Report: Number of K-3 Students in classes of 30 or more risen sharply since 2011
A PDF of this report can be downloaded here.
NYC Class Size data released; average class sizes still increasing according to DOE
K-3 students in classes of 30 or more have doubled since 2011
November 16, 2015
The NYC Department of Education released the latest class size data as of Oct. 31, 2015, citywide, by borough, district and by school. According to the DOE’s summary, “Average class size grew by 0.1 from 26.4 students per class in 2015.” Smaller classes are the top priority of NYC parents to improve their schools according to the DOE’s Learning Environment Survey every year 2007-2014; until 2015, when this question was omitted from the DOE Survey.[1]
DOE officials calculated that elementary and middle school class sizes remained flat, and high school class sizes increased slightly.[2]
Most worrisome, according to our analysis, the number of students in classes of 30 or more increased sharply, especially in grades K-3, continuing the trend of the last few years.[3]
According to our calculations, average class size in grades K-3 (General Education classes, inclusion or ICT classes, and Gifted classes) dropped slightly from the year before, but at this rate, it would take 47 years to reach the DOE’s original Contracts for Excellence goal of 19.9 students per class. [4]
In grades 4-8, average class size remained at 26.7, the same on average as the year before.
In high school core classes, we found that average class size dropped slightly by one tenth of a student per class, from Oct. 31, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2015, but at a rate that it would take 23 years to reach the C4E goal of 24.5 students per class.
By borough, the largest average class sizes for grades K-3 are in Queens (25.7), and in Staten Island for grades 4-8 (28.7) and high school (29.7).
Smaller classes are the top priority of NYC parents to improve their schools according to the DOE’s Learning Environment Survey every year 2007-2014; until 2015, when this question was omitted from the DOE Survey.[5]
We also took a look at which schools have the largest class sizes.
The largest Kindergarten classes, all averaging 30 students per class or more, far above the UFT cap of 25, are at PS 308 Clara Cardwell in D16 Brooklyn (ICT at 33); PS 181 (ICT at 33) and PS 191 Paul Robeson (GenEd at 31) both in D17 Brooklyn; PS 43 in D27 in Queens (ICT at 31); PS 73 in D9 Bronx (GenEd at 30); PS 57 Crescent in D12 Bronx (ICT at 30); PS 006 in D17 Brooklyn (ICT at 30); and PS 116 in D32 Brooklyn (ICT at 30).
K | 16 | K308 | P.S. 308 CLARA CARDWELL | 0K | ICT | 33.00 |
K | 17 | K181 | P.S. 181 BROOKLYN | 0K | ICT | 33.00 |
K | 17 | K191 | P.S. 191 PAUL ROBESON | 0K | GEN ED | 31.00 |
Q | 27 | Q043 | P.S. 043 | 0K | ICT | 31.00 |
X | 09 | X073 | P.S. 073 BRONX | 0K | GEN ED | 30.00 |
X | 12 | X057 | P.S. 057 CRESCENT | 0K | ICT | 30.00 |
K | 17 | K006 | P.S. 006 | 0K | ICT | 30.00 |
K | 32 | K116 | P.S. 116 ELIZABETH L FARRELL | 0K | ICT | 30.00 |
The largest 1st grade classes, all averaging above 32 students per class (the UFT cap in this grade), are at PS 305 Dr. Peter Ray in D13 Brooklyn (ICT at 34); PS 193 Alfred J. Kennedy in D25 Queens (GenEd at 34); PS 48 William C. Wilcox (ICT at 33 and GenEd at 32.5) in D 31 Staten Island; Staten Island School of Civic Leadership, D31 Staten Island (ICT at33); PS 19 Judith K. Weiss in D11 Bronx (GenEd at 32.50); PS 238 Anne Sullivan in D 21 Brooklyn (GenEd at 32.5); PS 54 Charles W. Leng in D31 Staten Island (GenEd at 32.5); PS 100 The Coney Island School in D21 Brooklyn (GenEd at 32.33) and PS 22 Graniteville in D31 Staten Island (GenEd at 32.25).
K | 13 | K305 | P.S. 305 DR. PETER RAY | 01 | ICT | 34.00 |
Q | 25 | Q193 | P.S. 193 ALFRED J. KENNEDY | 01 | GEN ED | 34.00 |
R | 31 | R048 | P.S. 048 WILLIAM C. WILCOX | 01 | ICT | 33.00 |
R | 31 | R861 | Staten Island School of Civic Leadership | 01 | ICT | 33.00 |
X | 11 | X019 | P.S. 019 JUDITH K. WEISS | 01 | GEN ED | 32.50 |
K | 21 | K238 | P.S. 238 ANNE SULLIVAN | 01 | GEN ED | 32.50 |
R | 31 | R048 | P.S. 048 WILLIAM C. WILCOX | 01 | GEN ED | 32.50 |
R | 31 | R054 | P.S. 054 CHARLES W. LENG | 01 | GEN ED | 32.50 |
K | 21 | K100 | P.S. 100 CONEY ISLAND SCH | 01 | GEN ED | 32.33 |
R | 31 | R022 | P.S. 022 GRANITEVILLE | 01 | GEN ED | 32.25 |
The largest average 2nd grade classes, all above the union contractual cap of 32 students per class, are at: PS 156 Waverly in D23 Brooklyn; (ICT at 35); PS 100 The Coney Island School in D21 Brooklyn (ICT at 34); IS 119 The Glendale in D24 Queens (ICT at 34); PS 21 Margaret Emery-Elm Park in D31 Staten Island (ICT at 34); PS 2013 The School for Future Leaders in D22 Brooklyn (GenEd at 33.33); PS 84 Lillian Weber in D3 Manhattan (ICT at 33); PS 282 Park Slope in D13 Brooklyn (ICT at 33); PS 193 Alfred J. Kennedy in D25 Queens (GenEd at 33); PS 46 Alley Pond in D26 Queens (GenDd And ICT at 33); PS 99 Kew Gardens in D28 Queens (ICT at 33); PS 52 D29 Queens (ICT, 33); PS 48 William Wilcox D31 Staten Island (ICT, 33 and GenEd 32.5); PS 53 Bay Terrace, D31 Staten Island (ICT, 33); Staten Island School of Civic Leadership, Brooklyn (GenEd, 32.33).
K | 23 | K156 | P.S. 156 WAVERLY | 02 | ICT | 35.00 |
K | 21 | K100 | P.S. 100 THE CONEY ISLAND SCHOOL | 02 | ICT | 34.00 |
Q | 24 | Q119 | I.S. 119 THE GLENDALE | 02 | ICT | 34.00 |
R | 31 | R021 | P.S. 21 MARGARET EMERY-ELM PARK | 02 | ICT | 34.00 |
K | 22 | K203 | P.S. 203 The School for Future Leaders | 02 | GEN ED | 33.33 |
M | 03 | M084 | P.S. 084 LILLIAN WEBER | 02 | ICT | 33.00 |
K | 13 | K282 | P.S. 282 PARK SLOPE | 02 | ICT | 33.00 |
Q | 25 | Q193 | P.S. 193 ALFRED J. KENNEDY | 02 | GEN ED | 33.00 |
Q | 26 | Q046 | P.S. 046 ALLEY POND | 02 | GEN ED | 33.00 |
Q | 26 | Q046 | P.S. 046 ALLEY POND | 02 | ICT | 33.00 |
Q | 28 | Q099 | P.S. 099 KEW GARDENS | 02 | ICT | 33.00 |
Q | 29 | Q052 | P.S. 052 QUEENS | 02 | ICT | 33.00 |
R | 31 | R048 | P.S. 048 WILLIAM C. WILCOX | 02 | ICT | 33.00 |
R | 31 | R053 | P.S. 053 BAY TERRACE | 02 | G&T | 33.00 |
R | 31 | R861 | Staten Island School of Civic Leadership | 02 | ICT | 33.00 |
K | 22 | K255 | P.S. 255 BARBARA REING SCHOOL | 02 | GEN ED | 32.67 |
K | 23 | K156 | P.S. 156 WAVERLY | 02 | GEN ED | 32.67 |
Q | 26 | Q162 | P.S. 162 JOHN GOLDEN | 02 | GEN ED | 32.67 |
Q | 26 | Q188 | P.S. 188 KINGSBURY | 02 | G&T | 32.50 |
R | 31 | R048 | P.S. 048 WILLIAM C. WILCOX | 02 | GEN ED | 32.50 |
R | 31 | R861 | Staten Island School of Civic Leadership | 02 | GEN ED | 32.50 |
X | 10 | X032 | P.S. 032 BELMONT | 02 | GEN ED | 32.33 |
K | 20 | K229 | P.S. 229 DYKER | 02 | GEN ED | 32.33 |
The largest average 3rd grade classes, all above the union contractual cap of 32, are at PS 21 Philip H. Sheridan in D11 Bronx (GenEd ,34.67); PS 176 Cambria Heights in D29 Queens (G&T at 34.5); The Bellaire School in D29 Queens (GenEd at 33.75); PS 140 Nathan Straus in D1 Manhattan (GenEd at 33); PS 212 Midtown West in D2 Manhattan (ICT at 33); PS 20 P.O. George J. Werdan III in D10 Bronx (GenEd and ICT, 33); Luisa Piñeiro Fuentes School of Science and Discovery in D10 Bronx (GenEd, 33); PS 115 Glen Oaks in D26 in Queens (G&T, 33); and Staten Island School of Civic Leadership, D31 Staten Island (GenEd, 33).
X | 11 | X021 | P.S. 021 Philip H. Sheridan | 03 | GEN ED | 34.67 |
Q | 29 | Q176 | P.S. 176 CAMBRIA HEIGHTS | 03 | G&T | 34.50 |
Q | 29 | Q135 | THE BELLAIRE SCHOOL | 03 | GEN ED | 33.75 |
M | 01 | M140 | P.S. 140 NATHAN STRAUS | 03 | GEN ED | 33.00 |
M | 02 | M212 | P.S. 212 MIDTOWN WEST | 03 | ICT | 33.00 |
X | 10 | X020 | P.S. 20 P.O.GEORGE J. WERDAN III | 03 | GEN ED | 33.00 |
X | 10 | X020 | P.S. 20 P.O.GEORGE J. WERDAN III | 03 | ICT | 33.00 |
X | 10 | X307 | Luisa Piñeiro Fuentes School of Science and Discovery | 03 | GEN ED | 33.00 |
Q | 26 | Q115 | P.S. 115 GLEN OAKS | 03 | G&T | 33.00 |
R | 31 | R861 | Staten Island School of Civic Leadership | 03 | GEN ED | 33.00 |
The largest average 4th grade classes, all far above the UFT cap of 32, are at: PS 221 Toussaint L’Ouverture, in D17 Brooklyn (ICT, 39 and GenEd, 37); PS 96 in D27 Queens (GenEd, 37); PS 195 Manhattan Beach in D22 Brooklyn (G&T, 36); PS 21 Philip H. Sheridan in D11 Bronx (GenEd, 35.5); PS 9 Teunis Gl Bergen in D13 Brooklyn (ICT, 35); PS 195 Manhattan Beach in D22 Brooklyn (GenEd, 35), and PS 86 in D28 Queens (ICT, 35).
K | 17 | K221 | P.S. 221 Toussaint L’Ouverture | 04 | ICT | 39.00 |
K | 17 | K221 | P.S. 221 Toussaint L’Ouverture | 04 | GEN ED | 37.00 |
Q | 27 | Q096 | P.S. 096 | 04 | GEN ED | 37.00 |
K | 22 | K195 | P.S. 195 MANHATTAN B | 04 | G&T | 36.00 |
X | 11 | X021 | P.S. 021 Philip H. Sheridan | 04 | GEN ED | 35.50 |
K | 13 | K009 | P.S. 009 TEUNIS G. BERGEN | 04 | ICT | 35.00 |
K | 22 | K195 | P.S. 195 MANHATTAN BEACH | 04 | GEN ED | 35.00 |
Q | 28 | Q086 | P.S. Q086 | 04 | ICT | 35.00 |
The largest 5th grade classes, all far above the union cap of 32, are at PS 269 Nostrand in D22 Brooklyn (ICT, 37); PS 20 Port Richmond in D31 Staten Island (GenEd and ICT, 35); PS 133 Fred R. Moore in D5 Manhattan (ICT , 34); PS 20 P.O. George J. Werdan III in D10 Bronx (GenEd 34); PS 26 in D16 Brooklyn, GenEd 34); PS 56 Harry Eichler in D27 Queens (GenEd, 34); PS 144 Col. Jeromus Remsen (GenEd, 34); PS/MS 147 Ronald McNair in D29 Queens ( ICT, 34).
K | 22 | K269 | P.S. 269 NOSTRAND | 05 | ICT | 37.00 |
R | 31 | R020 | P.S. 020 PORT RICHMOND | 05 | GEN ED | 35.00 |
R | 31 | R020 | P.S. 020 PORT RICHMOND | 05 | ICT | 35.00 |
M | 05 | M133 | P.S. 133 FRED R MOORE | 05 | ICT | 34.00 |
X | 10 | X020 | P.S. 20 P.O.GEORGE J. WERDAN III | 05 | GEN ED | 34.00 |
K | 16 | K026 | P.S. 026 JESSE OWENS | 05 | GEN ED | 34.00 |
Q | 27 | Q056 | P.S. 056 HARRY EICHLER | 05 | GEN ED | 34.00 |
Q | 28 | Q144 | P.S. 144 COL JEROMUS REMSEN | 05 | GEN ED | 34.00 |
Q | 29 | Q147 | PS/MS 147 Ronald McNair | 05 | ICT | 34.00 |
According to DOE data, the largest 6th grade classes, all far above the union cap of 33 for non-Title I schools (30 in Title I), are all in the Bronx: the Urban Assembly School for Applied Math and Science in D9 (ICT at 85); Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy: A College Board School in D11 (ICT, 57); Pelham Academy Of Academics And Community Engagement in D11 (GenEd, 37.5); and MS 180 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams in D11 (ICT, 35).
X | 09 | X241 | Urban Assembly School for Applied Math and Science, The | 06 | ICT | – | 85.00 |
X | 08 | X376 | Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy: A College Board School | 06 | ICT | – | 57.00 |
X | 11 | X468 | PELHAM ACADEMY OF ACADEMICS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | 06 | GEN ED | – | 37.50 |
X | 11 | X180 | M.S. 180 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams | 06 | ICT | – | 35.00 |
The largest 7th grade classes, all far above the UFT cap of 33 for non-Title I schools (30 in Title I) are: Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy: A College Board School (D8 Bronx (ICT, 73); Urban Assembly School for Applied Math and Science in D9 Bronx (ICT, 69); Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Secondary School for Arts and Technology in D24 Queens (GenEd, 42); Mark Twain I.S. 239 For The Gifted & Talented in D21 Brooklyn (ICT, 39.5); Creston Academy in D10 Bronx (ICT, 35.5); Conselyea Preparatory School in D14 Brooklyn (GenEd, 35.25); and PS 171 Patrick Henry in D4 Manhattan (GenEd,35).
X | 08 | X376 | Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy: A College Board School | 07 | ICT | 73.00 |
X | 09 | X241 | Urban Assembly School for Applied Math and Science, The | 07 | ICT | 69.00 |
Q | 24 | Q560 | Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Secondary School for Arts and Technology | 07 | GEN ED | 42.00 |
K | 21 | K239 | MARK TWAIN I.S. 239 FOR THE GIFTED & TALENTED | 07 | ICT | 39.50 |
X | 10 | X447 | CRESTON ACADEMY | 07 | ICT | 35.50 |
K | 14 | K577 | CONSELYEA PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 07 | GEN ED | 35.25 |
M | 04 | M171 | P.S. 171 PATRICK HENRY | 07 | GEN ED | 35.00 |
The schools with the largest 8th grade class sizes, according to DOE data, are Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy: A College Board School (ICT, 72); Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Secondary School for Arts and Technology in D24 Queens (GenEd, 54); MS 301 Paul L. Dunbar in D8 Bronx (GenEd, 36); Conselyea Preparatory School in D14 Brooklyn (ICT, 36); and MS 180 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams in D11 Bronx (ICT, 35).
X | 08 | X376 | Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy: A College Board School | 08 | ICT | 72.00 |
Q | 24 | Q560 | Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Secondary School for Arts and Technology | 08 | GEN ED | 54.00 |
X | 08 | X301 | M.S. 301 PAUL L. DUNBAR | 08 | GEN ED | 36.00 |
K | 14 | K577 | CONSELYEA PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 08 | ICT | 36.00 |
X | 11 | X180 | M.S. 180 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams | 08 | ICT | 35.00 |
There are 73 NYC high schools, according to DOE data, that have programs/courses that average above the UFT cap of 34.
The schools with the largest average class sizes of 40 or more in various courses include the NYC iSchool in Manhattan, Sheepshead Bay HS in Brooklyn; Curtis HS in Staten Island; Crotona International High School in the Bronx; and Bayside HS in Queens.
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | ICT | United States History Accelerated | – | 70.00 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | ICT | MS English Core | – | 62.50 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | GEN ED | Algebra 2/Trig | – | 59.50 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | ICT | Other Science | – | 59.00 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | GEN ED | Integrated Algebra | – | 58.00 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | GEN ED | Chemistry | – | 56.00 |
K | 22 | K495 | SHEEPSHEAD BAY HIGH SCHOOL | 09-12 | GEN ED | Integrated Algebra | – | 55.00 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | GEN ED | Geometry | – | 53.50 |
R | 31 | R450 | CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL | 09-12 | ICT | MS English Core | – | 50.00 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | GEN ED | Other Science | – | 48.00 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | GEN ED | Global History | – | 47.50 |
X | 10 | X524 | Crotona International High School | 09-12 | GEN ED | Other Science | – | 46.50 |
M | 02 | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | GEN ED | Economics | – | 43.00 |
M | 02Nov | M376 | NYC iSchool | 09-12 | ICT | Global History | – | 42.00 |
Q | 26 | Q495 | BAYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL | 09-12 | ICT | Other Social Studies | – | 41.79 |
K | 22 | K495 | SHEEPSHEAD BAY HIGH SCHOOL | 09-12 | GEN ED | English 9 | – | 40.00 |
[1] See NYC Public School Parents, “How the question left out of the DOE parent survey was the most interesting of all ,” July 21, 2015 at: http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-question-left-out-of-doe-parent.html More on the results of the parent survey and the question left out, see Lisa Colangelo, “95% of parents satisfied with NYC schools, but few take survey,” NY Daily News, July 21, 2015; Yasmeen Khan, “NYC Parents, Teachers and Students Give Their Schools High Marks”, Schoolbook, July 21, 2015.
[2] NYC DOE, 2015-16 Preliminary Class Size Report, November 15, 2015 at http://tinyurl.com/ppxy8m8. This year’s class size data, by school, district, borough, and citywide, are posted at http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/schools/data/classsize/classsize.htm. All our calculations are done by comparing the reported October 30 class size data , released each year on November 15, from year to year.
[3] In 2011, the DOE stopped complying with a side agreement with the UFT to cap class sizes at 28 in grades 1-3, leading to sharp increases in these grades to 30 or more.
[4] The original Contract for Excellence goals adopted by the city and approved by the state in 2007 are posted here: http://tinyurl.com/kbyv4pm During his campaign, Mayor de Blasio promised to reduce class sizes to C4E levels and if necessary, raise revenue to fund this. See his filled out and signed form from the Mayoral forum at Murry Bergtraum HS held on June 14, 2013 at https://3zn338.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Bill-deBlasio.pdf and the completed NYC KidsPAC candidate survey filled out by de Blasio’s campaign manager Emma Wolfe at http://nyckidspac.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/NYC-Kids-PAC-Questionnaire-Bill-de-Blasio.pdf from June 2013.
[5] See NYC Public School Parents, “How the question left out of the DOE parent survey was the most interesting of all ,”, July 21, 2015 at: http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-question-left-out-of-doe-parent.html More on the results of the parent survey and the question left out, see Lisa Colangelo, “95% of parents satisfied with NYC schools, but few take survey,” NY Daily News, July 21, 2015; Yasmeen Khan, “NYC Parents, Teachers and Students Give Their Schools High Marks”, Schoolbook, July 21, 2015.