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Our Insights

What’s Special

Pre-k to 12 program

The Downside

Concerns about school environment

One of the very few pre-K to 12 schools in the city, Michael J. Petrides is a highly sought-after school that, despite a rather remote location, has a diverse student body and draws children from across Staten Island.

Housed on the grassy campus of what was once the College of Staten Island, Petrides is surrounded by trees and nature trails. The site is also home to the Borough President’s Hall of Science, a two-story science lab for k-12 students. 

Petrides gets high marks on the Quality Review for its teaching and efforts to engage students. Overall, Petrides students do well on the elementary and middle school standardized tests. Students in special education, however, lag far behind, and school officials acknowledge, on the comprehensive educational plan (CEP), that they must do more to address the needs of students with disabilities and those from low-income families. Petrides can point to a high graduation and college readiness rate, although its student struggle with the state high school Regents tests.

With about 1,300 students spread across 13 grades, there are relatively few students in each grade. Despite that Petrides offers a number of high-school credit classes in its middle school and advanced placement courses for high school students, fields a variety of sports teams and offers an array of extracurricular activities. Students may take Spanish or Italian.

School survey results, parent comments and press accounts indicate problems with behavior, discipline and bullying at the school.

Many families find the k-12 school attractive because it spares them from having to apply for middle and high school. At the same time, long-time principal Joanna Buckheit, a Staten Island native, tries to ensure that students don’t miss out on milestones marking the passage from one level to the next. Since students remain at the school for so many years Petrides offers a sense of community, with older students tutoring or mentoring younger ones, according to the Quality Review. According to the principal, a third of the school’s staff attended Petrides. 

Special education: Petrides has a high percentage of students with special needs and offers a range of services, including team teaching classes with two teachers and a mix of general and special education students.

Admissions: Students must be Staten Island residents and are selected by lottery. Almost 1,000 students apply for the approximately 90 kindergarten slots. Continuing 8th graders have priority for high school admissions, meaning that there are many applicants for the open slots. (Gail Robinson, web reports, September 2018)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average
Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From 2022-2023 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
79%
83% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
67%
51% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
85%
80% Citywide Average
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
83%
0% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
1% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
88%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
18.5

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
55%
61% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
58%
58% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
49%
62% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
62%
63% Citywide Average

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
99%
76% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
95%
91% Citywide Average

What is the Pre-K like?

From the NYC Program Assessment (CLASS and ECERS-R) Database through 2019-2020

Instruction: Teachers ask kids to explain their reasoning when they solve problems
Activities: Children explore art, music, sand/water, dramatic play and more
Language: Teachers talk and listen to kids in a supportive way
Interaction: Teachers ask kids good questions and invite back-and-forth conversation

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
1471
Asian
12%
Black
22%
Hispanic
32%
White
30%
Other
3%
Free or reduced priced lunch
56%
Students with disabilities
30%
English language learners
2%
Pre-K seats
35

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

Average daily attendance
89%
91% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
39%
32% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No

How does this school serve special populations?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
96%
82% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
33%
23% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
33%
22% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
15% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
0%
14% Citywide Average
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Comprehensive Academic (R15J)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Comprehensive academic curriculum with an emphasis on performing arts and technology.

The Michael J. Petrides School D75 Inclusion Program (R15U)

Admissions Method: D75 Special Education Inclusive Services

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

Italian, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Statistics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Fencing, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Golf

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

715 Ocean Terrace
Staten Island NY 10301

Buses: S53, S66, S78, S93, SIM35


Contact

Principal: Anthony Tabbitas

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares a building with Bridge Preparatory Charter School

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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