IS 126 offers students a breadth of arts electives, but problems with safety and respect prevent the school from achieving a respectful school tone and environment.

Building and Location: IS 126 is located in Long Island City, just two blocks off Broadway, a main thoroughfare for local businesses and restaurants. The five-story, traditional brick building, which was shrouded by scaffolding at the time of our 2009 visit, is situated among three major city housing projects: Astoria Houses, Ravenswood Houses, and Queensbridge Housing Development. There is an Alternative Learning Center, for students serving suspensions, on the first floor. The school has two new computer labs, and two single-sex gymnasiums.

School environment and culture: Parent Coordinator Rosalyn Henderson, who has been at IS 126 for six years, told us the middle school is “the calmest I’ve seen it,” nonetheless we found it to be unruly. In the main office, we saw one student, who had been in a fight, holding  an ice pack to her cheek, even as the police arrived to deal with a separate incident. On the 2008-2009 Learning Environment Survey, both students and teachers reported problems with safety and respect at the school.

One of the three deans told us there had been a gang-related “bad element” in the school a few years earlier, and he was “afraid the damage to our reputation has been done.” After the bell rang to signal the end of the chaotic, noisy change of classes, many students lingered in the halls. The school library appeared to be a haven for students during their lunch period where they sat quietly playing checkers, chess, and Mancala, a traditional African game of strategy.

Teaching and curriculum: When we visited IS 126 in 2004, the school had just been organized into academies: Music and Math, Dance and World Cultures, and Art and Literacy. Each had an assistant principal, dean, and its own space within the school. The school has since abandoned the themed academies; it's now organized by grade. Students still take a "talent" classes either art, chorus, graphic design, or performing art twice a week. The school enhances its talent program through partnerships with outside organizations, such as the Metropolitan Opera's Urban Voices program, which brings choral artists into classrooms. Regents algebra and earth science courses are offered to high-achieving students.

Because the principal was called away to meet with a parent, we did not have the opportunity to interview him or visit many classrooms. In a large, overheated dance studio, students wearing sneakers or socks, giggled through their combinations. Students in an art studio worked on drawings that they planned to transfer onto tote bags and sell as a fundraiser.

The school uses a variety of computer software programs, including Scholastic's Read 180, Thinking Reader, and Tabula Digital, to support struggling students.

After school: IS 126 has a comprehensive after-school program run by the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House, which offers students a range of activities from homework help to soccer.

Family Involvement: According to the parent coordinator, the PTA has a full board of officers and 30-50 parents attend meetings monthly.

Special education: Nearly one-quarter of the students 24% receive special education services. IS 126 offers both Collaborative Team Teaching and self-contained classes. Two of the self-contained classes are Spanish bilingual classes.

English Language Learners: According to Henderson, IS 126's ELL population has grown, accounting for roughly 20% of students, most of whom are Latino. There is one English as a Second Language class on each grade. The school has two transitional bilingual special education classes; other special education ELL students receive support from an ESL teacher.

Admissions: District 30 middle school choice; priority to students who live in the zone. (Cristin Strining, March 2009)

Today during my college admission interview I was reminded of my middle school IS 126 and I have to say it was and always will be the most horrific three years of my life.The kids were totally out of control.I remember finding gum often stuck to my hair at the end of "senior year" I found out that it was all a ploy of this one girl in my class.Students there are not concentrated into studying at all and most teachers don't promote studying.I can honestly say though there are always exceptions one of them being the art program there and a handful of the science teachers tossed in with a bit of English teachers.One would think that a child would be promoted to be the smartest, but in that school it was the complete opposite.I remember constantly being bullied and in fear of getting beat up by those little children or should I say monsters?I remember when I got accept into Brooklyn Tech I couldn't wait to get out of that rat hole.Parents for the health of your child please don't send them

"Absolutely no Control - lots of bullying & stealing in the school, and running/yelling/distractions in the classroom. Three years of wasted time for your child. Send your child elsewhere if you want them to get a good education. A handful of the teachers are very good, unfortunately when you have no control it is very hard to teach. So glad we do not have to deal with this school anymore. There is a new pricipal this year, He has his work cut out for him. I wish him lots of luck."