I.S. 075 Frank D. Paulo

IS 75 is very much a neighborhood school. Most students come from the surrounding South Shore Staten Island neighborhoods and remain nearby for high school. Despite the school's large size, people are friendly and Principal Kenneth Zapata seems to know the students, bantering with many of the boys about local sports teams.

IS 75 serves students with a wide range of academic abilities. Those in the Scholars program take an accelerated program with three Regents exams (algebra, living environment and U.S. history) in 8th grade. The school also has a high percentage of students with special needs and houses a District 75 program as well as ASD NEST for students on the autism spectrum. While IS 75 students do well on standardized tests, the school does not have the high-pressure academic environment found in many academically rigorous middle schools.

Students in the Scholars program may study either Spanish or Italian for three years. Other students take a language for two years. Children may focus on one arts area (band, chorus, drama or visual art) for all three years. Others take an array of minor subjects such as robotics, computer design and art.

The architects of the IS 75 building made odd design choices that resulted in some hallways with no classrooms and an irregularly shaped and noisy lunchroom.

Special education: IS 75 was the first middle school on Staten Island to offer an ASD NEST program for high-functioning students on the autism spectrum. The school has other team-teaching classes, as well as self-contained classes. Some children in the District 75 program are included in general education  classrooms for part of the day, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan.

Admissions: Neighborhood school. Students from across Staten Island may apply to the Scholars Program, where admission is based on grades, test scores and attendance. (Gail Robinson, May 2014; updated May 2019)