Rochester City School District

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Rochester City School District
Rochester City School District official logo.png
Location
Rochester, New York
District information
Type Public
MottoEvery child is a work of art. Create a masterpiece. [1]
Grades Pre-kindergarten, K-12, Incarcerated Youth High School, Adult Evening High School
Established1841;184 years ago (1841)
SuperintendentDr. Carmine Peluso (interim) [2]
Accreditation New York State Board of Regents
Schools60 pre-K sites
40 elementary
19 secondary
1 Montessori
1 program for young mothers
1 family/adult learning center [3]
BudgetDecrease2.svg US$693.7 million (2010–2011) [4]
Students and staff
Students26,057 children
10,000 adults [5]
Teachers3,900 (2010–2011) [6]
Staff300 administrators
2,300 support personnel (2010–2011) [6]
Student–teacher ratio8.1:1 (2011) [3]
Other information
Unions NYSUT, Rochester Teachers Association
Website rcsdk12.org

The Rochester City School District is a public school district that serves approximately 21,000 students in the city of Rochester, New York. It is currently operating with a budget of $1.065 billion, which comes out to approximately $50,700 per student. [7] This is, according to Census Bureau data, $20,827 more than the New York State average of $29,873 per student, and over three times the national average of $15,633 per student. [8]

Contents

Organization

The school district is run by a board of education that sets school policy and approves school spending. The board hires a superintendent under contract to carry out its policies.

Board of education

The board of education consists of seven members, elected biennially, who serve staggered four-year terms.

The current board members are: [9]

Superintendent and supporting team

Past superintendents
NameTenureNameTenure
Isaac F. Mack1841–1845John M. FrancoMarch 1, 1971 – June 16, 1971 (acting)
June 17, 1971 – 1980
Samuel L. Selden January 1, 1846 – November 1, 1846 Laval Wilson 1980 – 1985
Belden R. McAlpineNovember 2, 1846 – 1847Peter J. McWalters1985 (acting)
1986–1992
Daniel Holbrook1847–1850
1857–1858
1862–1864		Manuel J. Rivera1992–1994
September 1, 2002 – April 30, 2007
Reuben D. Jones1850–1856Loretta Johnson1994–1995 (acting)
Isaac S. Hobbie1856–1857 Clifford B. Janey 1995 – August 31, 2002
Philip H. Curtis1858–1861William C. Cala2007 – December 31, 2007 (interim)
Charles N. Simmons1864–1869
1876–1878
1881–1882		 Jean-Claude Brizard [10] [11] January 1, 2008 – May 13, 2011
Sylvanus A. Ellis1869–1875
1882–1892		Bolgen T. VargasMay 16, 2011 – December 31, 2015 [12]
Alonzo L. Mabbett1878–1881Daniel G. LowengardJanuary 1 – 15, 2016 (interim)
Milton Noyes1892–1900Linda L. CimuszJanuary 18, 2016 – July 2016 (interim)
Charles B. Gilbert1901–1909Barbara Deane WilliamsAugust 8, 2016 – January 31, 2019 [13]
Clarence F. Carroll1903–1911Daniel G. LowengardFebruary 1, 2019 – June 2019 (interim)
Herbert S. Weet1911–1933Terry J. DadeJuly 2019 – May 2020 [14]
James M. Spinning1934 – November 1, 1954Lesli C. Myers-SmallMay 2020 – September 2022
Howard C. SeymourNovember 1, 1954 – December 31, 1960Carmine PelusoSeptember 2022 - January 2023 (interim)
January 2023 [15] - June 2024
James S. WishartJanuary 1, 1961 – August 31, 1961 (acting)Demario StricklandJune 2024 - June 2025 (interim)
Robert L. SpringerSeptember 1, 1961 – May 31, 1963PENDING Eric J. RosserPENDING July 2025 -
Herman R. GoldbergJune 1, 1963 – July 31, 1963 (acting)
August 1, 1963 – March 1, 1971

Facilities

Schools

In 2024, the district completed a grade-level and school reconfiguration. Elementary Schools are grades PK-6, Middle Schools are grades 7-8, and High Schools are grades 9-12 (unless otherwise noted).

Pre-Kindergarten Centers

  • Florence S. Brown PreK Center at School No. 33 (PreK), Program Administrator - Dr. Eileen Eller
  • Rochester Early Childhood Education Center NE (PreK–1), Director - Lisa Whitlow
  • Rochester Preschool Parent Program, Director - Rebecca Boyle

Elementary schools

  • George Mather Forbes School No. 4 (PreK–6), Principal - Karon Jackson, Assistant Principal - Delores Davis
  • John Williams School No. 5 (PreK–6), Principal - Tiffany Lee, Assistant Principals - George Lombrado
  • Virgil I. Grissom School No. 7 (PreK–6), Principal - David Lincoln, Assistant Principal - Mark Wilkins
  • Roberto Clemente School No. 8 (PreK–6), Principal - Stephanie Thompson, Assistant Principals - Andrew Grantham
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 9 (PreK–6), Principal - Sharon Jackson, Assistant Principals - Burnice Green and Maria Ortiz-Viera
  • Anna Murray-Douglass Academy No. 12 (PreK–6), Principal - Anthony Rodriquez, Assistant Principals - Margaret Crowley and Faith Hart
  • The Children's School of Rochester No. 15 (PreK–6), - Principal - Jay Piper, Assistant Principal - Chanta Willis
  • Dr. David and Ruth Anderson School No. 16 (PreK–6), Principal - Ryan Clair, Assistant Principal - Eileen Kalbfus
  • Enrico Fermi School No. 17 (PreK–6), Principal - Damaris Saltares, Assistant Principals - David Dorsey and Meybhol Spaienza
  • Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School No. 19 (PreK–6), Principal -Andrea Lee, Assistant Principal - Elizabeth Cross
  • Abraham Lincoln School No. 22 (PreK–6), Principal - Clinton Bell, Assistant Principal - Michele White
  • Francis Parker School No. 23 (PreK–6), Principal - Kathryn Yarlett-Fenti, Assistant Principal - Carla Roberts
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne School No. 25 (PreK–6), Principal - Adrienne Steflik, Assistant Principal - Melody Bishop
  • Henry Hudson School No. 28 (K–8), Principal - Susan Ladd, Assistant Principals - Brenda Harrington and Jenny Blaise-Schmidt
  • John James Audubon School No. 33 (PreK–6), Principal - Lisa Garrow, Assistant Principals - Eileen Eller (Florence S. Brown PreK), Kristal Haines (Blue House), Michelle Killings (Gray House), and Lisa Prtichard (Gold House)
  • Ida B. Wells-Barnett Elementary School No. 34 (PreK–6), Principal - Akilah Collins, Assistant Principal - Mia Sinclair
  • Pinnacle School No. 35 (K–6), Principal - Valerie L Holberton, Assistant Principal - Maria Petrella
  • Abelard Reynolds School No. 42 (PreK–6), Principal - Deborah Washington, Assistant Principal - Vaughn Collins
  • Mary McLeod Bethune School No. 45 (PreK–6), Principal - Christine Manuele-Turnquist, Assistant Principal - Patricia Brockler and Jody Durick
  • Austin Steward School No. 46 (PreK–6), Principal - Gina DiTullio, Assistant Principal - Katelyn Clark
  • Helen Barrett Montgomery School No. 50 (PreK–8), Principal - Lakisha Taylor, Assistant Principal - Felecia Drysdale and Lynda Mortis
  • Frank Fowler Dow School No. 52 (PreK–6), Principal - Richard Smith, Assistant Principal - Redell Freeman
  • Montessori Academy School No. 53 (PreK–6), Principal - Djinga St. Louis, Assistant Principal - Elisa Ruise
  • The Flower City School No. 54 (PreK–6), Principal - Demitria Lawton-Greggs, Assistant Principal - Stacey Sookram
  • World of Inquiry School No. 58 (K–12), Principal (Acting) - Callie Andler, Assistant Principals - Stephen Campe, Megan Comstock, Jessica Flanders

Middle Schools

  • Andrew Langston Middle School (7-8), Principal - Wakili Moore, Assistant Principal - Ajoua Jackson, Adam Rodger
  • Dr. Freddie Thomas Middle School (7-8), Principal - Stephanie Harris, Assistant Principals - Terry Richards, Catherine Tesoriero
  • East Lower School (6–8), Principal - LeAndrew Wingo, Assistant Principals - Jeffrey Halsdorfer, and Joseph Saia
  • Loretta Johnson Middle School (7-8), Principal - Moniek Silas-Lee, Assistant Principals - Yarritza Delgado and Thomas Anderson
  • Northwest Junior High at Douglass (7-8), Principal - Rodney Moore, Assistant Principals - Kathleen Orem and Alexci Reyes
  • Thurgood Marshall Middle School (7-8), Principal - Nakia Burrows, Assistant Principals- Carey Belair and William Hucks

Secondary schools

  • East Upper School (9–12), Principal - Caterina Leone-Mannino (acting), Freshman Academy Director - Deon Rodgers, Freshman Academy Assistant Principal - Callie Andler, Grades 10-12 Assistant Principals - Akua Kankam, Stephanie Bliss-Walker, and Michele Sadik
  • Edison Career & Technology High School (9–12), Principal - LaCassa Felton, Assistant Principals - Pina Buonomo, Steve Humphry, Heidi Jackson, Jerome Vacca, Michael Samuel
  • James Monroe Upper School (9–12), Principal - Jason Muhammad, Assistant Principals - Anthony Bianchi, Bernadette Regan, and Reyita Perez
  • Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School (9–12), Principal - Gary Reynolds, Assistant Principals - Chantal Lischer, Kimberly Brown, and Timothy Graziano
  • Padilla High School at the Franklin Campus (9-12), Principal - Adam Rodger (Acting), Academy Director - Kristin Pryor
  • Rochester Early College International High School (9–12), Principal - Uma Mehta, Assistant Principals - Steve Soprano, Abraham Steiner
  • School of the Arts (7–12), Principal - Alan Tirre, Assistant Principals - Samantha Brody, Brian Chandler, and Elimy Buss, Athletic Director - Richard Roche, Arts Center Director - Andrea Gregoire
  • School Without Walls (9–12), Principal - Aylin Rodriguez, Assistant Principal - Jennifer DeFranco

School and alternative programs

  • All City High (10–12), Principal - Armando Ramirez, Assistant Principal - Megan Brady-Onisk, Academy Director - Susen Hart
  • Family Learning Center at OACES - Program Administrator - Paul Burke
  • Home Hospital Instruction (7–12), Director - Christopher Smith
  • LyncX Academy (7–12), Director - Christopher Smith
  • NorthSTAR Program, Director of Alternative Education Programs - James Nunez
  • Rochester International Academy, Principal - Mary Andrecolich-Montesano
  • Youth & Justice, Director - Christopher Smith

Former schools

  • Charlotte High School - closed 2016
  • John Marshall High School - closed 2014
  • Clara Barton School No. 2 - Closed 2024
  • Dr. Walter Cooper Academy School No. 10 - Closed 2024
  • Adlai E. Stevenson School No. 29 - Closed 2024
  • Andrew J. Townson School No. 39 - Closed 2024

Performance

In 2019, the Rochester City School District was ranked the 3rd worst school district in upstate New York, [16] and in 2017 it was ranked the 8th worst in New York State. [17]

In 2007, the New York State Education Department named 14 Rochester elementary schools among the state's "most improved" schools in English language arts and/or math. Newsweek ranked Wilson Magnet High School 49th among the nation's top 100 high schools based on advanced curriculum.

The Children's Institute, a non-profit children's advocacy organization, has ranked the district's pre-K program one of the best in the nation.

Configuration redesign

In 2003, a plan to redesign the grade-level configuration was approved by the board of education. It changed the district from one of elementary schools (preK–5), middle schools (6–8) and high schools (9–12) to one of elementary schools (pre-K–6) and secondary schools (7–12). The plan was implemented in stages over four years.

Media coverage

Given the district's continued struggles there has been much local media coverage analyzing the district from varying perspectives, and most recently this has been done through the Democrat and Chronicle 's Time to Educate Series. The motto of this media initiative is "Something. Must. Change." [18] In 2018 the editorial board of that paper wrote "It is time to declare an emergency". [19]

References

  1. ↑ "About our District / Our Vision and Mission".
  2. ↑ "Superintendent / Dr. Carmine Peluso, Interim Superintendent of Schools". www.rcsdk12.org. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Facts & Figures on Monroe County School Districts, Penfield, New York: www.mcsba.org, p. 32, 2011, OCLC   4891330 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "1" (PDF), 2010-2011 Budget Book and District Profile, Rochester, New York: Rochester City School District, May 13, 2010, p. 3, archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2011, retrieved May 3, 2011, On April 29, 2010, the Board of Education unanimously passed a budget of $693.7 million for the Rochester City School District for 2010-11 that focuses on the district's core work of teaching and learning. It represents a 3.1% decrease from the amended budget for 2009-10
  5. ↑ "A Look Inside the RCSD". District Profile. Rochester, New York: Rochester City School District. 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011. Our schools provide a quality education for approximately 32,000 students in pre-K through grade 12 and 10,000 adults.
  6. 1 2 "General Information". District Profile. Rochester, New York: Rochester City School District. 2011. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011. Has approximately 6,500 employees, including: 3,900 teachers, 300 administrators, 2,300 support personnel
  7. ↑ "Board of Education / Board of Education" (PDF). www.rcsdk12.org. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Census Bureau".
  9. ↑ "Board of Education / Board of Education". www.rcsdk12.org. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Rochester City Schools name new Superintendent". WHEC-TV. November 14, 2007. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  11. ↑ "Board, Brizard sign; he will begin work in January". Rochester City School District. November 30, 2007. Archived from the original on September 23, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Bolgen Vargas Resigns as Superintendent of Rochester City School District". www.twcnews.com/nys/rochester.html. Tara Grimes. October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  13. ↑ "What she promised, what she delivered: A closer look at Barbara Deane-Williams' tenure". Democrat and Chronicle . Rochester, New York. January 20, 2019. p. 1A.
  14. ↑ "Dade asks to arrange departure from RCSD: Superintendent wants out at end of school year". Democrat and Chronicle . Rochester, New York. April 23, 2020. p. 1A.
  15. ↑ "Peluso named permanent RCSD superintendent at $255K". Democrat and Chronicle . Rochester, New York. December 24, 2022. p. 1A.
  16. ↑ "The 53 worst-graded school districts in Upstate NY for 2019". March 2019.
  17. ↑ "Why are Rochester schools America's worst? Study Kodak Park School 41".
  18. ↑ "Time to Educate – Fixing Rochester, NY, schools – Democrat and Chronicle". www.democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Editorial Board: It is time to declare an emergency". The Journal News . Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. October 22, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
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