Report: NYC Offers Too Little Too Late for Over-Age Middle School Students

Middle school students at J.H.S. 088 Peter Rouget in Park Slope.

Middle school students in New York City's public schools who are held back a year or more generally are not getting the support they need to succeed in school, according to a report released Wednesday by the Advocates for Children of New York. Without extra attention, these students are about two to 11 times more likely to drop out.

"They're stuck in limbo until many of them give up and drop out," said the group's executive director, Kim Sweet.

Citing data from the 2011-12 school year, more than 50,000 middle school students were held back at least once and more than 8,500 were held back at least three times. Yet, the report authors said, there are only 450 seats set aside specifically for over-age middle school kids in traditional public and charter high schools.

A Department of Education spokesman said supporting middle school students was a top priority of Chancellor Carmen Fariña. 

“We are committed to meeting the needs of all our students, including over-age middle-schoolers, many of whom face unique challenges and circumstances outside of school," said spokesman Harry Hartfield. " From expanded high-quality after-school options to new community schools opening this year to revamping our promotion policy, we have enacted a number of efforts to better serve the academic, social, and emotional needs of these students and contribute to their learning and positive development."

But there are still many who have fallen through the cracks. Ingrid Lamont said her son Daniel was one of them.

After struggling in elementary school, Daniel was diagnosed with a learning disability and received an individualized education plan, or IEP, as well as medication. Middle school was challenging; Daniel stopped taking his medication and acted out in class. He was held back several times, and now, at 17 years old, he is not attending school at all. 

"They weren't able to give us much options," his mother Ingrid said of the school staff. "He was embarrassed that he was still in middle school at his age."

She said they both were frustrated by the lack of options for Daniel.

"If there had been more help earlier, If there were other resources put in place, I don't think I would be here," she said.