MS 8 is a large middle school serving a predominantly African-American community in Jamaica, Queens. When we visited, the school was being restructured into four small academies, each with its own theme and staff of teachers. In recent years the school has fallen on very hard times. Since 2003, it has endured declining rates of attendance, low student achievement on standardized exams, a dramatic increase in enrollment because of rezoning, and a rapid turnover in teachers and principals. John B. Murphy became principal in September 2005, and was the fifth person to do so in a period of two years. He will continue on as principal of the overall school, while each of MS 8's four assistant principals serve as director of an individual academy.

On our tour, we found students winding down from a long school year. It was a hot, humid day in early June, and throughout the building teachers were giving review assignments and lessons, having wrapped up their final units of study in most classes. The hallways were quiet, and inside classrooms the tone was subdued, especially where there was no air-conditioning (only some classrooms have it).

"We're hoping that the academies will give the students something to identify with," said Assistant Principal Katiana Loussaint. "The sense of belonging is very important to middle school students." Core academic subjects will be stressed uniformly throughout the school, but plans are for each academy to offer unique classes and projects particular to its theme.

Because the majority of elementary schools in the area run through the 6th grade, enrollment at MS 8 is skewed towards 7th and 8th graders. Of its roughly 1,000 students, only 100 are in the 6th grade. These students will be the target of the Exploratory Academy, which will focus primarily on acclimating children to middle school. At the end of their first year, 6th graders will apply to join one of the other three academies--leadership and communication arts; law and technology; and health and sciences. Those starting MS 8 in the 7th or 8th grade will apply directly to one of the latter three.

One area that will remain unchanged after the restructuring is the school's strong arts program. Participation in band, chorus, visual arts, and a full orchestra will be offered to students in all grades and academies. Extra-curricular activities include boys and girls basketball teams and cheerleading.

The school, housed in a large contemporary building erected in the early 1960's, is located in a residential section. During the 2005-06 school year, the bathrooms were renovated, windows were replaced, and a new public address system was installed. Over the summer of 2006, lighting was to be upgraded and the library renovated. Murphy also hopes to install metal detectors in the school, because, he says, "gang activity is real in this neighborhood."

Special education: There are "self-contained" classes, only for children with special needs. The school also has team-taught "inclusion classes," where two teachers work in the same classroom with general education students and students with special needs.

After school: Academic support and recreational activities are sponsored by the Beacon Program, a project of the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development. (Laura Zingmond, June 2006).

For the 2006-07 school year, MS 8 is newly identified by the State Education Department as "in need of improvement." (January 2007)

A parent at the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) meeting said that there is no longer a parent coordinator at the school, although all Empowerment Schools are supposed to have a parent coordinator. She also said that parents were concerned about other changes at the school instituted by the principal, especially concerning special education students.

Empowerment Schools CEO Eric Nadelstern responds, saying he was aware that Principal John Murphy "has had tension with parent and teachers in the school" and that the network leader was working to help improve the relationships. (November 2006)