M.S. 44, William O'Shea Complex

The MS 44 building now houses three schools: a zoned elementary school, PS 452; a middle school serving children from District 3, The Computer School; and a gifted school for children from all five boroughs, the Anderson School.

MS 44, a District 3 middle school, was closed in June 2011 for poor performance. It had a reputation for violence and a revolving door of principals with five principals in five years, although things seemed to be improving under the leadership of Liza Ortiz—there was a calmer atmosphere, smaller enrollment, and fewer kids with behavior problems. However, Ortiz’s aggressive reporting put MS 44 on the state's list of "persistently dangerous" schools. (Clara Hemphill, January 2012)