With the release of the 2010 Progress Reportsfor elementary and middle schools, more than 700 schools (out of roughly 1100), including many charters, had lower letter grades. This is a dramatic change from 2009, where nearly 1000 schools saw their grades improve or remain the same from 2008.   All these year-to-year fluctuations in school grades has left many wondering what to make of the annual school Progress Reports.

Clara Hemphill, founding director of Insideschools, cautioned parents to take the grades with a big grain of salt, particularly since the Department of Education has employed a different grading formula each year, making year-to-year comparisons unreliable.

And some schools' low grades for progress are in sharp contrast with their popularity with parents, students, and staff. Despite earning high marks for its school environment, the popular Community Roots Charter School in District 13 earned an overall grade of "F" on its Progress Report, in large part because of poor marks for  student progress as measured by state test scores.  But 2009-10 was only the second year Community Roots had students old enough to sit for the state English and math exams (it opened in 2006), and its first year for a Progress Report, which begs the question:  Is it fair to measure student "progress" by state test scores alone?<!--more-->

We're also wondering how many, if any, families will care that Institute for Collaborative Education in Manhattan, which draws a high number of applicants from across the city, earned a "C".  Like Community Roots, the school earned an "A" for school environment, but fell flat in the heavily-weighted student progress category.  Or, is anyone surprised that for the second consecutive year, every school in District 26, the city's highest performing district, earned an "A" or "B"  on their Progress Reports?

Overall, charter schools faired worsethan traditional public schools, in large part because of the fallout from the city's poor performance on 2010 state English and math exams. Some charters, however, bucked the trend, such as Democracy Prep, Williamsburg Collegiateand KIPP Infinity, which all earned "As".

This week we'd like to know whether you agree with your school's 2010 Progress Report grade?  Yes?  No?  Not sure? Take our poll and share your thoughts below.