School Choice and Focus Schools
The New York State Education Department has identified all eight of the Elmira City School District's elementary schools as "Schools in Good Standing."
The New York State Education Department has identified Ernie Davis Middle School, Broadway Middle School, Elmira Free Academy and Southside High School as "Focus Schools."
Designations such as "School In Need of Improvement" (SINI) ended at the end of the 2011-12 school year. The state has replaced them with the following new terms: "Focus School," "Priority School" and "Focus District."
The New York State Education Department has designated the Elmira City School District a Focus District: a district with at least one low performing accountability group (racial/ethnic groups, low-income students, English language learners or students with disabilities). Statewide, the total number of Focus Districts is 70, while the total number of Focus Schools is 496.
The designation of Elmira's four secondary schools as "Focus Schools" is based on the count of students in subgroups who did not score at proficient levels on the 2010-11 New York State assessments in English Language Arts and Math.
EFA, Southside High School and Ernie Davis Middle School all made significant gains in both ELA and Math during the 2011-12 school year. However, the State Education Department has not factored these gains in the past school year into the Focus Schools designation process.
Since all eight elementary schools are in good standing, none are subject to School Choice.
In addition, the district will not be using outside agencies to provide Supplemental Education Services for the 2012-13 school year. Tutoring will be provided through Elmira City School District teachers and staff to all students as needed.
For more information about School Choice, please contact Derek Almy, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, at 735-3040 or dalmy@elmiracityschools.com.