From New York Post · · 2m
Brooklyn school's crisis: 60% chronically absent
PS 188 in Coney Island is failing its students with massive absenteeism and low test scores, prompting teachers to push for a complete curriculum overhaul.
In brief
PS 188 in Coney Island is failing its students with massive absenteeism and low test scores, prompting teachers to push for a complete curriculum overhaul. A Brooklyn elementary school with 60% chronic absenteeism and 60% failure rates on standardized tests is pushing for a shift to career and technical education to…
Brooklyn school failing on every metric
PS 188 in Coney Island has 60% of students chronically absent and 60% failing standardized math and reading tests. Only 233 students are enrolled, with 167 missing at least 18 days per year.
Absenteeism nearly double the city average
PS 188's chronic absence rate of 60% is nearly double the citywide average of 33%. About 15% of students miss class on any given school day.
Test scores lag far behind city averages
Only 40% of PS 188 students passed state reading exams and 42% passed math exams, compared to citywide averages of 50.2% and 58% respectively.
Students from economically disadvantaged homes
Nearly all PS 188 students come from poor households, primarily from nearby Gravesend and Surfside Garden public housing projects. About 52% are Black and 33% are Hispanic.
Teachers push for career and technical shift
Educators want to expand the school to K-8 and rebrand it as a school for innovative thinking, career and technical education, and project-based learning to better engage students.
School hoards 2 million in unused tech
Despite the school's struggles, PS 188 is keeping 2 million dollars in tech equipment in storage rather than using it to help students.
Parents split blame between school and home
Parent Nicole Beatty said she blames both the school and parents for the failures. Another parent, Latoya Bryant, emphasized that success requires parents working alongside teachers.
“It's 50-50: I blame the school and the parents.”
School acknowledges systemic barriers
PS 188's education plan recognized that chronic absenteeism disproportionately affects Black students due to inequitable access to transportation, healthcare, and housing stability.
“Chronic absenteeism is deeply affecting Black students at PS 188, reflecting larger systemic challenges”
City deploying attendance liaisons citywide
The Department of Education is appointing school avoidance liaisons across all schools to reduce chronic absenteeism, while PS 188 implements three-tiered interventions and family workshops.
The essence
A Brooklyn elementary school with 60% chronic absenteeism and 60% failure rates on standardized tests is pushing for a shift to career and technical education to better engage struggling students.
