal to increase participation and will return with a proposed numeric target.
Attendance: district attendance has improved; the presenter said District 25 now has the second‑highest attendance rate in New York City and chronic absenteeism has fallen over the past three months.
The remarks were presented as administrative updates; no formal board action on these items was recorded during the President's Council meeting.
